Is the New Trend of Telehealth Just as Beneficial as in Person Therapy Sessions?

By: Dr. Tiffany Ruelaz

What is Telehealth?

• Telehealth is the delivery of healthcare services via remote electronic devices
• This allows for long-distance professional and patient contact, care, advice, and, intervention

​Is Telehealth Effective?

YES. Scientific research has found teletherapy to be as effective as in person therapy sessions. Specifically, it has been proven to efficiently diagnose and assess mental disorders, and care for patients with mental illnesses such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, developmental issues and more.

What are some reasons people go to therapy?

1. Manage emotional stress
2. Discuss Childhood and/or past trauma’s
3. Accountability (Can be great-still attending weekly and having to “answer” to someone)
4. Confidence
5. Managing Physical ailments/pain (that sometimes keep people home or embarrassed)

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Why teletherapy may not be right for you:

   1.  Focus and attention problems

• ​People with ADHD or other attention issues often do not feel as strong of a connection to the therapist if they are not in the room. The problem doesn’t actually seem to be teletherapy as much as comfort in the home environment.

   2.  ​Children under the age of 13 or family therapy with children under the age of 12

• Child therapy often requires play therapy, sand-tray therapy, or art therapy which are very hands on activities
• Children with anger problems may scream and break the computer or run away from the session
• This is difficult to manage for parents and the therapist

   3.  ​Accountability

• If you do not feel accountable to someone unless you have their physical presence to bring about feelings of discomfort (such as people with substance/addiction use, Borderline personality disorder, and stay-at-home parents)

   4.  ​Boundaries

• Difficult for therapist to set boundaries that could be beneficial because clients are in their home environment which can only be controlled my them

If you are unsure if teletherapy is right for you, check out this article from Thriveworks to help you decide!

How to Get My Money’s Worth with Teletherapy?

• ​Choose the right type of therapy and therapist

• Click here to learn about the different types of therapy Change AZ offers and see what fits your needs
• Click here to meet therapists at Change AZ

• Set specific goals

• ​You and your therapist will collaborate to set attainable goals from therapy sessions
• Setting specific goals allows you to track your progress and create a path to reach your goals

• Schedule a consultation

• Before committing to therapy, schedule an appointment with the therapist and determine if you feel you are a good match for each other

• Make sure you feel comfortable speaking with him/her and that he/she is a good listener

• Go into therapy with an open mind

• ​Therapy is meant to be helpful and you need to go into each session willing to receive the help that is being offered

• Be honest

• Your therapist will not judge you or anything you say and it is best to have honest communication so that your therapist can help you in the best way possible

• Be patient

• ​Therapy is challenging but if you put in the time and make the effort, you will see positive changes

Change AZ offers excellent teletherapy services and we would love for you to register with us!
Contact us if you have any questions or if you would like to begin services with us!
We look forward to talking with you.