Telehealth and Video Therapy

Benefits of Telehealth and Video Therapy

• No need to leave home. With telehealth and video therapy, you can still meet with your psychiatrist or functional medicine specialist in the comfort of your own home. During COVID-19, you can alleviate fears and anxiety about exposure to germs and infections. Our clinics do everything possible to reduce the risk of exposure to germs and infections for patients and staff, but you may still have concerns. This is especially common among patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders.
• Privacy. Our society still stigmatizes people with mental health issues, which prevents far too many people from seeking the help they need. With telehealth, you have complete privacy. It’s just you and your healthcare professional.
• Time saver. We would all love to have more time. With video therapy sessions, there’s no commute, no need to find a parking spot, and no time spent in waiting rooms.
• Greater access. People who live in rural areas or who would have to travel for an appointment can have access to world-class psychiatric care and functional medicine specialists. Research shows this can be particularly helpful for children with ADD/ADHD who live in rural areas and wouldn’t normally have access to care.
• Treatment check-ups. Being able to check in with your psychiatrist allows you both to discuss the effectiveness of your treatment plan and make adjustments if necessary. This can be critically important in especially anxious or stressful times when people may be more tempted to fall back into old habits that are bad for brain health and mental wellbeing.

Who Should Use Telehealth and Video Therapy?

If you’ve been reluctant to seek treatment, this is one of the easiest ways to give it a chance. And it’s one of the most comfortable for you. You can be in your coziest chair with a mug of your favorite tea and your dog or cat on your lap to make you feel more at ease. This can be very important for people who struggle with a range of issues. For example:

• People with anxiety disorders don’t have to worry about possible traffic issues that might make you late.
• People with depression who struggle with motivation don’t have to force themselves to get in the car or to the train station to get to their appointment. You can just press a button on your laptop or phone.
• People who have ADD/ADHD or who have children with the condition may find it easier to stay focused on a telemedicine conference.
• People with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) don’t have to worry about not getting their favorite parking spot or exposure to germs in waiting rooms.
• People with bipolar disorder often make appointments for help when they are in a depressive episode then cancel when they cycle to a manic phase when they feel invincible. A more rapid turnaround time for video therapy allows these people to get help when they need it.
• People with schizophrenia or other forms of psychosis don’t have to deal with irrational fears that people in the office or other patients are out to get them.
• People with addictions often need help when they are struggling and contemplating drinking or using drugs. Telehealth can provide more time-sensitive help in these instances.
• People with memory problems may forget their appointments. Online reminders and notifications can help provide more immediate prompts that it’s time for a video therapy session.
• Couples with relationship problems may appreciate the convenience factor of an online appointment.