Telehealth for Mental Health: How Virtual Therapy and Counseling Work

Author:

Hayley Snelling

B.S. Psychology

Editor:

Emma Loker

B.S

Can getting help for your mental health really be as easy as opening your laptop? You don’t need to sit in a therapist’s office to have therapy anymore. With the rise of remote mental health services, support for your well-being is more accessible than ever.

Whether you’re looking for support to manage stress, anxiety, depression, or another mental health difficulty, you now have the opportunity to connect with licensed mental health professionals from the comfort of your own home.

Telehealth mental health services, including virtual therapy and counseling, have become more popular in the past few years. What originally started out as a necessity through the COVID-19 pandemic has now become commonplace, and is an effective option for anyone seeking therapy.

But how does it work, and is it really as successful as seeing a therapist face-to-face? On this page, we’ll go through:

How virtual therapy works
What to expect in a telehealth therapy session
Virtual therapy vs in-person counseling
How to start telehealth mental health treatment
The pros and cons of using mental health services through telehealth

Whether you’re interested in having online therapy or are just wondering how it all works, we will walk you through the essentials you need to know about telehealth for mental health.

How Does Virtual Therapy Work?

If this is your first time looking into therapy, you may be wondering how it works. Essentially, you work with a therapist, who won’t judge you or your choices, in a safe space to help improve your mental health. You can explore your thoughts and feelings, learn coping strategies, embark on your journey of self-discovery, and gain a sense of control over your life. Traditionally, therapy or counseling takes place with you in the same room as your therapist. This is known as in-person or face-to-face therapy.

Teletherapy, or virtual therapy, on the other hand, is when therapy is carried out remotely using technology, such as video calls or voice calls to meet with your therapist, rather than being face-to-face. It means that you potentially have access to therapists and specialists outside of your local area, can schedule appointments without having to think about traveling to and from sessions, and it’s just as effective as in-person therapy.^1,2

You can have telehealth therapy for anxiety and depression as well as many other mental health conditions, and find therapists with a wide range of approaches to help you.

What to Expect in a Telehealth Therapy Session

Sessions are usually held through specialist secure online therapy platforms provided by your mental health service provider. They allow you to see and speak to your therapist in real-time even though you aren’t physically in the room with them. The platform used must be compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which is a law that protects your health information, confidentiality, and privacy.³

Having a virtual therapy appointment is pretty similar to having an in-person session. Your session is usually 50 minutes long, and you can decide on your goals, ask questions, and discuss any concerns you have in real-time with your therapist. You’ll be able to talk about your thoughts and feelings, any struggles you’ve had, and any challenges you’ve overcome. Depending on the approach the therapist uses, you may practice certain exercises or techniques with them.⁴ The main difference is that you’re in a virtual room rather than physically being present with them.

Virtual Therapy vs. In-Person Counseling

Virtual therapy differs from traditional in-person counseling in several key ways. There are many benefits of telehealth for mental health, but at the same time, it may not be suitable for everyone. Let’s take a look into how telehealth supports outpatient mental health care, some of the differences between it and face-to-face therapy, and the reasons why it may not be suitable for everyone.

Accessibility

The area you live in can have an effect on which mental health services are available to you if you are looking at having therapy in person. You may be limited by the number of therapists in your area, their specialties and approach, or waiting times to access the services.5,6 With teletherapy, you have a much wider range of options available because you can contact therapists outside of your hometown.

Access to sessions is usually through video software, so a laptop, smartphone, or computer with a webcam and microphone is essential for connecting with your therapist online. A lot of people are familiar with using this type of technology, making it an easy option for getting better access to therapy.

Comfort

If you don’t have a car or aren’t able to use public transport, that can really restrict your options for seeing your therapist in person. The same applies if you don’t feel comfortable going outside or meeting new people in the flesh, or you can’t leave the house because of your health. There can be any number of reasons why in-person therapy wouldn’t be the first option for you.

Thankfully, with teletherapy, you don’t have to leave your home to get the help you need. You can have sessions in the comfort of your own home, and studies have shown that being in your own, safe, familiar space can have a calming effect.⁷ You can feel settled and comfortable in your home while having a session and can schedule them to fit in with your daily routine.

Effectiveness

Research has shown that virtual therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy in terms of symptom reduction and quality of life when used to help conditions including depression, generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, and OCD.^1,2,8-10 People found that talking to their therapist online was just as helpful as seeing them in person.¹¹

Suitability

Although virtual therapy is a great way to access the help you need, there are some circumstances where it may not be the best form of help for you. For example, if you don’t feel comfortable using technology or the internet, or you prefer in-person interactions for a deeper connection.¹²

Also, if you don’t have a private space available to have a session where you wouldn’t be overheard it wouldn’t be a good option for you. Finally, if you are in crisis or experiencing severe mental health conditions (such as schizophrenia or feeling suicidal), you might benefit more from intensive face-to-face therapy.¹³

How to Access Telehealth Counseling

As you know, there are many available mental health treatment options via telehealth, including virtual therapy. You may be wondering how to get started, is it as simple as clicking a button?

When you choose to have online therapy with Mission Connection, you can easily get in touch with us through our contact form or by calling us at 866-954-6574, where you can talk to one of our friendly team members to find out more.

You’ll need to provide us with some essential details, and the process continues from there. We’ll conduct a brief assessment so that we can understand what you are looking for and what you need, and then you’ll be matched with a licensed therapist who will use scientifically validated techniques in sessions to help you understand yourself better and learn new coping skills so that you can start healing.

In these sessions, you will talk with your therapist in a safe and confidential space, working together to set achievable goals for your well-being. We have highly skilled licensed therapists offering virtual care who are experts in a variety of approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), offering you the best available support for recovery.

How many sessions you have will largely depend on your needs and concerns. You may feel positive changes after a few sessions, or you may benefit more from longer-term therapy. We can provide flexible appointments to make sure your therapy fits in with your schedule.

Insurance Coverage for Telehealth Mental Health Services

While therapy online can be more accessible and convenient for a lot of people, cost can sometimes be a barrier as not all insurance providers cover online therapy services. This can make teletherapy an unsuitable option if you rely on insurance to afford treatments.

Some virtual therapy providers, like Mission Connection, may be covered by insurance depending on your provider. Make sure to check your policy in advance to ensure that online therapy is affordable as well as accessible. You can check out our payment options here.

Technology Needed for Virtual Mental Health Sessions

Here’s a breakdown of the most important tech you need to be able to attend virtual therapy:

Device: Either a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a camera and a microphone.
Internet Connection: Stable and reliable connection for a smooth online session.
Clear Audio and Video: Make sure the device has a good microphone and webcam.
Online Therapy Platform or App: This is how you will access your virtual session, which your therapist will arrange for you. It’s important to have a secure online therapy platform, such as what we provide at Mission Connection, so that your privacy and confidentiality are protected.

Pros and Cons of Telehealth Mental Health Services

Still undecided about whether online therapy is for you? Don’t worry, we know there’s a lot to consider, so we’ve put together a list of pros and cons to help you out:

Pros of Telehealth Mental Health Services

Cost: There’s the possibility of access to therapists who provide sessions at a lower price, and remember there won’t be any traveling costs for you to take into account.
Convenience: You can connect with a therapist of your choice from virtually anywhere, anytime. Book sessions to fit around your busy schedule.
Easy access: Gone are the days of needing to travel to appointments, you can talk with your therapist at the click of a button, whether at home or on your lunch break.

Cons of Telehealth Mental Health Services

Technology: It’s completely reliant on technology and internet connections working well. If you or your therapist lose signal, your session will be interrupted very suddenly.
Suitability: As discussed earlier, some more serious mental health conditions require sessions to be in person.
Privacy and Confidentiality: These can be concerns for people when it comes to online work. You may worry about your information being at risk online, or how private your home space is for you to have your session.

Access Telehealth Support Today

If you’re struggling with a mental health issue, know that we are here to help you.

We offer compassionate support tailored to your specific needs. We know that symptoms of mental health can range from debilitating for some people to very mild in others. That’s why we offer a range of treatment programs so that you can be supported in the best way possible. Some of our services include short-term inpatient stays, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, and outpatient services like online therapy.

We also offer a range of payment options to help ease any concerns over the cost of mental health treatment because we believe that cost shouldn’t be a barrier when you need support the most.

Are you ready to start feeling better? Get in touch today to begin your healing journey.

References

Scott, A. M., Clark, J., Greenwood, H., Krzyzaniak, N., Cardona, M., Peiris, R., Sims, R., & Glasziou, P. (2022). Telehealth v. face-to-face provision of care to patients with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 52(14), 2852–2860. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291722002331
Zimmerman, M., D’Avanzato, C., & King, B. T. (2022). Telehealth treatment of patients with major depressive disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic: Comparative safety, patient satisfaction, and effectiveness to prepandemic in-person treatment. Journal of Affective Disorders, 323, 624–630.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (n.d.). HIPAA privacy rule and sharing information related to mental health. In U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hipaa-privacy-rule-and-sharing-info-related-to-mental-health.pdf
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Morales, D. A., Barksdale, C. L., & Beckel-Mitchener, A. C. (2020). A call to action to address rural mental health disparities. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 4(5), 463–467. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2020.42
Andrilla, C. H. A., Patterson, D. G., Garberson, L. A., Coulthard, C., & Larson, E. H. (2018). Geographic variation in the supply of selected behavioral health providers. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 54(6), S199–S207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.01.004
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