Telehealth, sometimes called telemedicine, lets us care for you without an in-person office visit. Telehealth is done primarily online with internet access on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

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Numerous studies confirm that client satisfaction rates for telehealth therapy parallel those for in-person sessions. In fact, many clients eventually develop a preference for telehealth, owing to its convenience and adaptability (Fleischhacker, 2020; Hardy et al., 2021). In a systematic review and meta-analysis involving randomized control trials, Yang et al. (2022) identified telehealth interventions as significantly beneficial in reducing symptoms associated with anxiety and depression. Their findings also noted high client satisfaction rates. Moreover, comparative studies suggest that telehealth therapy results for other challenges, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Morland et al., 2020), addiction disorders, and chronic conditions (Greenwood et al., 2022), are on par with those from in-person therapy. In a comprehensive review of 17 studies, Luo et al. (2020) concluded that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) administered via telehealth was more effective in mitigating depressive symptoms than when in-person, and that it was equally satisfying for clients once a rapport had been established. These findings underscore a variable of telehealth in enhancing therapeutic outcomes, given that interventions are applied within the environmental context where struggle is present.

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*While it is the exception, telehealth therapy may not work for everyone, and some individuals may prefer in-person therapy. For instance, factors such as poor internet connectivity, mental health issues that require more visual or physical interventions can impact the effectiveness of telehealth therapy (Palmer et al., 2022; Yu & Bekerian, 2023) and in person would be more appropriate. If you are unsure if online therapy is right for you and your situation, our clinicians are happy to discuss concerns, options and explore if in person may be more suitable for your needs and circumstances. 

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References

Kaltenthaler, E., Brazier, J., De Nigris, E., Tumur, I., & Nanchahal, K. (2013). A systematic review of the effectiveness of telehealthcare interventions in diabetes. Journal of telemedicine and telecare, 19(2), 71-78.

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Luo, C., Sanger, N., Singhal, N., Pattrick, K., Shams, I., Shahid, H., ... & Puckering, M. (2020). A comparison of electronically-delivered and face to face cognitive behavioural therapies in depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine, 100442.

 

Morland, L.A., Wells, S.Y., Glassman, L.H. et al. Advances in PTSD Treatment Delivery: Review of Findings and Clinical Considerations for the Use of Telehealth Interventions for PTSD. Curr Treat Options Psych 7, 221–241 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40501-020-00215-x

 

Palmer CS, Brown Levey SM, Kostiuk M, Zisner AR, Tolle LW, Richey RM, Callan S. Virtual Care for Behavioral Health Conditions. Prim Care. 2022 Dec;49(4):641-657. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2022.04.008. Epub 2022 Oct 20. PMID: 36357068; PMCID: PMC9581698.