Risks and Benefits to Teletherapy

 

Teletherapy for mental health clients holds both risks and benefits.  Clients who may travel often, hold non traditional work and family schedules or live in rural or remote areas may benefit from the flexibility of virtual therapy.  Individuals with certain social anxieties, illness or physical limitations may find that virtual therapy session remove barriers to regularly attended sessions as opposed to traditional in person sessions (14 Benefits of Teletherapy for Clients, n.d.).

Some of the risks that need to be considered when deciding to offer virtual teletherapy sessions might be the effectiveness, the access to insurance coverage, your ability to respond during a crisis and considerations regarding privacy.  Some clients may find that their insurances do not cover virtual sessions. Other clients may not have availability to reliable technology or a private space to speak freely.  The therapist should also be prepared for crisis response and unforeseen technology difficulties.

14 Benefits of Teletherapy for Clients. (n.d.). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/millennial-media/201901/14-benefits-teletherapy-clients

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