Teletherapy

What is “Teletherapy”?

Teletherapy, also known as “e-therapy” or “online therapy,” is a highly effective treatment option. It provides live, high-resolution video conferencing to deliver mental, occupational, speech, or online cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT.

It essentially refers to therapy sessions that are delivered via a virtual platform. It functions similarly to Skype or FaceTime, but it is more secure and has qualified and licensed therapists or licensed professional counselors on the other end.

Teletherapy provides time-delayed interactions and interventions where connectivity and time zone issues make in-person therapy or live video sessions inconvenient. Patients can now access science-based treatments via audio files, video recordings, mental health apps, and other means.

Best Online Therapy Services in Honolulu, Hawaii

East-West Therapy Hawaii provides a safe, encouraging, supportive, nurturing, and nonjudgmental environment for people to explore and grow. Dr. Conti provides traditional therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and Jungian-based depth psychotherapy, as well as innovative telehealth services. Sandplay therapy, meditation practice, and dreamwork are examples of these.

Dr. Conti has been treating individuals, children, couples, and families for over 20 years. He specializes in anxiety, depression, life transitions, eating disorders, grief and bereavement, ADHD, addiction, LGBTQ issues, HIV, and other topics. He also provides low-cost online therapy to patients in Hawaii, California, and Pennsylvania.

How Do the Best Online Therapy Programs Work?

Teletherapy functions similarly to in-person therapy, with one significant exception. The therapist and the patient are not in the same room. Despite the fact that the mental health professional and patient are not in the same room, many mental health care services and treatments translate well into an online therapy platform.

Synchronous Online Therapy

Therapy sessions are scheduled by the therapist and the patient on a convenient day and time. Both parties log in via an agreed-upon, secure online platform and can see and hear each other in real-time. They communicate via this virtual environment, and the therapist employs the same traditional techniques as in face-to-face therapy sessions.

Asynchronous Online Therapy Session

With this type of therapy, patients can access learning materials and participate in interventions at their own pace. In collaboration with their therapist, they may also follow a personalized plan.

Together, both treatment modalities can be combined in an approach to treating various mental health conditions.

Benefits of Online Therapy Platforms for Patients and Therapists

Is online therapy service safe? Aside from their efficacy as a treatment, the best online therapy platforms offer several advantages to both patients and therapists. Among the notable benefits are the following:

Increased Accessibility

One thing that makes e-therapy effective is its accessibility or therapist availability. Online therapy providers can help the following people:

Patients living with a disability that makes travel problematic
People living in rural areas
People with a mental health emergency or mental health crisis
Patients looking to undergo treatment for the first time

Many mental, emotional, and physical barriers to seeking treatment are removed by online psychotherapists, making it more accessible to more people.

Greater Flexibility

Counseling sessions are easy to avoid when they are only available during limited office hours. Busy people may put them off or move them down the priority list. Online therapy, on the other hand, makes a licensed therapist available at a time that is convenient for patients, providing greater flexibility. An online therapy program may even encourage more people to seek assistance when they are most in need.

Reduced Wait Times

People seeking therapy will have shorter wait times as their flexibility improves. Making an appointment with a therapist takes a lot of guts. The less time you have to wait, the more likely you are to follow through and get the assistance you require. Most people prefer to avoid traffic while traveling to the therapist’s office. They don’t want to waste any more time in the waiting room before the therapy session, and they don’t want to deal with traffic again on their way home or to work.

Safer Environment

Many patients experience anxiety while waiting to see doctors in the waiting room. It’s the same anxiety that others feel while waiting for a therapy session. An online therapy provider alleviates this stress by allowing people to receive treatment from the comfort of their own homes.

Cost Savings

The online therapy cost is another factor to consider. When you consider factors such as time off work for your appointment, childcare, and commuting, it can save you money and time. Your therapist will also save money that would otherwise be spent on rent, administrative assistance, and furniture, making teletherapy more affordable.

Teletherapy Benefits for Mental Health Care Professionals

Work-life balance and greater flexibility
Overheads make online therapy cheaper
Increased sense of safety
New treatment opportunities and areas of specialism

FAQs

Does Medicare Cover Online Therapy?

Like private insurers, Medicare covers teletherapy for all members in almost all states.

Does My Health Insurance Cover Online Therapy?

Teletherapy availability will be determined by location and insurance coverage. Most insurance companies provide coverage for teletherapy and other online therapy services. The majority of online therapists accept insurance.

Can an Online Therapist Prescribe Medication?

To help patients feel better, online psychiatrists can diagnose behavioral and mental conditions and prescribe mental health medication and medication management advice.

Online Therapy in Hawaii, California, and Pennsylvania

Dr. Conti holds licenses as a psychologist in both Hawaii and California. In California, he is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and in Hawaii, he is a licensed mental health counselor and a certified substance abuse counselor. For more information about East-West Therapy Hawaii and our mental health services, call (213) 880-8262 today.