Is Telehealth Therapy Right for Me?

Deciding you're ready to start therapy is already a meaningful step, but deciding how to begin can bring up its own questions. Many people are curious about telehealth but wonder whether meeting with a therapist through a screen will feel personal, private, or effective enough to support real change. You may be asking yourself whether you'll feel comfortable opening up from home, whether virtual sessions will be covered by your insurance, or how telehealth can protect your privacy. 

In this post, we'll explore how telehealth can support real connection, consistency, and care, so that you can decide whether this option feels right for you. 

The Benefits of Telehealth Therapy 

Did you know that telehealth therapy for mental health was practiced as early as 1959? For decades before COVID-19, it was an integral part of connecting providers to underserved and rural communities. The pandemic and the acceleration of wifi-enabled video technologies solidified telehealth’s benefits for clients, and today it is seen as a trusted and widely effective mode of receiving clinical care. 

Telehealth offers additional benefits outside of typical in-person therapy:

• Convenience of schedule and location

• Increased privacy – the only person you interact with is your therapist; no having to sit in a public waiting room with other clients before your session starts. 

• Greater continuity of care – because you can attend a telehealth session from almost any private location, issues like transportation challenges, illness, weather, childcare needs, work schedules, or relocation aren’t as disruptive to accessing care.

• Reduced cost related to travel, time away from work, or childcare.

Is Telehealth Therapy as Effective as In-Person Therapy? 

Since the shift toward utilizing telehealth for mental healthcare, studies have shown that it is just as effective as in-person mental healthcare for most clients.

A 2021 study found no significant differences in clinical outcomes for typical outpatient clients in either in-person or telehealth therapy, with reductions in depressive symptoms and significant increases in self-reported quality of life across both groups. That study also showed that patients in a partial hospitalization level of care stayed longer when their treatment was remote, suggesting that more acute mental health conditions require a higher level of care that telehealth may not be able to provide as effectively. 

Another study from 2022 showed that both patient and clinician preference for virtual visits increased over time, with many clinicians perceiving virtual services as being equally effective for treating their clients as in-person sessions. Client data from that study suggests that virtual behavioral health had equivalent or better outcomes compared with in-person treatment: clients in virtual treatment had higher completion rates, attendance rates, and number of treatment visits. 

The Limitations of Telehealth Therapy 

While it is a convenient and effective alternative to in-person care, telehealth therapy isn’t without its limitations. 

• Telehealth is portable, but acknowledging the limitations of convenience when it overtakes the benefits of a session is important. 

• Internet connection issues are a part of our connected life, but they are no more an issue with telehealth than any other device-based function.

• Virtual treatment does not fit all presenting issues, as the 2021 study mentioned above demonstrated.

• While platforms that White Oak uses are HIPAA-compliant, there is a potential risk for breaches of confidentiality. To date, White Oak has experienced no such breaches.

(Source: Psychology.org)

The Logistics of Telehealth Therapy 

If you’re considering signing up for telehealth therapy, there are several logistics to consider, such as your setting, schedule, and insurance. 

Setting

Finding a quiet, private space is possible in many settings, but prioritizing these factors is necessary to promote expected outcomes of a session. The space you choose for sessions should meet the following criteria:

• Low noise

• Distraction-free

• Private to experience and express emotions openly

• Comfortable 

Schedules

Virtual sessions are still held within therapist’s ”office” hours. Most therapists will be flexible to reschedule as needed, unless their roster is full, and will provide some accessibility to communicate by message (email, text, or client portal) during their working hours. 

Internet

Internet speed can be a deterrent in some areas, but most programs remain uninterrupted by various speeds or locations when using WiFi or data. If WiFi connectivity is an issue, a virtual session may need to be rescheduled for when the issue is resolved.

Insurance

Today, telehealth therapy is just as accessible and affordable through insurance as in-person therapy, due to a few key factors: 

• Most insurance plans now cover telehealth sessions similarly to in-person therapy. (Source: Zocdoc) 

• Therapists can obtain multi-state licensure to reach clients facing travel or provider shortages (Source: Telehealth.hhs.gov) 

• Secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms support privacy; all that is required is a device with camera, microphone, and stable WiFi. 

  
  

Shared Standards for Virtual and In-Person Therapy

While some of these logistics for virtual sessions differ from in-person therapy, remember that they still share similar standards that both clients and therapists should adhere to: 

• Timeliness

• Fully dressed

• Only expected people within hearing distance of the session

• Within the same state as the therapist is licensed

• No moving vehicles

Telehealth Therapy Near You

Reaching out for support can feel vulnerable, especially when you’re already navigating stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, or other emotional concerns. Telehealth therapy offers a flexible, accessible way to begin that process from the comfort of your own space, without sacrificing connection or quality of care. If you’ve been considering therapy, take the first step by contacting us to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists at White Oak. We’ll help you find the therapist, setting, and approach that suits your unique needs. 

About White Oak Counseling

White Oak Counseling is a practice of licensed therapists providing evidence-based mental health treatment for individual adults in Central Virginia. Founded in 2017, White Oak Counseling exists to bring a proven approach to the art of therapy, using research-backed methods to provide practical, compassionate care that honors each person’s unique mental health journey.