The Benefits and Limitations of Telehealth Services

A telehealth appointment can be defined as a session that is conducted online with audio and video. Sometimes, people feel that this is exactly what they want or need. Sometimes, people find this option off-putting or maybe even intimidating. Because of the latter, I wanted to take a little time to explain some of the benefits and limitations of telehealth services.

Benefits

Convenience: If you have a job that involves traveling, as long as you are within Alabama state lines, we can still have our time together. If you have a job that involves shift work, we easily accommodate to your schedule. If you are feeling ill, don’t have the energy to get out, but still want to keep our session, we can do that. With telehealth, you also don’t have to factor in things like commuting, finding a parking spot, etc.

Access: Because I am licensed in the state of Alabama, I can see anyone that resides in this state. Whether you live in a rural area that doesn’t have much access to mental health services or the waitlist for your local providers is several months long, telehealth can broaden your access to care.

Safety: Alabama’s weather can be very unpredictable, and traffic is getting worse by the minute. Whether we are under a tornado watch, iced in, or our time is scheduled during rush hour, we can meet without being immersed in these risks. There is also the aspect of emotional safety. Therapy can be a difficult, emotional process. If you feel safe at home, there are things you can put in place to make the process a little easier. Whether it’s staying in your cozy sweats, lighting a candle that helps you stay present, or having your “unofficial” (but still just as valid in my opinion) emotional support animal nearby, these are elements that can only be achieved through telehealth services.

Limitations

Privacy: If you live in a busy home, privacy can be difficult to obtain. There can be ways around this, such as having our time together in your backyard, in your car parked in a place that makes you feel comfortable, or scheduling our session when there are fewer people in the home (such as school hours).

Internet/Technology: Thanks to advancements in technology, I can offer telehealth services. However, some limitations can include things like our internet lagging or SimplePractice experiencing an outage. This can be distracting and even frustrating. If these limitations occur, I mitigate them through conducting our session (or what’s left of our session) over the phone or reschedule our time together as soon as possible once the issues have been resolved. There is also the idea of having to learn new technology to be able to attend telehealth sessions that can feel like a limitation. It can be intimidating and overwhelming to learn any type of new skill. If that resonates with you, I am more than happy to walk you through every step and provide resources to help you get started.

Lack of In-Person Support: Sometimes people have the personal belief that a lack of in-person support is a limitation of telehealth. If your reasoning behind this belief is a desire to go out and socialize with others, we can collaboratively develop goals in ways to get your social needs met outside of the healthcare field. I personally and professionally believe that we do not have to be in the same room to build a strong, supportive, relationship while also accomplishing therapeutic work.

This is just a short list of the benefits and limitations of telehealth services, but I hope that it helps alleviate some of the mystery or confusion behind the process. If you have additional questions or concerns for me or are even intrigued, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. If you are interested, you can schedule this consultation here or call the office at 256-801-8937.