The case for virtual therapy
virtual therapy pros & cons
Contents
Benefits for the therapist & client. ⬦ Strengths & weaknesses of tech. ⬦ No distance too far. ⬦Privacy concerns. ⬦ Choosing a good location. ⬦ sjo best practices. ⬦ Adopting a hybrid solution.
4 minute, 10 second read
Counselors have been experimenting with remote therapy since the .com era to extend the reach of the therapeutic experience. It seems technology provided the framework for the acceleration of this modality, and recently, the pandemic entering the room as a catalyst.
Recent studies suggest the virtual modality will continue to expand as both therapists and clientele embrace this growing trend.
Let’s examine the benefits and disadvantages of remote sessions as expectations remain high.
Benefits for clientele
Freedom of expression
Some have reported they can speak more freely in a virtual setting. It’s possible that because clients can choose a location that is familiar, what attire they’ll wear, and so on, that this informal tone transfers in their ability to speak unrestrictedly and to open up in a shorter amount of time compared to traditional sessions.
Elimination of notice
There is no entering and leaving a therapist's office when you have a remote session. Clearly, you can’t be seen engaging in therapy when not physically entering a therapist suite. Remote sessions may offer comfort from the conflict of physically interacting with the therapy space and being seen by strangers or someone you know.
Access to a wide range of therapists
States determine the geographic restrictions for therapy. The pandemic forced many legislators to re-think the reach of therapy and rules are now becoming more flexible. Even so, googling “therapists near me” isn’t as important as it once was with so many counselors embracing remote technology for their services. It’s become common that I now have clients in Austin even though I’m located in North Texas.
A good option for rural clients
A continuation of the bullet point above, rural clients may find it easier to have a phone or video conference when weighing the commute to and from the therapist's office.
Mobility issues
Clients with disabilities may find reprieve with a virtual session in physically restrictive circumstances.
Benefits for the therapist & client
Flexibility
Convenience
Work-life balance
Removal of restrictions
Lower cost for office maintenance to the therapist
Lower cancellation rates with a virtual option
Lower cost of transportation
Disadvantages
Gaps in technology
Not all devices are created equal. Older phones & computers may lead to drops in calls or undesirable quality in the conference call. Service area reliability can be an issue per location as well.
Credibility concerns
The perception of remote therapy may cause new clients to question whether virtual therapy is legitimate. The therapist is burdened with providing confidence that the experience is the same as in-person.
Non-verbal cue disconnect
Natural conversational flow may seem somewhat off compared to a face-to-face meeting. The reception of non-verbal cues isn’t fully on display. While a person seems calm and collected from the shoulders up, a face-only video chat excludes the random twitches of legs & feet or the elaborate display of body gestures that come in tandem with verbal discourse. These cues can be lost in translation making it difficult for clients & therapists to connect.
Privacy
Therapists are sworn to uphold high standards of confidentiality. Concerns regarding privacy may arise when the client may inadvertently choose a virtual setting with others present preventing him or her from speaking with confidence.
Distractions, higher levels of care
I always initiate remote therapy from known office locations from either my practice location in Southside or my private home office. From time to time, clients choose to have a virtual session from a variety of places that are not too private or with friends or family around. It’s amazing that our culture is encouraging therapy now, so much so that almost everyone has a therapist & that it’s common to speak freely about seeing a therapist.
Be aware that counseling by default is a private matter for many reasons. Clientele shouldn’t be eager to compromise their virtual sessions by allowing distractions to influence your one-on-one time with your therapist. You may not want to expose certain ideas or thoughts to others around you.
In addition, some conditions are too complex to adequately address in a virtual format. Therapists have an additional judgment assessing whether a potential client would benefit from virtual, in-person, or if a hybrid modality is needed.
Sjo best practices
Nope, wait .. okay
Approximately 40% of my clientele initially refused virtual sessions during their consultation prior to becoming a client. This group then warmed to the concept of virtual.
Solving the non-verbal cue problem
What appears to be a controlling concern is the ability for them to connect with someone electronically, once again, echoing the non-verbal cue problem. I’ve introduced new camera viewpoints for clients to see ‘more of me’ per se, versus a face-only view to replicate the realness of a traditional setting.
Potential clients should be open to the idea of virtual therapy as an option when an in-person setting isn’t permissible for a variety of reasons. Having flexibility will enhance the therapeutic experience.
Book traditional initially, then go hybrid
I suggest incoming clients that have a strong desire to only have traditional therapy make the first two to three sessions as in-person initially, then be receptive to the idea of a hybrid traditional/virtual therapy plan thereafter. It’s easier to adapt to shifting modalities when we focus on report building at the beginning of the therapeutic process, namely in-person only, then proceed with a protracted hybrid session solution.
Can you hear me?
Test several locations for strong cellular service. Parks are great locations to sit in your car or walk & talk for a remote session. Be aware that larger parks such as state parks often have marginal cellular service and may not sustain a video session well.
Silence your phone
Set your phone to ‘do not disturb.’ Alerts in the form of tones & vibrations will be muted while in session.
Choose a good location
Take note of your surroundings. Be comfortable and prepare for therapy as you would for a traditional session. Conversely, decompress and process a few minutes post-session before leaving your location and reflect. Attempt to mimic the in-person environment to make the most of your session.
Just bring yourself
Make sure you have alone time. Resume interactions with family & friends after you’ve devoted appropriate time to the virtual therapy session. Don’t be needlessly distracted by including others in your session as it may be uncomfortable to discuss sensitive topics in front of others. Some things should stay private.