Have you wanted to start therapy but not sure if you had the time? Looking at options with your insurance and you see that you can do virtual or telehealth, but not sure what that means? Worried that it might not be traditional therapy, or your therapist might not be a trained professional? These are all normal thoughts and questions. It is important for you to do your research before starting therapy, and it can be very hard to figure out if a therapist is a good fit for you, what type of therapist is the right fit for you, and if you even want to do virtual counseling.
What is Virtual Counseling?
Much like it sounds, virtual counseling is counseling that happens in an online environment. One of the biggest benefits of this approach is that it can happen anywhere. This is really helpful if you are someone with limited time, limited transportation, or if the therapist you hope to meet with is not near you. There are of course limitations. For instance, therapists in the United States are licensed to practice within their particular state. Therefore, if you reside in the state of Utah, where I practice, you need to have a therapist that is licensed in the state of Utah. However, you can live in St. George and see a therapist that is in Logan. If you want a therapist that, like me, specializes in expressive arts therapies, but cannot find one in your town, virtual counseling may be a good fit. Also, if finding the time to get to an office during work hours is difficult, but you do have a lunch break, virtual counseling may also be a good fit. I have also found that clients who struggle with social interactions, driving, being in public places, health issues, or child care can also benefit from a virtual counseling or telehealth appointment.
Is My Therapist Qualified?
As with any therapeutic counseling session, it is important to check with your provider to make sure of their qualifications. Utah providers are licensed through the Utah Department of Professional Licensing. There are a variety of different yet qualified providers. Some are called Psychologists, some are called Clinical Mental Health Counselors, some are called Social Workers, and some are called Marriage and Family Therapists. Some may have associate or similar in their title. This means that they are newly finished from school, but this does not necessarily mean that they lack in skill or capability. What it does mean is that they are carefully supervised and provided extra resources after they have finished their graduate level education. Most provider websites provide their clinicians’ credentials with their bios, and you can also look up their information on the DOPL website. https://dopl.utah.gov/
How Much Does it Cost?
The cost for virtual counseling varies, but it is usually comparable to traditional counseling. Some health insurances may cover virtual counseling differently than in person counseling. I have found that some insurances cover virtual sessions completely without a copay, making this the preferred method for some clients. Other insurances may cover it the same as a traditional session. Finally, there may be some insurances that do not cover virtual sessions at all. Before you determine if you want to use insurance for virtual sessions, it is essential that you check with your insurance provider to find out what your session may cost you.
If you are going to privately pay for a session, you also could be looking at a range of costs. Many places may have different costs for different levels of clinicians. Beware of some services that advertise monthly rates or access to counselors that can give you what may seem too good to be true. Pay attention to words like “life coach” or similar that, while may serve a particular purpose, are not the same as a licensed clinical professional. Also pay attention to where a clinician is licensed to make sure they are capable of practicing where you live.
What Can I Expect in a Session?
Virtual counseling sessions are very similar to a traditional counseling session. If it is your first time meeting with a counselor, they will take your basic information and want to get to know you and your mental health needs. After you develop rapport with your counselor, you will be able to do any number of therapeutic services. Virtual sessions do often require some prep work on the part of the client. For instance, if I am trying to do some art therapy with a client and they are in a virtual session, I may ask them to be prepared with their own art supplies. If we want to do writing, we will need writing supplies. One challenge that comes up with virtual counseling on both ends is the chance of distractions that exist with the virtual environment. Ensuring that the client has a quiet space, free from distractions, and that they have minimized any other distractions on their electronic computer, tablet, or phone is one of the best ways to make sure that a beneficial counseling session happens. It is also essential to ensure a strong internet connection.
Who Might Benefit?
As stated before, people who have issues with distance may benefit from virtual counseling. I have had great success working with couples and families that have temporary distance between them yet still need therapy services, because we can all use the same link to meet together. People who need specialized services may also benefit from virtual services. People with disabilities that make travel complicated may also benefit from virtual counseling. Those with time constraints, insurance limitations, and specific counselor requests are also some who may want to give virtual counseling a try.
Who Might Struggle in Virtual Counseling?
While virtual counseling can be a great benefit, there are a few groups where it might not be the best fit. The first is anyone who struggles or is uncomfortable with technology. If this is a hurdle that can be overcome, it can still work. However, often the struggles are too significant and make the experience uncomfortable. In my experience I have also found that virtual counseling can be hit or miss with children. The temptation for children to be distracted by online games, other things within the environment where they are doing the counseling, or children who lack the ability to fully focus may struggle to make sense of a virtual counseling environment. This is of course not true of all children. Your therapist can make the determination if virtual counseling is a good fit for you, your child, or your situation.
In Summary
Telehealth, or virtual counseling, is a great way to get mental health care. There are many ways in which this beneficial tool can be accessed and may be a good part of your mental health journey. If you are curious about if this is a good fit for you, we here at the counseling center would love to see if one of us may be a good fit for you. Check out our website and see what resources we have. https://counselingcenterut.com/
All of our qualified therapists offer telehealth services. Feel free to call us or text us at 801-934-3373 and one of our staff can guide you through the process of determining if an in-person or virtual appointment might be right for you, which clinician might be best, if your insurance is accepted, and anything else you might need to know.