Why Telebehavioral Health?
Updated: Sep 8, 2020
You've probably gotten tired of hearing about the "new normal" and living in "unprecedented times." The disruptions of the COVID-19 crisis impact just about every aspect of our lives, from our jobs to our relationships to our recreation. Stay-at-home orders perhaps at first felt like a dream come true for some, while for others it represented an ominous foreshadowing of the distress, loss, and isolation that has ultimately spared few.
This situation has caused significant sadness, anxiety, worry, panic, and sleepless nights in so many of us. People have lost jobs, income, stability, and perhaps hope. First responders and front line healthcare workers deal daily with severe illness, death, and trauma, all while facing the very real possibility of contracting the virus themselves. The very real mental stresses of this situation are on top of the normal, day-to-day stresses everyone already faced.
For many who can benefit from behavioral health services, access to care was disrupted by social distancing, closed businesses, and other efforts to flatten the curve. Whether you were already in treatment or were contemplating seeking care prior to COVID-19, or the stresses of the "new normal" have caused you to want to seek care, telebehavioral health may be the right answer for you.
Utilizing secure video teleconferencing platforms, behavioral health providers and clients can begin or continue working together to address the issues that have interfered with you living your best life. Now you can access expert treatment from the comfort, convenience, and privacy of your own home. Scheduling can be very flexible to work around work, school, or other obligations. And you can access expert specialized care based on your needs rather than proximity to an office. It just takes a webcam, headphones, and an internet connection to reach support, coaching, counseling, and therapy.
Telebehavioral health is not a great fit for everyone. I will address why telebehavioral health may NOT be right for you in another blog post. But barring a few specific situations, such as high suicide risk, consider the benefits of telebehavioral health: access to expert care, convenience, flexible scheduling, and therapy now. These unprecedented times afford us unprecedented opportunities and require unprecedented solutions--at least while we await a return to "precedented" times.
