What is Teletherapy & Telecoaching?
Teletherapy and Telecoaching are psychotherapy and coaching sessions but at a distance. Instead of meeting face-to-face they employ using either phone or confidential video conferencing to meet with a licensed professional to discuss therapy or coaching issues. Some clients only have distance sessions, while for some with busy travel schedules, it is a way to have continuity and not miss sessions while out of town.
In our experience, clients receive much of the same benefits as in-person therapy and coaching because you still get face-to-face contact with a trained, licensed therapist who can accommodate your needs. Clients enjoy the same benefits of counseling/coaching including increasing and learning coping skills for stress, creating a plan of action to deal with current conditions, and treating acute symptoms directly.
When does someone choose telecoaching?
Individuals who choose telecoaching want help with issues such as: work performance, interpersonal relationships, increasing emotional wellness, and parenting coaching. Telecoaching is not for the treatment of major mental health disorders.
Our coaching give you direct advice and a concrete plan to cope with acute challenges, such as how to stay mentally healthy during COVID19. This might include learning coping skills and relaxation techniques (including meditation), creating structures and supports to manage daily life and using creative techniques to help build the mental and emotional resources we need to cope and even thrive in challenging times.
We are licensed psychotherapists in New York state so your teletherapy sessions are covered by your health insurance plan if your plan covers in-person psychotherapy. Did you know New York state law requires insurance companies to cover teletherapy if they cover in-office therapy sessions in New York?
Teletherapy provided by our therapists are offered to New York residents only. Telecoaching is offered to anyone from all 50 states and internationally.
READ Article from The Cut: How Do I Get Therapy During a Pandemic?
How can Teletherapy & Telecoaching help during the COVID-19/Coronavirus crisis?
The benefits of Online Psychotherapy and Online Coaching during a time of national crisis are numerous. Our therapists are trained in acute crisis intervention and are skilled in working with the experience of past and current trauma. Considering this is an unprecedented time in history, there are many unknowns as to how this pandemic will affect our culture and even our mental health. However, there are tried and true measures for working with the nervous system and creating structures to cope through this difficult time. Our therapists know relaxation and meditation techniques to pass along to you to deal with stress and anxiety levels.
If you have a mental health condition or have experienced trauma in your history, this will be a time when the nervous system will go into an activated state of fight/flight/freeze. You may notice that you are feeling more aggressive and reactive at home with your partner and kids. You may notice that you are wanting to run away from home duties and daily tasks because you’re experiencing “cabin fever” and social isolation. You may feel that you are “frozen” and feeling down, unable to get work done from home because your nervous system is in shock. Teletherapy and Telecoaching can work with “where you’re at”, providing you with skills to be in a healthier state and coping with stress better.
Teletherapy and Telecoaching may also provide you with a vital, consistent relationship where the focus is solely on you and your own needs right now. You may be having to take care of others right now while managing your own stress on the side. We provide a platform for you to be able to talk things through, problem-solve and focus on yourself and your own health during this time.
READ: The Mighty: 5 Reasons to Try Online Therapy (Even After the COVID 19 Outbreak is Over)
What conditions can be helped with Teletherapy and Telecoaching?
Online psychotherapy can still be used to treat various mental health conditions. Our therapists are well-versed in using a variety of techniques from CBT, DBT, MBCT, Gestalt and Buddhist Psychotherapy to help you through this time. These techniques are helpful for anxiety, depression, grief, relationship issues, trauma and acute stress, PTSD, panic disorder, OCD, substance abuse and addictions, ACoA and codependency issues, and a variety of other conditions. Feel free to reach out if there is something unique to your situation to see if we could meet your needs and be a good fit for you.
Telecoaching is useful to learn stress management techniques, how to deal with fear and loss, techniques for growth and thriving amongst crisis, as well as the structure and problem-solving techniques to deal with a chaotic/disorganized time.
READ: Conditions Treated At Buddhist Psychotherapy New York
What can I expect during online counselling sessions?
Online counselling sessions would work much in the same way an in-person therapy or coaching session would proceed, only instead of being in person, the sessions take place over video conferencing. During an initial session, the therapist/coach would get to know who you are as a person, your background and current circumstances, as well as your needs and what you would expect to get out of coming to sessions. Within the first two sessions, a plan of action would be created to move treatment/coaching forward and provide a frame for the work.
When in a crisis situation, therapy/coaching may look a little different in terms of the focus and time frame. Our therapists are willing to work with you on a short-term basis to support your short-term emotional and mental goals. Utilizing crisis counselling can be both cost-effective and lead to significant positive changes during a time of need. You are then more than welcome to continue via video or in our office when we return to practice.
READ Article by Slate Magazine: During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Therapy is Moving Online
What platforms are used for Teletherapy & Telecoaching?
Recently, in light of the current state of our world, the current restrictions to using Skype and FaceTime for video therapy/coaching have been lifted. That being said, if you are more comfortable with a HIPAA-secure platform, we can use Zoom for our sessions and you would be presented with the opportunity to sign up and log in in that way. If you have any other accommodations we should know about, of course, we are here to listen to your needs.
READ: 3 Mental Health Tips for the Corona Outbreak
Does insurance cover Teletherapy & Telecoaching sessions?
Teletherapy is covered by insurance in New York State on an out-of-network basis. That being said, you may want to call your insurance first to see if they cover CPT codes 90834-95 and 90837-95. Unfortunately, Telecoaching is NOT covered because you would be out of state or an international client. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to use about sliding scale fees during this time and we can have a discussion of how to proceed; moreover, we are connected to other therapists and coaches as a referral resource during this time.
Also, consider that many clients will be working on a short-term basis of weeks and months. This might be cost-effective and a great investment during this time so that you can remain mentally healthy and resourced during an acute time of stress. Budget with your household to see if even a few sessions might be possible during this time; you may be able to learn vital coping skills that could last years.
READ: What is Complex Trauma: Ways to Heal and Find Safety Again
How can Teletherapy & Telecoaching help with social isolation?
During this time of an international pandemic, it is vital for us to stay socially connected.
This is a time when relying on a virtual support system is essential for mental health.
This is a time when some will be isolated due to illness, social distancing or enforced quarantine. Some will be socially connected via family and friends, but some will find that the quality of their contacts will be lacking, that others are equally stressed or fearful, or that one might not have any social support at all.
READ: 4 Mindfulness Based Ways of Working with Anxiety
A trained psychotherapist can be an amazing social resource and connection during this time. They can sort through your own fears and needs. They can be social support and walk beside you during this difficulty uncertain time. It is a time when you can focus on just YOU when perhaps you are responsible for or caretaking others. A psychotherapist knows how to bring attention to just your situation so that you can get the support you need when attuned focus, which can often make this relationship take on a different value than with a friend or family member.
Is Teletherapy & Telecoaching a good substitute for one-on-one counseling/coaching?
During a time when many clients cannot go into a physical office space, Teletherapy and Telecoaching will be the temporary platform that all mental health professionals and healing professionals will be using. In many ways, it will offer the same benefits that in-person counselling does, especially in the realm of skill-building, stress and symptom relief, and connection within a healthy relationship. The only downside is not being in the same room– some emotional information will be lost for the therapist and client because some content will not be “felt.”
However, empathy, skills and techniques can still be offered with ease.
READ: 4 Steps to Reclaiming Our Emotions with MBCT
How can you make the most of your Teletherapy & Telecoaching sessions?
To make the most of your at-home Teletherapy and Telecoaching sessions, please consider the following:
- Find a relaxed, safe and private environment where you can consistently receive your TeleTherapy & TeleCoaching sessions at home– if this can be the same location each time, even better!
- Our therapists have privacy and secure spaces in their own homes to continue to protect your confidentiality. We are set up with sound machines and are in locations where others cannot hear us, much in the same way our private offices are set up. We have simulated the same experience.
- Make sure you have a secure and consistent internet connection at least 10 minutes beforehand to limit disconnection
- Make sure you are in a well-lit place without too much glare or darkness–it’s important for our providers to see your face, affect and eyes!
- If using a phone, have it propped up. A laptop is preferred. This is to limit the movement of the screen which can be distracting for both therapist and client
- Attempt to limit distractions in your environment so you can focus on yourself solely during this time!
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