In response to accessibility needs during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, many health insurance companies and state licensure boards have expanded mental health services to include telehealth. While there have been some changes and variations across states, telehealth accessibility will hopefully remain in place to continuously expand and secure mental health coverage. If you have the option between virtual or in-person therapy services, you may be wondering which option would be best for you. Below are 5 things I recommend considering when determining your personal preferences and assessing what aligns with your therapy needs and goals. 

1. Flexibility and Optionality

Telehealth typically offers increased convenience when scheduling therapy sessions. With the absence of traveling to an in-person office, you may find it easier and less time consuming to schedule and attend sessions. Telehealth may also help you more quickly secure a session time given that it expands your availability to meet. Finally, telehealth provides more optionality on session location, allowing you to choose to have therapy from the comfort of your home, office, or while traveling (provided that you are still in the same state your therapist is licensed in).

2. Containment

A skill that is often discussed and strengthened in trauma therapy is containment. Containment is the mindful separation of and intentional return to distressing material for reprocessing. It can be more challenging to contain and separate from our therapy work when we’re reprocessing in spaces that we live in or access more frequently. While containment is possible in these spaces, it may be easier to contain and separate from our trauma when reprocessing in a space solely dedicated to and only accessed when reprocessing. 

3. Therapy Networks

Searching for in-person options may limit your choice of therapists to those who are within a reasonable walking, public transportation, or driving distance from your home or work. Telehealth options expand your network to therapists all across the state in which you reside (or the location you plan to access therapy from). This expanded network may be particularly helpful for you if you are searching for a specific treatment specialty (trauma, disordered eating, etc), modality (EMDR, DBT, etc), or therapist (queer, BIPOC, etc). 

4. Privacy

Depending on your living or working situation, you may not have access to the same level of privacy as in-person therapy offers. While there are ways to bolster your privacy at home or work (headphones, sound machine), you may not feel entirely comfortable or able to be as vulnerable if your privacy doesn’t feel secure. This is especially true if you want to utilize therapy to process the things and people causing you stress at home or work. 

There may be additional factors to consider as you make this decision, depending on what you need from therapy and how it can fit into your schedule. Therapists may also have clinical recommendations based on your therapy and corresponding level of care needs. Similarly, you may be compelled by the various positives offered by in-person and virtual options, in which case you may want to prioritize finding a therapist who can provide both. If you want to discuss which option is better for and available to you at Through the Pavement, reach out at nicole@throughthepavementtherapy.com for a free phone consultation.