Does Teletherapy Work? How to make the most of your telehealth sessions

Many people lament teletherapy because it is one more example of how technology can separate us, minimizing intimacy. Some people don’t prefer this method because they miss the in-person connection and being able to hug their counselor after sharing their innermost thoughts and feelings. Of course! We feel the same way.

Also, clients often associate their therapists’ office as a safe and healing space. It is a respite from the chaos of everyday life where people can focus on creating robust emotional wellbeing. It is understandable to miss this during teletherapy sessions.

Similarly, with so much more time on electronics nowadays with so many people working from home, people report feeling headachy and exhausted from it. So, when your self-care requires more screen time, it is hard not to be frustrated.

Benefits outweigh the cons

However, the benefits of teletherapy (over no therapy) far outweigh any of the above frustrations. Here is why:

Feeling helpless and overwhelmed is a regular human reaction in the context of, for example ,stressful or traumatic experiences. To counter that, we need some validation and compassion for our feelings. There seems so much loss these days, especially since the pandemic, that we have to consistently be healing it to maintain a positive mental attitude. This empowered outlook will help us feel in control, and therefore take action to have more control over our days.

Read this sweet article about the surprising intimacy in telehealth sessions in the Washington Post!

Teletherapy is accessible wherever you are!

A therapist is a coach for getting through difficulty, who better would you like to have on your side right now? Sometimes people wait too long to get professional help because they think they have to do it on their own or that therapy is just for people with “mental illness.” Therapists have the potential to help people get through hard times faster, with more gentleness and consciousness.

Also, current losses bring up past losses. When those arise, it is better to heal them than to push them back down!

Teletherapy is not as bad as you think it will be. In therapy, people tell stories, find and shift beliefs, practice mindset skills, share thoughts, plan, and imagine their future. This conversation happens in the matrix of a person’s mind. While it is a bonus to be with someone in-person, it is not essential.

On one end, people claim their personal power by being giving and open, contributing to improved relationships. On the other end, people try to get control over others to settle their anxiety, causing increased conflict, or at the extreme, domestic abuse. Somewhere in the middle, people might act immobilized by their sense of powerlessness and withdraw from their significant others, causing the other to feel unloved or unworthy. A therapist can help partners choose their response in ways that will make their relationship stronger, and them happier. 

When you are alone:

Social isolation can really affect your heart and mind. Humans are social beings and so not meant to live in small groups, let alone live totally alone. When you are alone, the negativity in your head gets worse without someone to pull you out of there. Being isolated tests your sense of worth, and you can feel abandoned and rejected even when you haven’t been. It can seem like everyone else is with people and you are the only one in the universe alone.

How do you know that you need teletherapy?

If you are struggling emotionally, be kind, and compassionate with yourself. Don’t put the high expectations on yourself that you have to figure it all out alone. As social beings, humans need others.

Therapists help you think about your pain and problems differently, thus, changing the meaning around them to ease the suffering. They help you to notice your emotional blocks and clear them, so you can do the things that you want to do in your life. And, they help you release and change limiting beliefs that hurt you.

This is how you know if you ought to seek professional help or not, ask yourself: Are you suffering? Do you want to keep suffering?

Watch this video to see if you need professional help:

When people experience problems, they keep questioning the problem. This keeps people from healing. Therapists can help people immediately understand what is going on so they can know what to do about it sooner.

Making the most of your teletherapy session

Give teletherapy a try if you haven’t already. Therapists are available and poised to help right now. Keep in mind, when the practitioner is comfortable, it makes the session as productive as an in-person session! I have been doing video sessions for many years and I think my familiarity helps my clients get the most out of it. So if it is not working with your counselor but you want the support, it is okay to try someone else, even if it is just temporary.

Improve your comfort during the session, be prepared. Prop the phone or device eye-level so you can be comfortable and you don’t have to hold it. Pick a chair you feel cozy in. Remember to have your device charged ahead so you don’t have to be beholden to the plug. Have a glass of water next to you in case you get thirsty. Be in a room with a closed-door if possible so you feel free to be open with your practitioner. Perhaps even have a wall behind you so you can look into the room to see if and when someone is listening.  Know your preferences: Do you like earphones or no earphones? Pretend that you are in the same room talking to them. Some therapists are new to teletherapy. Share when they are poorly lit, or sitting too far from their screen.

Let me know if you have more questions about getting help! I’m on Facebook every Monday at 11 am Eastern answering your questions live.