Teletherapy in Oregon
What is Telehealth?
Telehealth refers to care given to a client by phone or online video chat. Teletherapy is used when the client and therapist are not in the same location and are using technology to communicate.
Other terms used for online healthcare: telehealth, teletherapy, telemedicine, telementalhealth, distance counseling, e-psychology, technically-assisted counseling or therapy, web-based counseling, cyber-counseling, and online therapy.
Benefits to Counseling through Telehealth
- Teletherapy provides counseling from the comfort of your own home and is available to Oregon residents.
- Telehealth provides more accessibility.
- No Traffic!
- Teletherapy can make scheduling easier.
- Telehealth makes therapy accessible to those living in rural locations.
- Teletherapy gives access to a wider selection therapists and types of therapy.
- Telehealth can be more comfortable for those with social anxiety or symptoms of agoraphobia.
- Teletherapy can make revealing difficult or vulnerable information easier for clients to discuss.
- Online counseling makes effective treatment such as IFS and EMDR therapy accessible.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Telehealth
Providing Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy online through telehealth to residents in the State of Oregon.
Learn more about Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) here.
EMDR Therapy Telehealth
Providing EMDR therapy online through telehealth to residents in the State of Oregon.
Learn more about EMDR therapy here.
Q & A Telehealth
Is telehealth confidential?
Yes! Inner Insight Counseling LLC uses a HIPAA secure video portal from which you can meet with your therapist from whatever location is most convenient for you.
How do I prepare for a teletherapy session?
Things to consider before beginning your first teletherapy session.
Privacy
When participating in counseling through telehealth creating confidential space is important.
- Make sure the room you are in is secure, does it lock? Have you notified the other people in our house that you will be needing privacy?
- If others outside the room you are in can hear you, you can use a fan outside the door to create white noise during your online therapy session.
- Using headphones or ear buds during your telehealth session will keep your counselor's voice private.
Environment
Things to consider for making your teletherapy experience more comfortable. This may include finding a comfortable chair, lighting in the room, limiting external noise.
Technical Set up
- Cell phones, tablets or computers can be used but the bigger the screen the better. Using a computer screen will be better overall for connection with your therapist during the session.
- Move your computer as close to your wifi router as possible or plug your computer directly into the router to insure an uninterrupted online therapy session.
- Before you begin your telehealth session be sure to close out all open windows and other programs or applications to ensure the best connection.
Is teletherapy effective?
Virtual Counseling is not new therefore there is research that backs its efficacy. Click on the links below to view some of the research on telehealth.
https://iopc.online/teleneuropsychology-research
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1357633X19871746
Are there drawbacks to telehealth?
- Teletherapy is not for everyone. Online therapy would not be a good fit for someone in crisis, for example, someone with suicidal intent or in need of immediate care.
- During teletherapy the therapist can miss certain nonverbal cues such as body language.
- Technical issues such as dropped calls or a freezing screen can disrupt sessions. In order for a smooth teletherapy session both client and therapist need to have a strong internet connection.