Is Virtual Therapy Right For You?
It might seem like virtual therapy was popularized as a logical reaction to the Coronavirus pandemic. In truth, the concept existed long before then. In fact, starting back in 2008, actress and writer Lisa Kudrow actually made 113 episodes of a TV show based upon the idea of online therapy. If you're considering seeking therapy, you might be wondering if virtual therapy is actually capable of meeting your needs.
The Issue to Be Addressed
The effectiveness of virtual therapy can somewhat depend on the issue you're seeking to address. For example, it may not be appropriate if you require intensive psychotherapy as part of a treatment plan for severe drug or alcohol addiction. However, if you require more general counselling, or you are seeking an online lifestyle psychiatrist for anxiety treatment, then virtual therapy can be extremely beneficial.
Location and Licenses
One of the associated benefits of this type of treatment is that your psychiatrist doesn't need to be in the same region as you, arguably giving you a greater choice. It can be helpful if your psychiatrist is in the same time zone as you, but this is not essential. It's necessary to enquire about the psychiatrist's license. Authorization provided by a state licensing board may not be valid out of state, which can impact your ability to have your insurance provider reimburse you for the cost of the sessions.
Your Working Relationship
As with traditional in-person therapy, it's important that you're able to build a productive and trusting working relationship with the professional treating you. The existence of this relationship is somewhat at your discretion. Do you get a good feeling about the professional in question,? Do you feel that working with them will yield the desired results? It might be necessary to have a number of initial consultations with several psychiatrists until you find the right person for the job.
Treatment Methods
When choosing a psychiatrist for virtual therapy, you must enquire about their treatment methods, which will determine the nature of your interactions. It's likely to be primarily via videoconferencing, although text-based communication may also be utilized. Be cautious about any approach that relies too heavily on text-based communication, as body language and other cues are eliminated from these exchanges, and immediate feedback on a specific area of concern may not be available. This may impede the effectiveness of your sessions.
Whether a global pandemic is raging or not, virtual therapy such as G. OZKARAHAN, M.D., P.C. can be an extremely constructive process. Not all mental health professionals are the same, so it's important to find one whose style and treatment modalities are compatible with your needs.