Teletherapy is an effective way to deliver professional services from a distance. This platform allows a client and clinician to interact over a live video session. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this service delivery method became increasingly popular due to the quarantine orders in cities throughout the country.
What services does teletherapy provide?
Teletherapy provides a wide range of services through synchronous and asynchronous sessions. Services include, but are not limited to:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Mental health treatment or counseling
- Behavioral health
- Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy
What is a synchronous session?
Synchronous sessions are live video sessions between clinician and client. This type of session allows a face-to-face interaction, which encourages the same environment experienced during in-person interaction. This format allows the clinician to provide direct feedback and prompting to the parents and child.
What is an asynchronous session?
Asynchronous sessions are pre-recorded by the clinician, giving the patient the ability to watch them at their own pace.
Who uses teletherapy?
Teletherapy can be used in a variety of settings. Clinicians have the ability to modify their sessions to meet their client’s goals and maximize the level of care they receive. These settings include, but are not limited to:
- Schools
- Medical centers
- Rehab hospitals
- Community health centers
- Outpatient clinics
- Universities
- Private in home therapy
- Residential healthcare facilities
- Child care centers
- Corporate settings
Who provides teletherapy?
Teletherapy is provided by a wide range of professionals including:
- Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants
- Speech-language pathologists
- Occupational therapists
- Applied behavioral analyst (ABA) therapists
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Licensed counselors
- Marriage and family therapists
- Social workers
Benefits of Teletherapy
Provides a safe, at-home experience that protects the health and safety of the provider and client by limiting exposure to sickness-causing germs. This service delivery model is particularly helpful for individuals who have compromised immune systems and abide by social distancing guidelines.
Additionally, teletherapy provides help to those who are unable to access public transit or other forms of transportation or who live in rural communities with minimal health care access. Teletherapy is a HIPAA compliant and secure form of health care which can give children a unique experience to use technology to interact with a clinician.