ABOUT TELETHERAPY
What Is Teletherapy?
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Our lives seem to get busier each day and we know that, for many reasons, it can be difficult to make it to a counseling or coaching session. Teletherapy, also known as video or phone counseling, is a way to engage in session with your counselor or coach.
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Online Yet Face-to Face
Dr. Small uses doxy.me for online face -to-face teletherapy services. Doxy.me uses encrypted point-to-point connections which is HIPAA-compliant and secure for your privacy. There are no downloads or account sign-ups required and it is free and easy to use. Doxy.me is accessible from your tablet, desktop, and smartphone. You will simply go to our personalized room once we provide you with the URL and meet us there. One click of a button and you are in!
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How does Online Counseling, Coaching, %Mentoring Work?
Prior to your session, a meeting code or link is provided to you by your clinician. This code or link establishes a secure encrypted online video conference with you and your clinician. This online video conference can be accessed via your PC/Macintosh or Smartphone/Tablet.
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Is There Research to Support the Effectiveness of Online Counseling/Teletherapy?
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Yes! Here's what the experts have to say about online counseling.
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Benefits of Online Counseling, Coaching, & Mentoring
· You can remain in the comfort of your own home, which can help you be more open and comfortable with your clinician
· There is no commute, which can be helpful if you’re unable to drive or have difficulty leaving your home
· It allows you to participate in counseling or coaching if you become sick and are unable to leave your home
· It provides greater anonymity by foregoing the public office setting in favor of the privacy of your own home
· It can provide you the opportunity to continue counseling or coaching even when travelling for work or pleasure
Online counseling was slightly more effective at treating depression than face-to-face counseling.
The effects of online psychotherapy outlasted the results of face-to-face counseling
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A University of Zurich study divided a group of 62 patients in half and found that depression was eased in 53 percent of those given online therapy, compared to 50 percent who had in-person counseling. Three months after completing the study, 57 percent of online patients showed no signs of depression compared to 42 percent with conventional therapy.
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— Journal of Affective Disorders, 2013
Online therapy significantly lowered the number of hospital visits among veterans.
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In a four-year Johns Hopkins study that included close to 100,000 veterans, the number of days that patients were hospitalized dropped by 25 percent if they chose online counseling. This is slightly higher than the number of hospital visits experienced by patients who used face-to-face counseling.
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— Psychiatric Services, April 2012
Patients who chose online counseling saw hospital visits drop significantly.
Five hundred patients assigned to either live video counseling or in-person care showed equal rates of recovery.
A Canadian study shows that online therapy delivers the same satisfaction at slightly less the cost.
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Patients in Ontario, Canada were assigned to face-to-face or live video counseling and experienced statistically the same clinical outcome and level of patient satisfaction. The only difference was that the cost of providing the online service was 10% less per patient.
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— American Psychiatric Association, 2007
Online therapy may be an efficient way to provide PTSD treatment to a large group of people.
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A pilot study compared the effectiveness of online cognitive behavioral therapy and in-person supportive therapy in 45 Defense service members suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the September 11th attack. After eight weeks those receiving online therapy showed greater improvement. Six months after their first meeting those who had received online therapy continued to show improvement, in direct contrast to the in-person group.
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— American Journal of Psychiatry, November 2007
Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy helped reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder with effects that lasted until well after the treatment had ended.