Until last year, telehealth was mostly a niche approach to therapy. It was incredibly helpful for someone who was disabled or lived far from any therapist. Along came the pandemic and the need for teletherapy exploded. For a while, the only way a client could meet with their counselor was via video chat (or phone call).
Today, with nearly 17 months of experience under our belts, many Americans have discovered a preference for telehealth. The numbers below will help illustrate this trend. In other words, online options still make sense. In some ways, they are here to stay.
Telehealth By the Numbers
Before Covid, less than one in five Americans had ever even tried telehealth for any kind of medical appointment. By March 2021, that number had risen more than threefold to 61 percent. Pre-pandemic, 65 percent of U.S. patients admitted to being hesitant to try telehealth. Conversely, surveys in 2021 found 88 percent reported wanting to continue using remote appointments as the norm.
Needless to say, this is a dramatic turn of events. Initially, nearly everyone assumed telehealth was a temporary reaction to an unexpected crisis. Today, as move toward the latter part of 2021, it’s clear that online counseling options have won over the majority of Americans.
6 Reasons Why Online Options May Still Make Sense
1. Convenience
A 50-minute session lasts 50 minutes. It may sound pretty basic but it’s a big deal. Telehealth does not require a long commute. You don’t even have to spend five minutes deciding on an outfit! In addition, you can remove the added potential stress of traffic, public transportation delays, parking costs, and more. One more thing: You have easy access to food or drink if necessary.
2. Continuity
Once you’ve made a connection with a therapist, it may be hard to imagine moving on to another practitioner. Thanks to telehealth, you can stay with the same counselor even if you (or they) move. Continuity is crucial for recovery and healing. Telehealth makes that more possible than ever.
3. Privacy and Lack of Stigma
Therapy is more common than ever. That doesn’t mean, however, that everyone is comfortable with the concept. Doing therapy from home removes possibilities like running into someone you know on the commute — or in the therapist’s waiting room.
4. Access to Clients in Their “Natural Habitat”
The odds are that you’re more comfortable in your own home than you could be in a therapist’s office. This is a big plus for you. Meanwhile, your therapist gets to see you in action within your comfort zone. That’s a big plus for them. This may facilitate results more quickly. That’s a big plus for both of you.
5. Flexibility
We live in a society of overextended multitaskers. Everyone is busy. This can create quite a challenge when it comes to scheduling appointments. After all, most health practitioners can only see you during official office hours. With telehealth, office hours have been reinvented. Who knows? You might wind up agreeing on a Sunday morning as the most arrangement for both of you!
6. Potentially Lower Costs for Everyone Involved
As more and more therapists move to virtual sessions as their default setting, this change can remove the need for a brick-and-mortar office. In turn, the move to telehealth may translate to lower costs for the clients.
Want to Learn More? Let’s Video Chat!
If any or all of the above has caught your attention, there’s a perfect way to learn more. Let’s connect — via video chat — for a free and confidential consultation. You’ll get a feel for the format while also getting your questions answered. Why not reach out today to get this essential process started?
