What is it?
Telemental Health
Is It Effective?
Yes. Telemental health services are an evidence-based mode of service delivery that is appropriate for many people. They are a valid and reliable method of assessing and treating many common concerns identified by our clients, and they deliver similar or identical outcomes to in-person services in many cases. Research on telemental health service delivery has focused on many different populations and problems, so if your therapist determines that these are a good fit for you, you can have confidence that this decision is backed by science.
Advantages/Benefits
Possible benefits of telemental health services include, but are not limited to:
- Enhancing access to services by overcoming barriers such as distance, disability, or illness
- Ease and flexibility in communication between you and your therapist
- The ability to overcome scheduling challenges
- Reducing the need to travel to access services
Disadvantages/Risks
Possible risks of telemental health services include, but are not limited to:
- The potential for technology failure and interruption of services
- Privacy issues, including the risk of confidentiality breaches
- Limited ability of your therapist to respond to emergency situations
- If there is low sound/video quality, communication can be difficult
Working with Southwest Counselling Services
At Southwest Counselling Services we are sensitive to the fact that the working relationship you build with your therapist is an important aspects of your comfort and success in reaching your therapeutic goals. Some people worry about building and/or maintaining a strong working relationship while receiving telemental health services. We want to assure you to that a wide body of research shows that strong working relationships form when telemental health services are used. More importantly, there seems to be no measurable difference in the quality of this relationship compared to face to face service delivery.
Client Satisfaction
Providing high quality service with a focus on client comfort and satisfaction has always been our primary goal at Southwest Counselling Services. In line with this, we only engage with clients using techniques that are evidence-based and backed by research demonstrating consumer satisfaction. Telemental health services are no exception. Research shows that this form of service delivery is not only as effective for many people as face to face sessions, but that their experience is also equally positive and satisfying. If you have suggestions about how we can improve your telemental health service experience, we welcome this feedback.
Other Resources
Questions or Concerns?
We hope this webpage has answered your questions about telemental health services. If you need any further information, or if you have a concern that was not addressed here, your therapist is happy to discuss this new service delivery option with you in more detail. Please do not hesitate to contact them or our office staff. Contact Us >