Tele-mental health services have been around a lot longer than COVID. Teletherapy is now available from mental health providers who also see people in person, and some mental health professionals only work remotely. But some people question whether teletherapy is the same as in person therapy and if youth, in particular, get any benefit from seeing a therapist remotely.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) did a comprehensive study lasting nearly 10 years, exploring more than 950 studies. The AHRQ reported that telehealth is beneficial for specific uses and populations. In fact, there is a large volume of research reporting that teletherapy clinical outcomes are as good as OR BETTER than usual care and that mental health services delivered remotely can improve intermediate outcomes and satisfaction.[1]

The Canadian Medical Association also completed a study lasting nearly 10 years that explored the impact of online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).[2] Research found online CBT – which is the most common type of therapy available — could effectively reduce the symptoms of depression and other mental health issues. In some cases, online CBT was even MORE EFFECTIVE than traditional in-person therapy.

Dr. David Mohr, Director of the Center for Behavioral Health Intervention Technologies at Northwestern University School of Medicine, has spent his career studying the impact of teletherapy. He reports video conferencing for therapy has proven to be effective for depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, substance use, eating disorders and other problems in children and adolescents. According to Dr. Mohr, “what we’ve seen is that telehealth is essentially just as effective as face-to-face psychotherapy, with better retention.”[3]

[1] The Evidence Base for Telehealth: Reassurance in the Face of Rapid Expansion During the COVID-19 Pandemic | Effective Health Care (EHC) Program (ahrq.gov)

[2] Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy in the treatment of psychiatric illness – PMC (nih.gov)

[3] How well is telepsychology working? (apa.org)

Simply put, telehealth enables child, adolescents, adults and seniors to remotely connect with clinicians for healthcare services and information by phone, tablet or computer. Utilizing user-friendly, HIPAA-compliant video and communications technology, this service allows our clients to see and speak with a therapist just as they would during an in-person consultation — all in real time, respectful of social distancing practices and from home, school or another location.

Several different types of therapy services may be available virtually, via videoconferencing.

Individual teletherapy provides support that inspires change and promotes a better quality of life. Individual therapy can help individuals overcome obstacles impacting their wellbeing. Youth learn coping skills, improve their decision-making ability and self-awareness, work toward recovery from trauma and grief, improve their ability to manage their mental health, learn to set and achieve goals and improve their overall function.

Family teletherapy helps families address specific issues affecting their health and functioning. Family therapy provides support for children or parents suffering from mental illness, assists in the development of problem-solving, communication, and coping skills and promotes the development of strengths families need to overcome challenges such as trauma, grief and loss, anger and stress.

Group teletherapy is designed to help with mental illness, trauma, impulse control, self-harm, grief and loss and other challenges by working with others who are experiencing similar life challenges.

Adolescent Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Treatment (MH-IOP) services are designed to support patients experiencing a variety of mental and behavioral health care challenges. Patients struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, impulse control, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, self-harm and other diagnosable mental health concerns or challenges will participate in nine hours of group therapy a week, usually for 4-6 weeks. Participants may also attend individual and family therapy outside of MH-IOP services.

MH-IOP supports the patient in an outpatient setting enabling them to attend school and participate in work or other activities while receiving structured support. IOP uses Expressive Art Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and other skills-based treatment methods to develop a goal-directed treatment plan to increase each patient’s functioning and ability to find joy in life.

Participation in IOP will require attendance and participation in all weekly sessions, a complete intake/clinical assessment and telehealth orientation, and may require a referral from a physician/psychiatrist as well as a completed medical assessment (with physical/health screening by a physician if indicated).

Step Down

Telehealth intensive outpatient programming can help teens discharging from inpatient and residential treatment continue to recover with group, individual and family counseling, without having to leave home.

Step In

Telehealth intensive outpatient programming can help teens struggling at home or in school who are not yet in need of acute inpatient psychiatric care or residential treatment.

To speak with a member of our outpatient telehealth clinic team, give us a call at 307-439-2139 or you can reach us via email at [email protected].