About Virtual / Online Therapy Sessions
During the last year the mental health field has joined physicians in using technology as a mode to deliver services. Conversing with a mental health professional via a digital platform is now seen as a reliable and secure pathway for obtaining psychological support.
A virtual therapy session is carried out through an encrypted portal to ensure the system is HIPAA compliant and that patient privacy is protected. The patient schedules an online therapy session or group session, which is then carried out via a computer, phone, or tablet.
Virtual mental health services are filling the gap created during the pandemic, when safety measures limited in-person access to mental health professionals. Patients were very receptive to this option, finding themselves comfortable chatting with a therapist from the comfort of their home. The virtual therapy sessions have even increased access to care. In fact, in some cases the physical separation between patient and therapist can actually help patients open up and share more comfortably.