USPS Publication Number 16300
T h i s C om mu n it y Ne w s p a p e r i s a p u bl i c a t ion of E s c a m b i a-S a nt a Ro s a B a r A s s o c i a t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icia l Ci rcu it Section A, Page 1
Vol. 22, No. 4
V isit T he S ummation W eekly O nline : SummationWeekly.com
Janurary 26, 2022
1 Section, 10 Pages
HE ALING AT HOME
HOW VIRTUAL THER APY IS CHANGING MENTAL HE ALTH C ARE
by Fiama Mastrangelo
V
irtual therapy, or teletherapy, is changing the way that mental health practitioners deliver services to their patients. After many face-to-face services were abruptly forced to shut down due to COVID19, mental health providers continued to care for patients by making the switch to teletherapy, which is a form of care that is conducted by video chat or phone call. At a time of global crisis, ensuring the accessibility of mental health resources remains critical for both practitioners and patients.
Pensacola based Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMCH) and owner of Laynie Gibson, LMHC made the switch to teletherapy during the height of the pandemic. “From the clinician side of things, I think we were all, myself included, a little freaked out by the idea of moving to teletherapy at the beginning of 2020,” she said. “So much of what we do relies not only on what people are saying but how they’re saying it as well,” she explained. For Gibson, body language can be an important diagnostic tool in face-to-face therapy and she said it took some adjusting to work without that tool in teletherapy sessions. “How people are moving, or sitting or holding themselves throughout a session is a major element for both practitioners and patients within the therapeutic process,” Gibson said. “I’ve adapted to the little
nuances of what it’s like waiting for someone to have an emotional response in a video space, including waiting out things like glitches and poor connections.” Since teletherapy can be accessed from a patient’s residence, some people may prefer the convenience and comfort of processing their mental health concerns at home. “I actually prefer online therapy because it’s a lot more convenient,” said Claire, a local teletherapy patient. For Claire, the flexibility of teletherapy is especially helpful because of how her depression affects her own executive function. “When I’m depressed, I can just get on my laptop without having to get up, get ready and drive somewhere,” Claire explained. “I was aware of online therapy before COVID, but I never actually tried it until it was a necessity.”
Like many others who were standing relationships to used to the in-person format, oneself and others, as well the switch felt awkward at as LGBTQ+ identity. One first. However, as Claire of the most important steps became more comfortable of finding a mental health with the format, she began provider is to find the right to develop a preference for mental health provider. the service. “It feels safer in Counselors each have differsome regard to just be talking ent specialties and areas of to a screen instead of a real focus that they explored at person,” she said. “The main length during their education. difference is that you have to Matching the right provider bring your own tissues.” to individual preferences and Teletherapy is an extremely needs can make all the differversatile resource for people ence in creating a successful seeking mental health care, therapeutic experience. especially in a time when global issues continue If there’s to cause undue amounts a specific of stress and uncertainty. While personal preferences reason why vary from person to person, you’re seeking Gibson strongly recomtherapy, there’s mends that teletherapy is a therapist out best for “people who are not there whose in immediate crisis,” as it can clinical focus is in be difficult for mental health that area.” professionals to step in when a high safety risk presents itself through virtual means. Despite the many advanFor people who do prefer tages of at-home mental teletherapy, the flexibility health care, many patients of the practice can present and providers still prefer a multitude of benefits. One face-to-face interactions. such benefit is the ability to Gibson recently opened choose from a wider range her own practice over the of practitioners than what summer and now offers might be available locally. clients in-person sessions. “If there’s a specific reason “Because the last couple why you’re seeking therapy, of years have been what there’s a therapist out there they’ve been, people have whose clinical focus is in that been really hungry to come area,” Gibson said. Gibson’s back in person,” she said. “It own niche involves under- took me a while to adjust to
going back to seeing people in front of me.” Whether in person or virtual, therapy can be a life saver for those suffering with mental health issues. With the popularity of telehealth on the rise, those in need of a good therapist have plenty of options to choose from. For anyone seeking teletherapy, Psychology Today (psychologytoday.com) keeps an active directory of LMHC’s and mental health providers who are registered in each state. In Pensacola alone, there are approximately 100 teletherapy providers listed on the directory. The directory contains various filters to use when searching for more specific options, such as gender, insurance, age range and therapy style. Verywell Mind (verywellmind.com) has also compiled a ranked list of online companies that offer teletherapy services based on consumer reviews and survey results. If you or someone you know is suicidal or in emotional distress, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 to speak with a crisis counselor 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911.
visit SummationWeekly.com