Tech for Your Health
Telehealth is expanding access to mental health care.
Virtual therapy, also known as teletherapy, has emerged as a new option for mental health care. By allowing patients to access sessions online, virtual therapy removes barriers that have traditionally prevented access to care – such as location, scheduling conflicts, transportation limitations, and social stigma – and makes it easier to implement therapy into a busy lifestyle. It can treat a range of conditions, including anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders, and benefit adolescents navigating academic and social pressures; adults managing life transitions; couples working through relationship challenges; and families seeking support.
How Does It Work?
Virtual therapy takes place online via a device such as a computer, laptop, or smartphone. Sessions are secure and private and conducted on encrypted, HIPAA-compliant video platforms. A licensed therapist will work collaboratively with you to establish treatment goals, build coping strategies, and support long-term emotional health.
The Benefits of the Virtual Therapy
- Effective. Research shows that the virtual format is comparable to traditional, in-person therapy at providing effective care for many mental health conditions.
- Convenient. Virtual therapy eliminates time spent traveling and in a waiting room, making it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule.
- Accessible. Mental health care is made possible for individuals with physical limitations or those living in remote or rural areas where in-person options are limited or require long travel times.
- Comfortable. Patients can receive care from the comfort of their own homes, making therapy less intimidating for those concerned about stigma.
- Flexible. Virtual therapy offers quicker, easier scheduling and greater flexibility, allowing patients to attend sessions while traveling or away from home.
- Consistent. These benefits encourage regular, consistent care, supporting positive mental health outcomes.
An Expert Weighs In
Meet the Author
Rachel Studebaker, BA, English, Summa Cum Laude
Rachel Studebaker is a graduate of Lee University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in advertising with the distinction of summa cum laude and served as editor-in-chief of the university’s biannual magazine, The Vindagua. After graduation, Rachel joined CMC Media & Marketing Group as an editor. Today, she serves as managing editor and is responsible for leading the editorial team in the development and completion of content for 17 publications involving health & wellness, business, sports, and lifestyle published in print and online for HealthScope® and CityScope® magazines as well as Choose Chattanooga® and Choose Huntsville™ – premier publications serving Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia, and North Alabama. In addition to writing, editing, and coordinating copy, Rachel oversees networking and reputation management for the company’s publications. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, attending concerts, trying new restaurants, and traveling with her husband.
