Virtual therapy / face to face

[Strongest123]

Hello everyone on here. I’m wondering lately about all these therapists sticking with online therapy. And to be honest, I think it probably helps about half of what person to person therapy does. My therapist that I’ve been seeing for years now just told me he’s not going back to person to person anymore. His therapy will always be online. I really don’t get it. It’s ridiculous. Don’t they know that just being their in a room with another human being is the 1st step in healing? I mean if we’re both in the room at least 6ft apart, and wearing masks, wouldn’t that be safe enough?? It’s gotten to a point that people’s mental health is being affected 3x worse now with all these complications. SAMSON

[Nothing_but_books]

Hello Strongest123. You've just given voice to something I've felt all along. It's not just you.

[Dolphin14]

Some therapists gave up their offices as they were paying rent and working from home. This is the case with one of my therapists. The lease was up on the building my therapist and her colleagues worked in. The leader of the group did not renew the lease. They are still a group and now work virtually as a team.

My other therapist kept her office the whole time. She asked me if I wanted to come back in. I said not with delta. I told her I would be wearing a mask and I don't feel that's the way to go with therapy. So I am still a virtual patient with her.

I'm on the opposite side of the discussion. I'm still making progress virtually.

🐬

[Arniestal]

I agree, its nowhere near as good online or on a phone . Its not personal, not human, just a voice. You can never beat actually being with the person. Lots of it doesn't work either, i was supposed to be on a online group i couldn't connect to it. I was told i wasn't the only one. Now im on a 3 month waiting list for telephone calls! Too little too late.

[Strongest123 in reply to Arniestal]

Yes it doesn’t. Most of the time when I’m on with my therapist I lose connection. It’s absolutely positively not the same. And to be honest, I think these therapists don’t see that, cause they’re not in our shoes

[Windsorgardener5087]

Hi Strongest, Telehealth will probably be the new normal as an outcome of Covid-19. In Australia we are even trialling a program called Hospital from Home for certain conditions though not yet, mental healthcare.My doctors offer both options at this stage. I am with you preferring in person consultation over online. I guess we have to remember that for people who live in rural and remote locations, telehealth given better access to treatment for mental and physical health care.

[Gillyflower18]

I agree completely. My therapist just went back to seeing me in person and I was so happy to be able to go. Telephones and zoom are no substitute for face to face!

[b1b1b1]

I speak to mine on FaceTime on my cell phone. I find it works pretty well.

[Agora1]

Hi Strongest, I will agree that therapy appointments have changed a lot for some since Covid came about. For the Agoraphobic patient, it was a blessing in disguise that insurance companies finally agreed to cover phone call sessions. (I never changed back to in office visits) Now I call my therapist once or twice a year as a friend who I know is alwaysthere for me and knows my history.

My therapist sees vaccinated patients in office, by phone/internet or in their cars out in

the parking lot. It's a different world for sure. Human touch is gone. I remember when

that pat on the back and that look in their eyes of caring was a part of the healing process.