The Types of Telehealth Counseling
- Jacob Wisda
- 0
- on Feb 04, 2022
Telehealth Counseling for Every Need
Since 2020, the number of telehealth visits has dramatically increased. All over the world, patients with a wide range of conditions have found the treatment they need. At the same time, clinics offering services beyond primary reached a new audience. This is especially true for experts in telehealth counseling.
No two patients have the same healthcare needs. And the same goes when it comes to mental health. Clinics want to promote services their patients need, and patients want to know their treatment options. But when Telehealth counseling encompasses so many different fields, this is no small order.
Thankfully, Beam is here to simplify the process. By outlining different types of care, providers and patients will know where to start in their mental health journey. At the end of the day, mental healthcare is a human right. So, understanding every kind of treatment is essential.
Psychotherapy
Of all the counseling disciplines, psychotherapy is one of the most common. On the surface, talk therapy looks like a conversation between therapist and patient. In actuality, telehealth counseling is a nuanced balancing act. Providers walk the line between making clients comfortable and talking about a difficult subject.
As research on mental health continues, practices have more treatment options. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and cognitive-processing therapy are two such examples. Both methods involve diving into a patient’s thought process or relationship to a traumatic event. By reworking a patient’s way of thinking about themselves, practices improve their mental wellbeing.
On the other hand, advanced treatments aren’t always necessary. For some clients, taking the chance to speak with a professional is more than enough. The point is everyone deserves a space where they can manage their mental health. Telehealth counseling only makes this easier to find.
Psychiatry
For many patients, open dialogue is the first step to effective treatment. But a lot of the time, it isn’t the last one. Some patients find that talk therapy is most effective when combined with other forms of care. Here, the right prescription makes all the difference.
Psychiatry goes hand in with virtual care services. Telehealth counseling lets providers understand what their patients go through. Once their problems have been outlined, practices can offer a diagnosis. And depending on a client’s condition, medication can vastly improve their symptoms.
Virtual care makes managing prescriptions easier, as well. Most platforms have integrated client notes and insurance information. For providers, keeping track of doses and adjusting medications has never been easier. And for patients, psychiatrists are easier to reach than ever before.
Neurology
Sometimes, mental problems have physical causes. In the case of trauma and neurological conditions, conventional treatment can’t solve the root cause. Neurological patients need care that deals with the brain and nervous system directly. In these cases, Neurology services go hand in hand with counseling.
Neurological telehealth is a growing field that covers a wide array of conditions [2]. During a neurology exam, providers diagnose Parkinson’s Disease, breakthrough seizures, and more. On top of that, experts can recommend treatment methods and strategies for managing symptoms. While neurological telehealth is new, it’s making quick and seamless changes to the remote model.
Drug abuse and addiction
So far, we’ve seen how telehealth allows for the treatment of specific illnesses. But some psychological conditions are associated with patterns of behavior and substance abuse. And patients who struggle with addiction may also benefit from virtual care.
Addiction’s relationship to mental health has been studied for a long time. Thanks to this, substance abuse experts have an established niche among providers. In fact, addiction services are on the rise. Because drug overdoses are at an all-time high, addiction counselors have become more common at clinics [3].
Home telehealth kits contain tools that help with drug testing. And because therapists are so accessible, they can be reached to prevent a relapse or manage withdrawal symptoms. Through regular engagement, goal-setting, and symptom management, telehealth reaches patients struggling with addiction.
Group counseling
While most counselors focus on working with a single client, group therapy has a foothold in telehealth. Whether patients need relationship or family therapy, virtual counseling rises to the occasion. And thanks to telehealth platforms’ tools, group sessions can be more effective when they’re virtual.
Remote health platforms allow therapists to easily manage discussions. Chat features will also keep patients from speaking over one another. Furthermore, counselors have control over participants’ audio and visual feeds. These minor controls help with preventing conflict and promoting healthy conversation.
It goes without saying that remote therapy brings distant participants together. In the case of a business trip or moving away from your family, virtual platforms allow group therapy to continue. Not every problem can be squared away with a diagnosis. But thanks to group counselors, anyone can access mediation and healthy discussion.
No matter the type of care a patient needs, telehealth counseling offers high-quality treatment. And to help providers reach these patients, Beam will do its part. We believe mental healthcare is a human right and will offer free use of our platform for a year. Click here to learn more and see if your clinic qualifies.
Sources:
[1] https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/02/online-therapy
[2]https://www.neuropt.org/practice-resources/best-practice-initiatives-and-resources/neuro-telehealth