Telebehavioral Health

As a client considering telebehavioral health services, you may have some concerns about diving into this experience.  This is also known as:

• Telemedicine
• Telecare
• Telehealth
• Telepsychology
• E-therapy
• Online counseling
• Cybertherapy

There are some things you should know before you begin…

According to the Ohio Board of Psychology, psychologists should limit their practice only to those specialty areas in which they have gained competence through education, training, and experience.  All of our clinicians at Jones-Wood Psychological Associates, Inc. have received specialized training in how to perform telebehavioral health services.

It is important that your telebehavioral clinician is licensed in the state in which you are receiving services.  Our therapists are all independently licensed in the State of Ohio. They also have at least a master’s degree in a behavioral health field (such as counseling, social work, or psychology).  Other popular sites offering telepsychology services may or may not offer such guarantees, using therapists that your insurance company would not even reimburse for services.

The telebehavioral health platform we use, doxy.me, is secure and provides HIPAA compliant virtual care.  It is very easy to use and works on most devices. 

Are these services for everyone?

Telebehavioral health services are not appropriate for everyone.  For example, some clients are uncomfortable with the use of technology.  Clients with severe pathology may need to receive services in a more controlled environment, such as a hospital, clinic, or agency versus the home.  This might include those individuals with:

• A history of suicide attempts or self-harm
• Homicidal tendencies
• Impulse control disorders
• Substance use disorders
• Active symptoms of psychosis

Telebehavioral health isn’t a good fit for everyone. When this happens we will assist in making the appropriate referrals.

The following tips will help for a smooth telebehavioral health session:

• Most laptops will work fine for teletherapy, as well as most smartphones, but make sure to check your technology before your appointment.
• The internet browser you choose may make a difference in the quality of your sessions.  Chrome and Firefox may work better than Safari or Explorer.  Also, earbuds may help reduce background noise.
• Make sure that you have a quiet and private place to meet with your provider.  Some people use a home office, while others use a bedroom or their car.  It can be useful to set up a fan outside your room for added privacy.  Telling those whom you live with is also a great idea. Doing this decreases the chance for disruption during a session.
• Be sure to give your clinician your phone number in the case of a dropped connection.  
• Make sure to inform your therapist of your current location, as well as any support persons that live in the same area as yourself, in the event of a crisis.