Did you know that teletherapy has been around for more than 20 years? While many might think it’s something new it originally was used by the military to treat veterans and to serve patients that were in rural areas. If you have been hearing the word teletherapy recently and considering using it yourself and want to know more about it – you’re in the right place!
Keep reading to learn more about what teletherapy is, how it works and its benefits.
What Is Teletherapy?
Teletherapy is when a provider such as a physician, counselor, or speech therapist (to name a few) use telecommunication technology to link to a client from a distance. No matter where the client is in the world, teletherapy allows the clinicians or providers to connect.
How Does It Work?
Thanks to the internet a provider is able to use a secure platform to connect to their patient or client via a two-way-live video. The platform used allows both parties to interact as if they were face to face.
Depending on the platform used videos can be shared, and even interactive games can be played between both parties. This is useful in cases where a speech therapist is helping a child improve their speech skills.
What Are the Benefits?
There are more benefits than you might expect when it comes to teletherapy. One obvious benefit is that it is convenient for everyone involved. There is no need to waste time and money to get to your appointment in person anymore.
You can connect from the comfort of a laptop, tablet or phone from wherever you are. If you live in an area with terrible traffic or harsh weather you will love the fact that you won’t have to get ready and go outside to get to your appointment.
Another benefit is that you will have a larger amount of providers to choose from. You are no longer limited to your local area or the next town over. You can have access to providers no matter where you live even if you are in a rural town.
A benefit that is great if the therapy is for children is that kids love technology. Kids nowadays do not understand what living without technology is – this is their normal. This means that because they love online video interaction they will be more motivated to attend their therapy sessions without hesitation.
They also won’t be as intimidated when they meet their therapist for the first time since they are typically in the comfort of their own home during their sessions.
Feeling Like a Teletherapy Pro?
As you can see teletherapy is nothing new although it might feel like it is. There are so many benefits to opting to have teletherapy no matter what you decide to use it for.
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