Telehealth
Some people prefer in-office therapy, while others prefer therapy from the comfort of their own home or office. Available research suggests that psychotherapy conducted virtually is comparable in effectiveness to in-person psychotherapy. I have been offering telehealth as a treatment option since 2019, and have found it to be an invaluable tool for many of my clients. Telehealth introduces unique benefits, including the ability to see a doctor in a different city or state, convenience, no time spent in traffic, and the ability to keep your appointment when feeling sick or running late. Virtual therapy is not necessarily appropriate for everyone (e.g., for clients who are in a crisis situation requiring high levels of support and intervention), but for those wanting to work out their problems in therapy week to week, it can be a great option.
Interstate Telehealth
I have met all requirements and have obtained an Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) from the PSYPACT Commission. What that means is that I have the authority to be your telepsychology therapist if you live in any of 37 approved states in addition to the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. To see if you live in an eligible state, see the map on this page.
The Technical Stuff
Unlike other audiovisual platforms that might be more familiar to you, like FaceTime or WhatsApp, the platform I use, VSee, features enhanced security tools that meet the requirements for HIPAA compliance. VSee provides military-grade, secure, end-to-end encryption, effectively turning our communication into a string of gibberish to anyone who might try to intercept it. All audio and video communication is transmitted between your device and mine in a manner that even the people at VSee cannot decrypt the message, thereby protecting the confidentiality of our conversation and your personal health information. In addition, this company provides a business associate agreement (BAA) in accordance with HIPAA regulations in which the company agrees to be responsible for keeping all patient information secure and agrees to immediately report any breach of personal health information.
Privacy / Security
I will make pertinent efforts to protect all telehealth communications. You should also take reasonable steps to ensure the security of our communications (e.g., only using secure networks for telehealth sessions, avoiding public wifi, and having strong passwords to protect the device you use for telehealth). Please do your best to choose a space that is adequately private, quiet, and free of distractions.
Fees / Insurance
Most insurance providers are now providing coverage for telehealth counseling/therapy services. My fees for telehealth are the same as those for in-person psychotherapy. If you wish to use health insurance for your telepsychology care, please contact your insurance company in advance to determine whether these sessions will be covered.
