Teletherapy Only

While ALL of our therapists at Cherry Hill offer teletherapy services, a few of our clinicians offer teletherapy as their primary or only method of counseling services.  

Since the COVID-19 crisis, we have been offering teletherapy counseling to existing and new clients. Initially we were able to offer it during a time when in-person services were unavailable. Now we continue to offering this service to clients who prefer telehealth for any number of reasons.

What is teletherapy? 

Teletherapy, sometimes referred to as virtual therapy, tele-health counseling, e-counseling, tele-mental health and video therapy, is counseling provided through a video platform (or by phone). Teletherapy provides a similar experience to Skype® or Facetime®, but on a more secure, encrypted, and HIPAA compliant video platform. 

Teletherapy versus In-Person Counseling

Teletherapy is very similar to in-person counseling, but through a different medium. Through teletherapy you will receive the same warm, relational connection with your therapist as you would in the therapist’s office. The physical connection with the therapist such as hand-shakes, shared warm beverages, and some body language are diminished. However, new therapy experiences become possible through the teletherapy platform. The therapist now gets to be virtually “in the home” of the client and can quickly learn a great deal about the client’s family life and interests. Clients, especially children and teens, often show off collections, trophies, and even family pets. Many clients feel more comfortable and disinhibited when sharing personal stories while safely behind a screen – which is well-documented in research on telehealth.

While privacy and confidentiality laws still apply to the teletherapy platform, some clients may find it challenging to find a private and confidential space in their home when other family members are present and near-by. However, most clients, with some creativity and support from others in the home, are able to create a private environment in which they can engage in their teletherapy session.

The effectiveness of teletherapy is supported by research and is recognized as a viable and effective form of treatment by state licensing boards, governing bodies, and most insurance companies. Most teletherapy clients are pleasantly surprised by how warm and personal therapy can feel over video.

Is my counseling still private if it’s over video chat?

Cherry Hill provides teletherapy using an upgraded version of Zoom for healthcare providers. This video platform is both encrypted and HIPAA compliant. Your privacy rights are exactly the same with tele-therapy as they are with in-person counseling. The guiding laws for both in-person and tele-health counseling are described by the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (IMHDDCA) and also the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). 

Is teletherapy covered by my insurance?

Federal and state level government officials mandated access to Telehealth services during the COVID-19 crisis. The government has now ended the official sanctioned period of requirements.  While we don’t yet know the implications of how this will impact insurance coverage for every insurance provider and plan, we are committed to keeping teletherapy as an available option to our clients. We strongly recommend that if you choose to use your insurance benefits, that you call your health insurance company to ask if tele-mental health counseling is covered under your policy. 

We do offer private pay options for clients that do not have insurance coverage for teletherapy services.