Manas Therapy
What is Telemental Health?
What is Telemental Health?
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines Telemental health as the use of telecommunications or videoconferencing technology to provide mental health services. Research suggests that telemental health services can be effective for many people, including, but not limited to those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.
Tele-counselling, online therapy, teletherapy, telepsychiatry and telepsychology are terms that are used interchangeably to describe telemental health.
What should you know?
NIMH sites potential benefits and drawbacks to telehealth as below:
Potential Benefits
Telemental health appointments don’t require travel and often mean less time off work and smoother logistics coordination for things like transportation or childcare. Patients also can schedule appointments with less advance notice and at more flexible hours.
- The technology is available to people who may not have had access to mental health services previously, including those in remote areas and emergency care situations.
For those who may have been hesitant to look for mental health care in the past, telemental health services might be an easier first step than traditional mental health services.
As telemental health services have increased, providers have become more familiar with evolving videoconferencing technology, with some switching to entirely virtual practices.
Potential Drawbacks
Services may be limited by lack of internet connection and devices.
Varying levels of technological quality can affect how services are provided and received.
- Evolving technology means updating equipment, platforms, and networks for patients.
Cameras in users’ homes and virtual online platforms pose privacy considerations. Individuals also might be more hesitant to share sensitive personal information with a provider in a situation where others might hear.
The rise in telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to policy changes to make services accessible to more people. However, it is not known how long such flexibilities will stay in place, and understanding what services are available can be complicated. Coverage and provider licensure requirements vary from state to state.
Services that are generally covered using telemental health include: assessment, therapy (individual, teen/adolescent, family or couples or groups), and medication management.
Safeguards
The general rule regarding the provision of telemental health services is that providers must meet licensure requirements of the jurisdiction where they are licensed and licensure requirements of the jurisdiction where the patient is physically located.
These regulatory agencies enforce professional standards for the protection of the public. Telehealth practices are expected to utilize industry best practices ensuring client confidentiality and the security of the communication medium.
How do you find a teletherapist?
NIMH provides some tips in finding a Telemental Health Services Provider. These considerations also apply when you are looking for an online Therapist in California. They are similar to finding a provider for in-person mental health services. Considerations specific to telemental health include:
- Security: As videoconferencing platforms continue to evolve, most providers use secure platforms through which recording isn’t possible. Industry best practices for videoconferencing for telemental health services providers suggest selecting platforms with appropriate verification, confidentiality, and security features.
- Introductory sessions: Meeting a provider for the first time in a virtual environment may make it more challenging to determine comfort level. Initial free consultations may make it easier to determine if a telemental health services provider feels like a good fit.
What is next?
Teletherapy is the mental health treatment of the future.
Healthcare organizations across the country rapidly implemented, expanded, and adjusted the use of telemental health to respond to the changing needs of patients, healthcare providers, and caregivers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Barriers like lack of public awareness, regulatory hurdles, low reimbursement and wariness from some providers are improving, while legislation is recognizing and supporting the need of mental health and wellness of the citizens.
These regulatory agencies enforce professional standards for the protection of the public. Telehealth practices are expected to utilize industry best practices ensuring client confidentiality and the security of the communication medium.
How it works
Steps to book your online session
Step 1
Call or email us for a free 15 minute consult.
Step 2
Book your initial assessment with an experienced psychotherapist.
Step 3
Join the scheduled session and book future therapy appointments.
Get treatment for all your mental healthcare needs.
Our clinicians’ skills and experience vary widely in therapeutic approaches some of which are Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral therapy and problem-solving.
FAQ
Frequently Ask Questions
Please review the following to get answers to your queries based on the most frequently asked questions.
We are glad you made that big step to make things better for you and to improve your emotional health. We will try our best to ensure that you get matched with a provider (licensed in CA & MA) who can understand and work with your concerns. Our therapists are diverse in their skills and experience.
After contacting Manas, we can usually schedule your first visit within a week.
We understand that things come up in life that you may not be able to attend your session as planned. Please let your provider know 24 hours in advance and you will be able to cancel or reschedule the session free of charge.
Our therapists are legally bound by their licenses to only treat patients who are physically located in the state(s) in which they hold their license/s. Please discuss with your therapist prior to any travel.
This will be part of your treatment plan that you will be developing with your provider.
Your provider will be recommending an average number of visits based on the reasons for therapy and ongoing assessment of progress. We would also recommend that you contact your medical insurance carrier to verify any limits to the number to visits allowed per year.
The providers who work for Manas are licensed by their state's board to provide therapy. However, while virtual services may have similar benefits, it is not a substitute for traditional face-to-face therapy in every case. Your provider will recommend if your concerns are better addressed in a higher level of care (e.g., hospital based/inpatient setting) or you would need immediate care due to the acuity of illness.
Manas may be the right place for you if you are looking to improve the quality of your life, the way you feel or function. We are here to help. Patients like you who generally come to us with concerns relating to stress, anxiety, relationships, parenting, depression, addictions, eating, sleeping, trauma, anger, family conflicts, LGBT matters, grief, self-esteem, and more.
Mans is not the right services for you if any of the following is true:
- You are in an urgent crisis or an emergency situation
- You were required to undergo therapy either by a court order or by any other authority
- You do not have a device that can connect to the Internet or you do not have a reliable Internet connection
Our providers unfortunately do not write notes for time off work, disability evaluations, work compensation cases, one-time evaluations, or letters for emotional support animals. This requires a Release of Information from you as the first step. Once we review your application and determine that it is clinically meaningful to provide you with the requested medical records, we will email them in approximately 30 days. We will try our best to expedite this in under 30 days, but there is no guarantee that the record will be available before then.
Manas does not provide crisis or emergency services.
However, your safety is very important to us. If you are in emotional distress or thinking about hurting yourself or others at any point, please make sure to use any of these resources immediately:
- Visit/Call: Call 911, 988 or go to the nearest emergency department, if you are having a medical (including substance intoxication or withdrawal) or mental health emergency.
- Text: Text ‘HOME’ to 741-741 to connect with a counselor immediately. The Crisis Text Line provides 24-hour free and confidential help.
- Call: Call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK to talk with a live counselor 24 hours a day.
Mans is not the right services for you if any of the following is true:
- You are in an urgent crisis or an emergency situation
- You were required to undergo therapy either by a court order or by any other authority
- You do not have a device that can connect to the Internet or you do not have a reliable Internet connection
There is always help available. We recommend also reaching out to a family member or friend to let them know that you are having these thoughts and ask for help and support.
Of course, you can! Just let the intake staff know of your preference.