In recent years, the popularity of telehealth counseling services has been on the rise. Now, people visit their therapists online for help with managing everything from depression and anxiety to eating disorders, and much more. The question here, though, is whether teletherapy can be effective for addiction recovery. Read on to find out.
How Telehealth Works
Telehealth therapy services use videoconferencing apps or web-based tools, and in some cases, telephone-based counseling, to allow therapists and their clients to communicate from afar. Instead of traveling to the clinic, clients can complete their visits from their homes or anywhere else that they feel comfortable.
Teletherapy for Substance Abuse
Telehealth visits addressing substance use disorders have been on the rise since 2010. As with any type of teletherapy, they work by allowing clients to communicate remotely with therapists to discuss problems and get support. In cases where people also need medications to assist with addiction recovery, appointments with a psychiatrist and in-person visits to a clinic or lab for routine testing may also be required.
Does It Work?
At first, people were skeptical about whether teletherapy would be effective as a means of addiction treatment, but the past decade has given researchers a chance to learn more about its efficacy. What they have found is that telehealth interventions were, in most cases, more effective than requiring people to travel to clinics for in-person visits.
Studies have shown that this method of providing addiction counseling services is effective for alcohol and opioid use disorders and can even be used to improve access to medication-assisted treatment programs. It expands access to treatment to people living in remote rural areas and other underserved communities, encourages adherence, and improves addiction programs' retention rates.
Who Can Benefit?
Most people can benefit from teletherapy for substance use disorder recovery. The only hardware requirement is that clients have a computer, smartphone, or tablet with a microphone and speaker, although most people also invest in high-quality headphones for increased privacy. The visit can take place anywhere with a high-speed internet connection, with most people choosing to complete sessions from home.
How to Get Started
Interested in getting professional help for a substance use disorder? Teletherapy may be an appropriate option, although it's not right for everyone. The best way for someone to find out if teletherapy for addiction will be an effective solution in a particular situation is to contact us and explain the situation. After discussing options, a treatment plan can be established, and in many cases, it will involve telehealth visits.