|
|
Post by Dan on Apr 15, 2016 15:16:17 GMT -5
On another thread, mariposa43 mentioned: I recently started working with a therapist online... That is a new one on me. I have SO MANY QUESTIONS! (I'd prefer answers from people who've actually looked in to it or tried it. If you haven't and are "just guessing", please be clear about that.) Who else has heard of this? Is this sort of thing done by licensed talk therapists? Do they take insurance? Who else as tried this? Did it work out/was it helpful? How did it work? Did you have a regular "appointment", where you online-chatted? Or was it email-based? (And in that case... do they charge by the hour... or by the message... or by the length of the message?) If someone is interested in this, how would the find one? I've had good experiences with my various periods of individual (traditional, face-to-face) talk therapy, so I'm very "pro-therapy". But an online session is devoid of SO MANY physical cues (voice, posture, pauses, facial expressions), that it sounds like it would only be a portion of the effectiveness. Or am I just being "old fashioned" in my views on this? |
|
|
|
Post by DryCreek on Apr 15, 2016 16:10:43 GMT -5
I, too, am curious. I'd heard of phone therapists and wondered how much the lack of non-verbal cues hurt the process.
Writing is such a different mode of communication - no intonations or pregnant pauses to key off. Add to that, writing is so easy to misinterpret (and that's *with* good grammar, spelling, and punctuation that many people struggle with), and it's so much slower, etc.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2016 17:08:04 GMT -5
I am also curious, from a completely different perspective. I've been in healthcare, so patient privacy is a HUGE red flag for me. I wonder how some of the HIPAA issues are dealt with.
I'm a big supporter of mental health therapy, and if it can be delivered safely, online - bring it on!
|
|
mariposa43
Junior Member
Posts: 47 
Age Range: 41-45
|
Post by mariposa43 on Apr 16, 2016 11:36:57 GMT -5
On another thread, mariposa43 mentioned: I recently started working with a therapist online... That is a new one on me. I have SO MANY QUESTIONS! (I'd prefer answers from people who've actually looked in to it or tried it. If you haven't and are "just guessing", please be clear about that.) Who else has heard of this? Is this sort of thing done by licensed talk therapists? Do they take insurance? Who else as tried this? Did it work out/was it helpful? How did it work? Did you have a regular "appointment", where you online-chatted? Or was it email-based? (And in that case... do they charge by the hour... or by the message... or by the length of the message?) If someone is interested in this, how would the find one? I've had good experiences with my various periods of individual (traditional, face-to-face) talk therapy, so I'm very "pro-therapy". But an online session is devoid of SO MANY physical cues (voice, posture, pauses, facial expressions), that it sounds like it would only be a portion of the effectiveness. Or am I just being "old fashioned" in my views on this? Sorry for taking so long to answer this! I've only recently started with this, and I know non-verbal cues are a concern. I just want to see how this works. I'm using Talkspace, and the therapist they gave me (I asked for a woman) actually was in a very similar situation herself--SM, only she didn't have kids and was in a different line of work. I gave them a lot of info up front, and she said that reading my story was just uncanny for her. So much of the same stuff. I have the option of using text, video message, or audio message. Right now I am opting for text simply because it's the most convenient for me. If I do a video or audio for her, I have to sneak away to do it. I do have unlimited access to her for a flat fee. I like that. I can get up while it's still dark and write to my heart's content, then read her response later. Right now the assignment I need to do for her is to write a practice letter to my refuser--practice letter for the talk where I tell him I am just done. I think someone may have asked if it's covered by insurance. Depends on your insurance. I am going to submit a claim and see, but it was an expense I'm willing to incur at this point. I gotta do what I gotta do. |
|
|
|
Post by Dan on Apr 16, 2016 11:51:56 GMT -5
Very interesting! (And of course, no worries about the delay.)
As for this: I think someone may have asked if it's covered by insurance. Depends on your insurance. I am going to submit a claim and see, but it was an expense I'm willing to incur at this point. I gotta do what I gotta do. Well... does she give you a receipt for your treatment that includes a diagnostic code and a treatment code? If so -- and if she is a licensed practitioner -- then it seems like insurance would cover this in the same way it would cover a face to face meeting. (Unless there is a different treatment code -- e.g. "tele-therapy" -- and coverage is different or excluded for that.) |
|
|
|
Post by DryCreek on Apr 16, 2016 12:19:22 GMT -5
Food for thought on asking insurance to pay, if you don't have to...
Years back, the first time I saw a therapist for this I went the insurance route. Years later, I applied for life insurance and it showed up in my history as a diagnosis code of "depression" (apparently, so the insurance company would pay).
I had to go back to that therapist and get a bill of clean health or they wouldn't issue my policy. I've since learned that there's an insurance / medical database on you very similar to a credit report.
Since then I opted to eat the cost of therapy myself instead of putting it on the record in order to get reimbursed. That's not an option for everyone, and shouldn't be a deterrent from getting help, just an awareness of how the system works. At a minimum, be informed of the diagnosis codes they are giving you to submit, and get a similar letter when you finish your therapy visits.
|
|
|
|
Post by RumRunner on Apr 16, 2016 19:01:41 GMT -5
Food for thought on asking insurance to pay, if you don't have to... Years back, the first time I saw a therapist for this I went the insurance route. Years later, I applied for life insurance and it showed up in my history as a diagnosis code of "depression" (apparently, so the insurance company would pay). I had to go back to that therapist and get a bill of clean health or they wouldn't issue my policy. I've since learned that there's an insurance / medical database on you very similar to a credit report. Since then I opted to eat the cost of therapy myself instead of putting it on the record in order to get reimbursed. That's not an option for everyone, and shouldn't be a deterrent from getting help, just an awareness of how the system works. At a minimum, be informed of the diagnosis codes they are giving you to submit, and get a similar letter when you finish your therapy visits. This has always been a concern for me as well. I have always had a fear of a diagnosis of depression, because who knows what that impact maybe in the future. Records are supposed to be kept in confidentiality, but I have learned that confidentiality is not so confidential after all; especially when it comes to the insurance companies and the government. I could be worried for no reason, I don't know; but it's a risk I do not want to take. |
|
|
|
Post by RumRunner on Apr 16, 2016 19:06:02 GMT -5
On another thread, mariposa43 mentioned: That is a new one on me. I have SO MANY QUESTIONS! (I'd prefer answers from people who've actually looked in to it or tried it. If you haven't and are "just guessing", please be clear about that.) Who else has heard of this? Is this sort of thing done by licensed talk therapists? Do they take insurance? Who else as tried this? Did it work out/was it helpful? How did it work? Did you have a regular "appointment", where you online-chatted? Or was it email-based? (And in that case... do they charge by the hour... or by the message... or by the length of the message?) If someone is interested in this, how would the find one? I've had good experiences with my various periods of individual (traditional, face-to-face) talk therapy, so I'm very "pro-therapy". But an online session is devoid of SO MANY physical cues (voice, posture, pauses, facial expressions), that it sounds like it would only be a portion of the effectiveness. Or am I just being "old fashioned" in my views on this? Sorry for taking so long to answer this! I've only recently started with this, and I know non-verbal cues are a concern. I just want to see how this works. I'm using Talkspace, and the therapist they gave me (I asked for a woman) actually was in a very similar situation herself--SM, only she didn't have kids and was in a different line of work. I gave them a lot of info up front, and she said that reading my story was just uncanny for her. So much of the same stuff. I have the option of using text, video message, or audio message. Right now I am opting for text simply because it's the most convenient for me. If I do a video or audio for her, I have to sneak away to do it. I do have unlimited access to her for a flat fee. I like that. I can get up while it's still dark and write to my heart's content, then read her response later. Right now the assignment I need to do for her is to write a practice letter to my refuser--practice letter for the talk where I tell him I am just done. I think someone may have asked if it's covered by insurance. Depends on your insurance. I am going to submit a claim and see, but it was an expense I'm willing to incur at this point. I gotta do what I gotta do. I am interested in how this goes. Keep us informed, please?  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2016 22:16:32 GMT -5
Food for thought on asking insurance to pay, if you don't have to... Years back, the first time I saw a therapist for this I went the insurance route. Years later, I applied for life insurance and it showed up in my history as a diagnosis code of "depression" (apparently, so the insurance company would pay). I had to go back to that therapist and get a bill of clean health or they wouldn't issue my policy. I've since learned that there's an insurance / medical database on you very similar to a credit report. Since then I opted to eat the cost of therapy myself instead of putting it on the record in order to get reimbursed. That's not an option for everyone, and shouldn't be a deterrent from getting help, just an awareness of how the system works. At a minimum, be informed of the diagnosis codes they are giving you to submit, and get a similar letter when you finish your therapy visits. This has always been a concern for me as well. I have always had a fear of a diagnosis of depression, because who knows what that impact maybe in the future. Records are supposed to be kept in confidentiality, but I have learned that confidentiality is not so confidential after all; especially when it comes to the insurance companies and the government. I could be worried for no reason, I don't know; but it's a risk I do not want to take. I understand the fear. I'm screwed I guess from a diagnosis and years of meds and therapy. All this stigma does is prevent people getting better. There is nothing wrong with depression. There is nothing wrong with being treated for it. Untreated depression is the real danger. Society is weird and fucked up. People who acknowledge their issues and acticely work to get better are stigmatized yet, having dealt with our demons, I posit we are actually some of the best adjusted people because we have owned our shit and actively worked on it instead of hiding it and not desling with it. |
|
Moetse Tau
Junior Member
Posts: 87 
Age Range: 41-45
|
Post by Moetse Tau on Apr 16, 2016 23:05:21 GMT -5
We have tried something like this before. Disclaimer: my experience is my perspective. this occurred after the first time I told her I wanted a divorce, and wasnt totally convince that I really wanted to stay married, but was 'talked into' giving it a try. (if you are wondering by what I mean by talked into, check out this post iliasm.freeforums.net/thread/115/refusers-control I commented on communication manipulation) On with the show. Because of our financial situation, we chose free help, which turned out to be a study by a college. It was interesting, and set up in about five modules of work, some we worked together, some we worked on our own. the work we did on our own, eventually showed up in the work we did together. It was mostly focused on communication, which she did not need help in, but I did. In some ways, it did help me say some things that I had needed to say for quite some time, but I feel even at this point there has been little to no resolution with most of it. I feel that I tried to address the issues she had immediately, but felt that there was no change with her. After a few months and being frustrated, I went back to old ways, and then there was another row, and divorce threat from me. Now it seems as if there has been effort from her, but I think it is too little too late. Anyway, all in all, it was a program that was supposed to last a month, and 6 months later, we still havent finished the last module, which is the one that is supposed to bring it all together. I have suggested several times to finish, we havent, and now I dont really care if we do. |
|
|
|
Post by unmatched on Apr 17, 2016 8:29:02 GMT -5
I, too, am curious. I'd heard of phone therapists and wondered how much the lack of non-verbal cues hurt the process. Writing is such a different mode of communication - no intonations or pregnant pauses to key off. Add to that, writing is so easy to misinterpret (and that's *with* good grammar, spelling, and punctuation that many people struggle with), and it's so much slower, etc. I have always wondered that. My wife is a psychologist (yeah, don't laugh) and before she left her last practice they were starting to set up some different types of 'distance' counselling. I can see how it would have a lot of benefits for people, but surely much of the subtlety must get lost and the therapists can only really respond to the grosser bits of what you are saying without being able to pick you up on how you feel about what you are saying. |
|
|
|
Post by petrushka on Apr 24, 2016 4:46:46 GMT -5
I, too, am curious. I'd heard of phone therapists and wondered how much the lack of non-verbal cues hurt the process. Writing is such a different mode of communication - no intonations or pregnant pauses to key off. Add to that, writing is so easy to misinterpret (and that's *with* good grammar, spelling, and punctuation that many people struggle with), and it's so much slower, etc. I have always wondered that. My wife is a psychologist (yeah, don't laugh) and before she left her last practice they were starting to set up some different types of 'distance' counselling. I can see how it would have a lot of benefits for people, but surely much of the subtlety must get lost and the therapists can only really respond to the grosser bits of what you are saying without being able to pick you up on how you feel about what you are saying. So true. It's a bit like (for argument's sake) a facebook or dating site profile. You just don't know if you're dealing with a real, genuine, truthful person; if you are dealing with a grand prevaricator and skilled poser, or if that scrumptious young man/girl you're trying to charm is in fact some fat 50 year old loser who still lives in his mommy's basement or some 35 year old woman in South Auckland who lives in a trailer, out to scam you. Online personas, well, they don't really give you much in the way of clues. You can mostly only react on the cognitive level - although I did pick out quite a few people on EP who were obviously (to me) only presenting a very small portion of the real situation. But that's probably because they weren't too skilled at omission, rather than my skill or empathy. |
|
I recently started working with a therapist online...That is a new one on me. I have SO MANY QUESTIONS! (I'd prefer answers from people who've actually looked in to it or tried it. If you haven't and are "just guessing", please be clear about that.)
