Twelfth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing made in-person therapy sessions impractical, yet the need for therapeutic services continued. Teletherapy encourages ongoing therapy for behavioral health clients and increased care at a time when having in person therapy is not possible. There have been studies conducted and literature written regarding the benefits of teletherapy and increased use meeting the best needs of the client. The experiences of the clients demonstrate increased hope, access to services and support. The primary focus of the literature is on the value of teletherapy for the client and the experiences of the client with little focus on the therapist’s perspective. The use of teletherapy has expanded significantly with increased exploration of the experiences of providing and receiving services remotely. This paper focuses on the literature regarding the perspectives of therapists providing teletherapy remotely from their homes. The experiences of the behavioral health therapists are not as well-known as from that of the client. The objective of this paper is to identify the experiences of the behavioral health therapist providing teletherapy remotely from their homes. This study provides behavioral health organizations with an understanding of the therapist’s perspective of providing teletherapy. A literature review and critical analysis are the foundation of the paper. Conclusions are drawn that the perspective of behavioral health therapists providing therapy remotely from home may differ from that of the client’s perspective, in terms of effectiveness and methodologies of care.