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In person vs Telehealth sessions
Curious as to whether those of you in regular therapy, as I am, feel that something is “lost” in Zoom sessions. I have been doing therapy weekly on Zoom and am satisfied with the process but my therapist is questioning if it’s more productive to meet in person. My preference for virtual is due to convenience and I am wondering if I’m missing something that I’m not missing??
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Having done both and with same person, I find it's different but the same!
To me, meeting in person at some point in time is good, face to face with someone to get "vibes"? But the convenience of Zoom or such has obvious benefits: travel time; arranging travel sometimes; winter weather; busy day with other issues etc.
Since her office closed and is working from home, I cannot visit her home anyway.... so this allows her to keep working and helping people.
I have had zoom meetings with someone twice monthly over a year and it is working out, for me, the same benefit. One problem has been when having issues with computer or the server: such as all of a sudden she "freezes" and i can hear her ... or vice versa: so I have a little notepad when she can see me on which I write: YOU HAVE FROZEN ON SCREEN and hold up to my computer camera! . Or, once, when Internet went down, we ended up talking on the phone. Am curious to hear others' views.
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1 Reaction@marlenec I have done both in person and phone call with the same therapist. It seems like in-person offers you more interaction, being literally "in the same space". On Zoom or phone call, it is easier to become distracted.
Just my two cents worth, and I will be curious to read others' thoughts!
Ginger
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1 Reaction@marlenec I have met in person and on Zoom. When the pandemic began in 2020 it was a relief to have the virtual visits on Zoom available and have these covered by insurance. Now that we can meet in person this is my preference however it is good to know that Zoom is an option. An awful lot in non-verbal communication can’t be transmitted very well on Zoom and so there is some thing « missing » in that respect. If geographical distance, illnesses, immunity or it’s a personal preference I think it’s better to meet on Zoom then not at all.
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4 ReactionsMy psychiatrist doesn’t do zoom and neither does my therapist
( they both are in the same office). So I have to go in person. I can only call my case manager by voicemail messages. She is an msw and we go out to eat once a month and talk then or whenever she is with me during my psychiatrist appointments.
My pulmonologist has in person or Telehealth. My PCP has a nice portal. Rather than making appointments and waiting 2 weeks (or longer) I can message the doctor in the portal and I get a call back from the nurse mostly who has already spoken to my PCP before 4:00 pm.
And she has my doctor’s instructions. Over the phone or by a returned message. Very convenient and he doesn’t charge my insurance company.