TELE-THERAPY with ZOOM

BENEFITS of HIPAA COMPLIANT TELE-THERAPY with ZOOM

Due to the growing health and safety concerns regarding COVID-19, BroKin™- Mental Health Solutions for Men of Color has recently moved to a partially virtual therapy practice using HIPAA-compliant technology live video (e.g., ZOOM &FaceTime), the benefits have been immediate and in many ways unexpected.  Below, are listed some of the most notable benefits to date.

1. Low Barrier to Entry: One of the biggest challenges facing prospective therapy clients is that initial appointment. Statistics indicate the modal number of sessions attended by clients is: one. That’s correct, patients will go to one session and never go back again. Theories abound—the experience was awful, there was not a good fit with the therapist, or the most self-satisfied of them all- the therapist was so highly effective that they managed to “cure” their client in one majestic session (likely not the case). How does Tele-Therapy with Zoom fit in? An easy way to describe it is this—all those things you hate about your dentist waiting room? They apply in therapy as well. Finding the office, sitting, anxiously counting down the time, waiting for your name to be called. WithTele-Therapy with Zoom, it’s almost always in the comfort of your own home. You can have a cozy blanket, your special coffee mug, a nice cigar, all the things that make you feel comfortable and at ease. What better start to therapy and opening up than in your own safe space?

2. Privacy: While this can certainly vary depending on geographical location and the diversity of clients seen by a therapist, Tele-Therapy with Zoom ensures maximal privacy every time. As one who specializes in teens and young adults, I have found more than once that my clients (even going to different schools and residing in different cities) manage to know one another. I have walked in (and out of my office) on more than one occasion witnessing awkward small talk between these clients who knew each other in kindergarten or who are mortal enemies. With social media nowadays, everyone is connected. While I have often managed to help brotha’s find the silver lining of running into acquaintances (we all have issues, therapy is normalized), Tele-Therapy with Zoom removes this concern altogether.

3. Efficiency: Time is perhaps our most precious resource. As such, commutes can be frustrating and stressful for clients already prone to anxiety. Unexpected traffic closures often lead clients to race in, anxious about being late or missing any part of their therapy time. In one scenario I had a patient get into a car accident on the way over to see me. Needless to say, our conversation that session wound up focusing on something entirely different than what we had intended. With enough on yourplate, the last thing you need to worry about is one more place to be. And for that matter, one extra cost if parking tickets or accidents are involved.

4. Flexibility: Relatedly, Tele-Therapy with Zoom allows for maximal flexibility for overworked and overcommitted clients. Having worked with many high achieving populations who are at the verge of mental breakdowns, those who need services the most often have the least time. Being able to reschedule and integrate emergency sessions impacts the therapist and caseload at large minimally. Although of course high severity patients should rarely be seen in outpatient situations without extra staff support, for clients with severe anxiety that is otherwise well managed, the ability to schedule an emergency check-in can be invaluable.

5. Safety: Across much of the nation, severe winter weather can put a kinkin plans. In New York, where an inch of snow shuts down the city, snow days can wreak havoc on scheduling. Some clients are stranded for days. Such concerns are eliminated in Tele-Therapy with Zoom. Further, there is no expectation that clients leave their homes in dangerous weather, there are no late cancellation fees, or consideration of what school districts are opened or closed. With Tele-Therapy with Zoom, the show can go on, each time.

6. Illness: It is not uncommon for brotha’s with heavy workloads and many pressures to repeatedly succumb to illnesses. During this COVID-19 pandemic, we all must be diligent in the safety and care of ourselves and loved ones. Practicing Social Distancing is vital in the battle against COVID-19. In the past, I have had clients with severe flu and viruses (often actively contagious) come in which puts me and by extension my other patients at risk. Further, illness often can cause additional last-minute cancellations while mood plummets. The ability for clients to continue working with their therapist, especially when ill, can be highly impactful. Tele-Therapy with Zoom makes it safe for both clients and therapists.

7. Patient Timeliness Improved: When sessions begin at the click of a button, timeliness is certainly improved. Without the concern of a traffic jam, getting lost on their way to the office, or running low on gas, it is a no-brainer that timeliness is significantly improved when clients are always in reach of their devices.

8. Improved Communication: Like many therapists working independently, prior to moving to a partially virtual practice, I leased a space in an executive office suite. While there were front desk staff servicing the floor, they also represented dozens of other entities from lawyers to accountants to real estate agents. With high turnover on their staff, messages were often missed, and information was not always clearly articulated (such as the time I was told a patient came in for me on a day I was not scheduled- there was no name, number, nothing leaving me guessing who on my caseload came in for an appointment!). Removing the middleman so to speak eases communication significantly and improves the overall therapeutic experience.

9. Streamlined Communication: One of the most integral components of my practice is my online billing, scheduling and charting program which also offers Tele-Therapy with Zoom directly via secure link. Clients can opt for a reminder text, email, or both and all the information regarding their appointment is at their fingertips. While this unfortunately sounds like advocacy for the takeover of robots, the truth is these programs simply don’t make errors, but for exceedingly rare glitches. Having everything in one place is beautifully simple and fits in with the general ethos of Tele-Therapy with Zoom. In rare times when two patients have shown up for the same session, I have always felt terrible sending them home again when I know they rushed to get there. With Tele-Therapy with Zoom, when these rare errors occur, there is no harm, no foul.

10. Access for Remote Patients: More times than I can count, I have done a double-take when I have reviewed a new client’s file and seen their home address listed in a city about an hour away. In one case, it was a brotha living with a disgruntled spouse who would always make it difficult for him to attend our sessions, due to time, distrusts, cost and distance. When we switched to Tele-Therapy with Zoom, the therapeutic relationship was maintained, the therapy continued effortlessly and there was no disruption for this family. If anything, our clinic likely saved some harm to the teen and the driving grandmother whose vision had been slowly deteriorating over time.

11. Access for College Students: The fact that college counselingcenters are more and more swamped is hardly news to those who have worked in such settings. Further, not all colleges are in towns with access to private providers, nor do all college students even have cars. Enter the beauty of access to a wide network of providers without any transportation hassles. As previously discussed, my earliest work in Tele-Therapy with Zoom came out of necessity for college students who either could not be seen at the college counseling center or who did not feel comfortable walking into the center and being seen by friends.

12. Access for Disabled Populations: In many scenarios, those who are bedridden, have chronic illness or otherwise can be major beneficiaries of online treatment options. There are times when clients suffering from IBS, Crohn’s, or other diseases may experience shame or embarrassment at their need for leaving to use facilities. In an online context, some of these concerns can be diminished significantly. Further, wheelchair accessibility can be a significant barrier with populations as well; I recall working with one patient and quickly learning we had to make sure to use a room with a door wide enough to let the chair pass, as well as an extra room for the wheelchair to maneuver into position. While ideally, more locations will be ADA-accessible, the unfortunate reality is that in older locations, historic buildings, and so forth, making these changes can take time and in other cases be impossible.

13. Wait Times Reduced: Finally, perhaps obvious but well worth stating is the benefit of near-immediate access. Having worked in large clinics, I have observed insurance teams taking weeks to confirm benefits, process paperwork, and possessing other bureaucratic hassles. For clients able to see private practitioners, access can be near immediate. To be frank, that is one of my favorite parts of solo practice—for too many years I witnessed those in severe need go weeks until they could get an appointment. With virtually all aspects of my practice being paperless and electronic, I can send paperwork to the patient via secure connection, have it filled out, and sent back to me within the day. Most often I can accommodate patients within a week, if not within 24 hours depending on how quickly we can get things going. For clients who are in need to talk to someone urgently, or perhaps finally mustered up the courage to see someone, often waiting weeks can lead to appointment cancellations or clients in dire situations.