Virtual couch, real therapy: Psychological Clinic moves to a telehealth model
With the coronavirus pandemic shuttering offices, therapy appointments may seem out of reach — even as stress and anxiety take their toll on mental health.
To meet both community and academic needs, Binghamton University’s Psychological Clinic has moved online, providing services through a telehealth delivery system, according to clinic director Thomas Harding.
Located in Clearview Hall, the clinic is the primary on-campus training site for students in the clinical psychology PhD program. Beginning in their second year, doctoral students provide a wide range of psychological assessment and intervention services to clients both from campus and the local community. They serve a wide range of clients, including adolescents, adults, couples and families, and also offer group psychotherapy, all under the supervision of faculty members and licensed psychologists in local practice.
“This clinic, along with the ICD (Institute for Child Development), is a wonderful example of how the University works to help the community while also learning from the Greater Binghamton community,” said Professor Matthew Johnson, chair of Binghamton University’s Department of Psychology.
The pandemic forced a quick shift to new procedures and practices. Sessions are now conducted via Zoom, with safeguards put in place to increase security and client confidentiality, Harding said. Clients learn the new procedures and, if they decide to continue with telehealth services — as most have, according to Harding — they are usually seen once per week.
Even when a global pandemic isn’t a factor, many therapists offer teletherapy for a variety of reasons, said fourth-year doctoral student Allison McKinnon. Many clients have barriers to face-to-face sessions, whether because they live in a rural area, lack childcare, have financial constraints or deal with mental health conditions that make it difficult to leave home.
“Now, an unprecedented number of people find themselves in a similar situation for different reasons,” she reflected. “I’m hopeful that the scientific community and public health experts will come away from this crisis with better knowledge of how to make teletherapy more effective and accessible.”
Teletherapy does present its own set of challenges, however. Clients may not have consistent access to technology or Wi-Fi, and may face potential interruptions during sessions, such as from parents living in the home, said Craig Polizzi, a fourth-year student in the program. It’s also tough to catch clients’ nonverbal and emotional cues when you can only see their head and shoulders in the screen. Additionally, clients may need to prioritize their day-to-day functioning over their larger therapeutic goals.
On the other hand, stressors at home may occur right before or during a session, making it possible for therapists to address them directly afterward, noted third-year doctoral student Eileen Barden.
Fourth-year doctoral student Elyse Stewart emphasized that social distancing — a term used with increasing frequency during the pandemic — refers only to physical contact and not emotional connection. Social interaction is still important for mental health, even if it takes place virtually, she said.
Going forward, the clinic is looking into expanding telehealth services as students grow more confident with the new procedures, Harding said.
“The nature of this crisis means that many people will need support for their mental health at some point, and I hope that both people familiar with therapy and first-timers will be willing to give teletherapy a try,” McKinnon said.
“It’s times like these that show how truly resilient people can be,” Polizzi added. “The pandemic helps people reflect on themselves, their lives and their reactions to adversity.”