Therapy?
Insurance - Most insurance companies will not reimburse for eTherapy services. That said, eTherapy is a good fit for people who don't have insurance or don't want their mental health information shared with their insurance company. Insurance companies require that a diagnosis be rendered for reimbursement and that diagnosis is stored in a database.Diagnosis - A diagnosis simply can't be rendered via eTherapy. eTherapy doesn't provide the full picture of information and data required, as compared to traditional Therapy. Chances are, we don't need a diagnosis in order for eTherapy to benefit you. If you feel that it's very important that you have a diagnosis eTherapy is not a good option for you.
Treatment - "Treatment" isn't what is offered in eTherapy. Treatment requires a diagnosis and frequent in-person interaction to implement and gauge effectiveness. Rather eTherapy offers you an, interactive sounding board to address your issues and concerns. It offers education and coaching that promote movement toward your goals, rather than treatment in response to a diagnosis.
Confidentiality - I uphold the same rules of confidentiality in eTherapy as I do for clients that come to my office. While I make every effort to ensure that confidentiality, I have less control over the flow of information in eTherapy. I utilize encrypted email and chat services and operate on computers and networks that are secured using the best technology available to me. The Internet being what it is I cannot, however, guarantee that any of these measures are 100% secure. In addition, I have no control over security on your end. If others have access to your computer or passwords, they may be able to view your communications. It is your responsibility to ensure the security of information on your network and computer.