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Is Telehealth Still a Good Option for My Child?

Is Telehealth Still a Good Option for My Child?

Parenting

Parenting

By Z. Andrew Jatau

By Z. Andrew Jatau

By Z. Andrew Jatau

At this point, most of us have connected virtually with a service that previously we mainly visited in person.  Our kids have had to transition to online schooling, attend virtual appointments with their pediatrician, and celebrate birthdays over Zoom.  As certain parts of this country continue to reopen, most service-based businesses are going back to in-person interactions. As a caregiver, you may be wondering if telehealth is still a viable option for your child’s mental health needs.

Prior to the pandemic, there were certain services that we believed just couldn’t be replicated virtually, with therapy being one of them.  Over the past couple of years, we’ve started to recognize that there is still an ability to develop a therapeutic relationship and provide effective treatment without the therapist and client being in the same room.  There are platforms that offer the ability to connect with a counselor via video, phone, or text message.  This shows that people in need can still be helped, and care can still be delivered, no matter what the medium.  Many of these services though are catered towards adults.  But what about children?  Is a therapist still going to be able to connect with your child just as effectively as in-person?

Truthfully? Yes and no.  The transition to telehealth with kids has been a challenge for many providers.  In the past, working effectively with children included the ability to interact with them playfully in a shared space.  Many providers working with children had an office full of toys and activities at their disposal to help keep clients engaged in the therapy process.  With all of that taken away, providers have had to be resourceful and resilient as they adapted to telehealth.

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Change can force us to be uncomfortable, but it can also bring about great things.  For example, Hopscotch was born out of this need for change.  Recognizing that the child and adolescent space lacked digital counseling games and exercises, our co-founders worked to address this issue and created a robust content library for our providers.  Many clinicians have risen up to the challenge and have adapted the ways in which they engage their clients. There are clinicians who will incorporate online games, puppets, videos, music, and other resources to help their clients remain engaged.  Though the interaction is not face-to-face, there is a level of comfort for the children in being able to conduct sessions in their own space.  Many take pride in being able to bring the provider into their world.  For caregivers, many have recognized that telehealth can be more convenient for the family, especially with the commute to the office taken out of the equation.

While connecting virtually with any service may not naturally be our first option, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be just as effective.  As a society, we’ve worked quickly to close whatever gaps existed between in-person and virtual interactions.  There will always be benefits and drawbacks to both, but what’s important is figuring out what’s best for your family.

To get your child started with telehealth sessions, browse our provider directory by clicking below.


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