Why Telehealth Group Therapy Is Now
well staff writerFeel better sooner by being together in groups.
Many of us have been isolated either alone or as a household since March. Maybe even before, and, for many, access to telehealth therapy and speaking to a therapist one-on-one has helped us through uncertain times. However, this individual connection can sometimes feel like it is not enough and can feel instead like further isolation. For some, while individual therapy may work well when everyday life allows for a broader connection, individual therapy in this context can now feel like further isolation. Calling from a space you self-isolate in to reach a therapist, isolating, can serve to emphasize mutual isolation and distance rather than helping to assuage its effects. Instead of this individual virtual conversation, telehealth groups can provide a sense of community we're all sorely lacking at the moment.
Studies have shown that group therapy has similar positive outcomes compared to individual therapy, especially when assessing symptom occurrence and a general sense of self. Telehealth groups are beneficial in promoting access to high-quality therapy for those unable to access such treatment in person. These conclusions suggest that telehealth groups might help a diverse set of people and are well-suited to address various needs. Of course, these studies took place before the pandemic sent us all inside, limiting our ability to interact with others both socially and in therapeutic group contexts.
It is essential to consider our therapeutic needs in the present moment
It is essential to consider our therapeutic needs in the present moment. Right now, a lot of us are experiencing increased stress as a result of the pandemic, and sometimes this stress can even be invisible. The CDC notes that pandemic-related stress can cause:
Fear and worry, both for your health and that of your loved ones, as well as financial concerns;
Noticeable or imperceptible changes in eating and/or sleeping patterns;
Worsening of pre-existing chronic health and mental health problems; and
An increase in the use of substances, including alcohol or tobacco.
While they can affect all of us without a pandemic, these stresses are likely harder to handle at present, as most of us lack our regular support system because we cannot gather with loved ones without exposing ourselves to risk amidst the pandemic.
In this context, then, telehealth groups are a perfect way to forge connection and community while caring for our mental health. Virtual communication in a group setting can allow for a sense of support and growth in trying circumstances and form a sense of togetherness that can be maintained regardless of the world's wider state. By participating in a telehealth group, you care for yourself and for the community you build rather than limiting therapeutic relationships to one-on-one, isolated conversations.
Telehealth groups can also foster a sense of grounding. Sometimes, an individual virtual connection can feel further isolating, as it emphasizes the distance between the unknown space of your therapist's home or work and your own space. The call itself can highlight, rather than limit, your isolation. However, when engaging in telehealth groups, this anonymizing of space doesn't happen; instead, the call becomes a comforting place, a coming together of people to share a virtual therapeutic space. Your participation in a group adds more faces and experiences — and bridges isolation in a way impossible on an individual call, which connects only two explicitly distanced spaces. By creating a virtual place for mutual growth and support, telehealth groups can give meaning to a virtual therapeutic space, bringing people together as a group to combat the particular stresses the pandemic has added — while also working towards growth within and beyond the pandemic context.
Although now is the perfect time for telehealth groups, their accessibility and place for the community makes them an easy yet crucial way to get therapy and community from wherever you are, regardless of the level of isolation outside of the comforting space of group telehealth.
