Telehealth group therapy offers a way to conduct a contactless behavioral healthcare session for multiple participants, a staple of many behavioral health treatment plans. There are many benefits to offering virtual group therapy, including increased convenience and accessibility for patients. However, there are also a few things to consider before launching group therapy via telehealth. This blog post will discuss the top benefits and considerations of telehealth group therapy sessions.
Telehealth Group Therapy Has Exploded in Popularity
The increased use of telehealth group therapy was a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now seen as a viable and affordable alternative to in-person therapy with mounting evidence indicating its effectiveness. Despite a lack of HIPAA compliant platforms available at the beginning of its usage, this form of virtual care has become commonplace in behavior therapy as video conferencing platforms advance to meet healthcare standards.
Group therapy telehealth sessions are conducted live, allowing participants to interact in real time. Furthermore, teletherapy groups are much more accessible than traditional in-person therapy, making it easier for individuals who may have difficulty attending their group session in person. Aside from convenience, however, it actually promotes therapeutic benefits as well, including:
- Reduced feelings of loneliness or isolation amongst patients.
- Fostering a sense of community for participants.
- Creates a support system.
- Encourages the learning and sharing of varying perspectives.
- Enhanced engagement in active discussion with peers.
Key Considerations Before Launching Group Therapy via Telehealth
Before launching a group therapy session via telehealth, it is important to consider the size of the group. Carefully assess the specific goals and approaches you are hoping to achieve and make sure you select a platform that can accommodate your group size, with the features you need. For example, behavioral therapists should ensure that the telehealth platform includes an electronic documentation tool so that all participants may complete and digitally sign any necessary paperwork prior to the session.
Clear guidelines should be established for what is acceptable in the group therapy setting so everyone is aware of expectations. This will help foster a safe, respectful dialogue between all involved. Lastly, it is important to use a secure and HIPAA compliant platform that offers encryption, especially if recording sessions. This will help protect participant information and ensure compliance with regulations. Of course, when rendering virtual behavioral healthcare, patient privacy is of the utmost importance.
SecureVideo: Modernizing Behavioral Group Health Therapy
SecureVideo is a HIPAA compliant telehealth platform designed for behavioral health providers. For group therapy sessions, SecureVideo offers a videoconferencing solution that allows participants to interact in real-time while meeting necessary compliance standards. Additionally, SecureVideo provides numerous features such as group sessions for up to 300 participants, E-Documents, easy appointment scheduling, secure recording options and much more.
Group telehealth has become a key component of many behavioral health treatment plans. Get in touch with SecureVideo today to learn more about our secure virtual group therapy solutions.