Did you know that therapy is not just about creating an absence of negative feelings, or, conversely, about creating happy feelings. It is about helping you live a productive life and helping you develop and sustain meaningful relationships. It’s also about learning and applying the skills needed in order to grow from life’s ups and downs. – Dr. Neal Houston, Sociologist
We offer a complementary 20 minute phone consultation with one of our therapists or counselors Call 623-680-3486 or text 623-688-5115.
Have you wanted therapy but have found it difficult to find time in your busy schedule to set aside time for an office visit?
Would you like to have the convenience to choose between either in office visits or online/phone therapy sessions?
Crossroads Counseling is pleased to offer video and phone based therapy sessions. Online therapy can be very helpful for many issues. For instance, a 2014 study in the Journal of Affective Disorders reported that online therapy was just as effective as in person therapy for depression.
Crossroads Counseling utilizes a HIPPA compliant platform called Jane. Jane is the same system that allows for ease of scheduling. There are some instances where Crossroads Counseling may also utilize Amazon Chime which is also a HIPPA compliant platform.
Both Jane and Chime are secure and easy to use platforms that allow you to easily connect with your therapist right from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
For phone therapy sessions Crossorads Counseling utilizes Vonage which is also HIPPA compliant, easy to use, and a convenient way to conduct phone therapy sessions.
The benefits of Crossroad’s video and teletherapy program include:
Sessions from the privacy of your own home, office, or location of your choosing.
Access to an AZ Board Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Associate Counselor.
No need to drive to and from an office.
Scheduling flexibility and time saving.
No worry about seeing someone you know in the waiting room.
Unlike many other online therapy services that are not based in Arizona, you have the flexibility to meet your therapist in person when desired.
Some important items to be aware of when considering video or phone therapy:
Insurance companies may not reimburse for online therapy sessions. We encourage you to check with your insurance. If yes, we can provide you with a super-bill statement.
Our counselors are only licensed to treat clients who are physically in the state of Arizona.
Your therapist reserves the right to request that you attend in person therapy sessions if they deem it to be clinically appropriate.
We know that online therapy can bring up understandable hesitations and questions. We are happy to put your mind at ease and provide further information about what to expect.
How does it work?
For current clients, contact your therapist as you normally would to make an appointment. Your provider will send you an email link, which you can click to join in a virtual therapy session over Amazon Chime and/or Jane. You can use your phone, computer or tablet to participate and you do not need to download any software or subscribe to any service. You can talk to your provider as you normally would — it’s that easy!
Absolutely. Our therapists maintain strict confidentiality standards for your protection. This means your sessions cannot be recorded. During this time of social distancing, our therapists are exclusively providing counseling via video from a Crossroads office, or from areas of their home that have privacy. Now we can’t completely promise that your provider’s cat or dog won’t briefly stop in to say hello – but don’t worry, they have been fully trained in our HIPAA protocols!
Will it be covered by my insurance?
Most healthcare plans provide coverage for telehealth just like in-office therapy. Crossroads can provide you with a “superbill” statement that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement for the cost of the service. To learn more about this option please contact our office by calling 623-680-3486, texting 623-688-5115, or emailing info@crossroadsfcc.com.
I’m home with my family and don’t know if I have a private space to talk — any advice?
We appreciate that can be a tricky dynamic. Some of our clients meet for virtual sessions while on a walk, sitting in their car (just not during the AZ summer!), or from their backyard. Often our therapists can adjust their schedules to connect with you during less busy times for your household — such as providing sessions on different days and earlier or later than usual. You can also try using headphones and if necessary — or, you can be on the screen but communicating with your therapist by the chat feature, in which you and your therapist can type back and forth.
I’m still not sure telehealth is right for me – maybe I should wait until I can see a therapist in person?
It’s understandable to want to have or continue in-office therapy. However, in these very unpredictable times, it is unclear how long this will be our new normal. There are a variety of estimated time frames suggested for social distancing measures lasting from 6 weeks to 18 months. Connecting with a counselor via video is an easy way to get started with care — or avoid disrupting your care — and to receive consistent support toward your goals. This can become even more important during these stressful times.
The number of people reaching out for services at Crossroads continues to be high — with our community experiencing mounting anxieties and losses during this global health crisis. To meet this need, we have increased our capacity. We are able to make prompt appointments for clients when needed, and we are maintaining extended hours of service daily. We want you to be well prepared to face the challenges ahead, whatever they might be.
Have telehealth therapy sessions been proven to be effective?
Yes. There have been numerous studies conducted showing that telehealth is just as effective as in-person counseling.
The American Psychiatric Association(APA) published a physician reviewed article in 2017 that notes the following:
“There is substantial evidence of the effectiveness of telepsychiatry and research has found satisfaction to be high among patients, psychiatrists and other professionals. Telepsychiatry is equivalent to in-person care in diagnostic accuracy, treatment effectiveness, quality of care and patient satisfaction. Patient privacy and confidentiality are equivalent to in-person care.” https://www.psychiatry.org/pat…
According to a 2016 article in the World Journal of Psychiatry:
“…telepsychiatry is comparable to face-to-face services in terms of reliability of clinical assessments and treatment outcomes . . . telepsychiatry performed as well as, if not better than face-to-face delivery of mental health services.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4919267/
*Note when seeing the word Telepsychiatry, it is defined by the following –a subset of telemedicine, can involve providing a range of services including psychiatric evaluations, therapy (individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy), patient education and medication management. (APA, 2017)
