The percentage of Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries "who accessed health care used telehealth for at least one appointment between October 2019 and October 2020," according to a Defense Health Agency report -- Telehealth Use Among Military Health System Beneficiaries.
Over the past year, psychotherapy has undergone a revolution inspired by the widespread availability of digital technology. It was not long ago that psychotherapy was considered an intimate face-to-face connection between two people, unassisted by external apparatuses. Even with the increased popularity and accessibility of telemental health, some reservation remains regarding the role of technology in psychotherapy.
The percent increase of telemental health appointments in the VA Health Care System from January to April of 2020. Although this level has likely fallen off as in-person appointments become more available, it’s clear that telemental health will be a much larger part of mental health care than it has been. In a recent study consumer openness to telehealth jumped from 11% pre-COIVD to 76% post-COVID.
In a recent blog I wrote about resilience in military couples, and one of the key things that’s consistent in the literature is that communication is one of the fundamental processes in building resilience. We also know that one unique aspect of many military families’ lives is the experience of deployment. Research has shown that one of the best ways for couples and families to maintain a sense of connection during deployments is through communication.
It has now been over a year since the majority of behavioral health providers have moved to predominantly or exclusively providing therapy via telehealth. This week’s blog will examine several publications sharing initial findings about the experience of online couples therapy by providers and patients as well as some lessons learned over the past year.