The Truth About FaceTime Therapy

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, telehealth services increased by 50% during the first half of 2020. This isn’t a surprise. The Covid-19 pandemic transformed our lives. One of the most notable changes involves the day-to-day use of remote communication methods, including video calls and video conferencing.

The pandemic also highlighted the number of people suffering from anxiety disorders. Estimates show that approximately 40 million American adults are dealing with anxiety, many requiring treatment. Could video therapy sessions provide an accessible and affordable way for people to access counseling services?

Cost comparison between in-person therapy & online therapy

BetterHelp	In-person therapy
$60 to $90 per week  (one live session per week, unlimited messaging)	$100 to $200 per session
$240 and $360 monthly Get 15% off for Healthy Minded visitors

How do mental health professionals use Facetime for therapy?

Facetime therapy or video therapy is a form of online therapy where you meet with your therapist by phone or video chat. These remote therapy sessions differ from traditional therapy sessions by using a video chat platform rather than conducting sessions in person. This allows the client and the therapist to meet anywhere at any time.

Is Facetime safe & secure for mental health services?

Mental health professionals are bound by an accountability act called HIPAA. HIPAA compliance ensures the maintenance of patient confidentiality. HIPAA is the acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Whether FaceTime is safe and secure for retaining patient confidentiality is debatable. Many professionals conducting a telehealth therapy session prefer to use the video chat platform TheraNest, which is considered safe and secure and less controversial regarding HIPAA compliance.

Is Facetime HIPAA compliant?

Whether Facetime is HIPAA compliant is a hotly debated topic. The answer to this question hinges on whether Facetime is secure enough to maintain patient confidentiality. While many would argue that Facetime calls are simply phone calls with video capabilities, there is a question of whether the information shared via Facetime meets the security standards outlined for health practitioners.

In 2019, Apple revealed that a bug in their Facetime software compromises user privacy. This bug permits users to overhear audio through the recipient’s microphone, even if the recipient doesn’t accept the call. This bug is certainly an argument against using Facetime for a therapy session. However, this issue has been resolved. And Apple assures users that their conversations are not being overheard.

The Conduit Exception in HIPAA provides an interesting loophole that suggests Facetime is HIPAA compliant. This exception covers internet providers and phone companies that transmit health information. The key here is transmitting information from one party to another, but they don’t store it. In this sense, Facetime would be considered a “conduit” or carrier of information and, therefore, would be protected by HIPAA’s current standards.

In most cases, the health care professional rather than the platform must be HIPAA compliant. While Facetime could be used compliant, where and how it is used is critical. Conducting a remote therapy session in a private home or office differs greatly from video conferencing in a public space, like a coffee shop, where information could be overheard.

Regarding platform security, users may be better off using telehealth-specific video conferencing options like TalkSpace, Theranest, or BetterHelp instead of chat apps like Facetime or Zoom.

Benefits of therapy sessions via Facetime

The most obvious benefit of online therapy services is related to the ease people can access mental health services. For many people, online counseling offers access to professional counselors that may otherwise be unavailable.

Easy Accessibility

Some people hesitate to access professional counselors for face-to-face therapy due to the stigma associated with mental health problems. They don’t want to be seen in a waiting room or have others know they seek therapy. Online platforms allow a form of anonymity that isn’t available otherwise.

Online therapy also offers to counsel to those who may not be able to access services because of their location or a lack of transportation. All that’s required is an internet connection.

Cost-Effectiveness

Health insurance often restricts the types of in-person therapy they will cover. Online counseling may have fewer limitations.

Flexibility

Online therapists offer patient satisfaction and flexibility by eliminating geographical and social barriers that occur with in-person therapy sessions.

Facetime therapy vs other methods of online therapy

Data shows that online therapy works, but there is more than one type of therapy. How does a phone or video chat therapy session compare to other methods of online therapy? Is one better than the other? The short answer is that the best type of therapy session is the one that is most effective for the client. Let’s look at factors influencing whether to choose Facetime therapy or online therapy.

Video therapy can be very effective for kids and teens comfortable communicating via video chat. Teens, in particular, find it very easy to jump on a call and are often more open to discussion when they aren’t in the same room as their therapist.

Family therapists, couples seeking marriage counseling, or those with relationship problems can benefit from the flexibility of online therapy or Facetime therapy. These types of therapy often require space and distance between the individuals involved. One of the greatest benefits of online therapy is scheduling flexibility and the fact that you can conduct counseling sessions anywhere with a strong internet connection.

Using FaceTime will affect the quality and effectiveness of the therapy due to technical issues, lack of physical presence, or difficulty building rapport and trust. It can also limit the therapist’s ability to observe non-verbal cues, provide physical interventions, or handle emergencies.

Ultimately, your therapist can advise you on the best type of therapy to meet your needs. This may involve chat therapy, teletherapy, or a combination of both.

How to find a Facetime therapist

Finding a Facetime therapist is relatively easy. Psychology Today offers a list of verified mental health professionals in several countries.

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