COVID-19 Pandemic and Anxiety – Can Online Therapy Help?

Anxious? Depressed? Trouble focusing?

We’re all coming to terms with the evolving uncertainty of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Quarantines and shelter-in-place orders have affected everyone’s lives in various ways, including health concerns, working from home, job security, and the need for homeschooling. These significant challenges and the stress they bring may have left you feeling lost, anxious, overwhelmed, or disoriented and without a clear idea of who you can turn to for support. 

But you don’t have to struggle alone. 

Years of being a leading psychiatrist who offers therapy, counseling and medication management has prepared me to provide you with help and support during this time. 

Your Well-Being Is Too Important To Put On Hold

You are motivated and have worked hard for your success. The last thing you need right now is for challenges with anxiety, stress, or focus stand in the way of your goals.

At the same time, distressing physical and emotional symptoms—especially during the current pandemic—may be affecting your concentration, mood, and causing anxiety. Maybe you’ve considered reaching out for help, but you want to do more than just talk about the problems. 

You want solutions. You want to better understand what is causing your challenges and what concrete steps you can take to find relief.           

On the other hand, you might feel like there is too much change or uncertainty in your life right now to begin therapy. But the sooner you find the expert guidance and support you need, the more it can help you through this crisis and during the difficult transition period when the quarantine is over.

Is Online Therapy As Effective As In-Person Treatment?

As a Board-Certified psychiatrist experienced in telemedicine, I have been helping people learn proven strategies to overcome life’s challenges and to feel calmer for nearly 20 years. I have seen firsthand—and heard from many of my clients—that telepsychiatry is as effective and convenient as in-office treatment. There is even research that shows that telepsychiatry is a proven treatment for anxiety and other challenges.

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), “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.” 

And I’ve received extremely positive feedback about the effectiveness and convenience of getting therapy online from many of my patients. Even people who were initially hesitant to try this treatment method have been pleasantly surprised by how similar it feels to in-office therapy, and some have even come to prefer it.

So while we may not be able to meet in person right now, that doesn’t mean you have to wait to find the right guidance and support.

• I continue to provide treatment to current patients, and I invite you to contact me if you’re ready to get started.
• Offering virtual mental health counseling services helps protect you and your loved one during this time of the coronavirus pandemic.
• I can provide online therapy and meds in one place, or I can work with your current doctor or therapist if you are looking to supplement treatment.

Regardless of the issues you are experiencing in your life, help is available. And whether you are struggling with anxiety, stress, or feeling down, I invite you to contact me to see how we can tackle these challenges together.

Call 212-631-8010 or email scott@scottshapiromd.com for a 15-minute phone consultation at no charge.

Is Now The Right Time To Start Online Psychiatry?

There are many reasons why online counseling services can be beneficial in lieu of or in addition to in-person treatment. Getting treatment now rather than waiting for the pandemic to end can help you thrive during this difficult period and set you up for success in the future. And after the pandemic is over, I will welcome you right back into my office (or we can continue treatment online if you prefer). 

So what are some of the benefits of telepsychiatry?

Receive treatment when in-person therapy isn’t an option. 

If you are trying to avoid public transportation and maintain social isolation to protect yourself and your family, the thought of having to ride on a crowded subway car or sit in a waiting room with other patients might be a source of anxiety. 

Due to the Coronavirus and quarantine, and wanting to protect you from the risk of exposure, I am providing all assessments and treatments online. By utilizing a secure and easy-to-use telemedicine video conferencing platform, we can speak AND see each other from the comfort and safety of your own home.

Start therapy and medication management as soon as you’re ready. 

You may have been forced to work with two different healthcare professionals to get the help you need since most therapists aren’t qualified to write or manage prescriptions for psychiatric medicines. Making things more difficult, most mental health professionals have closed their offices to protect themselves and their clients from the spread of COVID-19.

By working with a psychiatrist online, you can receive counseling and medication management services in one place, so you don’t have to wait for the pandemic to end to get the treatment you need.

Get support without interrupting your workday or responsibilities. 

Maybe you live or work in Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester, Long Island or other parts of New York State and don’t want to interrupt your work to travel to my office.

By offering telehealth and telemedicine online, you can get the specialized treatment you need without spending extra time commuting and without the extra risk involved with traveling at this time.

If you’re struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, daily fears, or career stress, it’s possible to get the help you need conveniently and privately through online therapy. 

Call 212-631-8010 or email scott@scottshapiromd.com for a 15-minute phone consultation at no charge to learn more about online therapy and medication treatment.

Online Therapy Can Help You Find Relief from the Safety and Convenience of Your Home or Office

I offer safe, secure, and confidential online psychiatry services to people throughout the state of New York. So regardless of where you work or live, you can connect with me online and receive the expert treatment you deserve without the time or hassles of traveling to in-person visits.

Whether we meet online or in my Manhattan office, I offer a warm and compassionate environment where you can feel comfortable sharing your experience and working toward meaningful, lasting solutions. 

During our first session, we’ll explore the specific challenges that are holding you back, identify potential causes, and develop a comprehensive, individualized action plan to reach your ideal outcome. Many of my patients have tried seeking treatment in the past, only to feel like their doctors weren’t truly listening to their needs or interested in what they had to say about the treatment approach. I want you to feel heard and understood throughout our work together, and I will provide the guidance and expert advice that you are looking for. This collaborative approach to treatment means you will know exactly what is going on, what steps we’ll be taking, and how long it will take to start seeing the desired results.

I take a collaborative and structured approach to therapy that focuses on learning new skills, including problem-solving, identifying distorted thinking, changing behaviors, improving interpersonal relationships, and dealing with stress. Instead of focusing on the obstacles holding you back, my goal is to maximize your strengths and instill greater hope and self-confidence.

Online CBT, Schema Therapy, and Medication Management

Throughout our work together, I will provide you with research-based treatments and strategies to help you overcome your challenges to feel better and achieve your goals. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a collaborative, structured approach that can help you identify harmful or distorted thinking—like overgeneralizing or catastrophizing—and replace it with more productive behaviors. You can learn new skills to recognize and address challenges before they become overwhelming. 

Schema therapy can help you understand why certain patterns develop in your life. When you understand why you think and act the way that you do, you can make practical changes to feel more satisfied in your work, relationships, and personal life.

Medication management isn’t always necessary, but it can play an important role in the treatment of many mental health concerns. As a board-certified psychiatrist, we’ll discuss whether it makes sense to incorporate medication into your treatment plan. And if so, I can prescribe medication for ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns online or in my office.

Productivity coaching is all about finding specific strategies to improve your time management, organization, and focus to reach your goals. During sessions, we’ll do more than just talk about solutions: we’ll practice the skills you need to take your career and personal life to the next level.

• Improve communication
• Strengthen relationships
• Grow your leadership skills
• Establish a healthy work-life balance
• Manage your health and wellbeing
• Pursue personal and career goals with greater confidence.

How Does Online Therapy Work?

I use a private, user-friendly software program called SimplePractice to virtually connect with you in real-time. In advance of our appointment, I’ll send you a link to a secure meeting room. You won’t need to download any software to use this program. Just click the link from your internet-connected desktop computer, laptop, or mobile device, and I’ll welcome you into our private session.

As we talk, you’ll be able to see and hear me just like you would if we were talking in person. Everything we would do if we were meeting in person, we can do online. We can share documents, schedule appointments, and even process your insurance paperwork.

I’ve been practicing therapy for more than 20 years. In that time, I’ve learned that the strongest predictor of a person’s progress isn’t the location where they receive therapy or even the type of treatment that is used. It’s the healing relationship between them and the therapist. As a result, you’ll experience meaningful changes regardless of whether we meet in my office or online.

As you consider online therapy, you may wonder. . . 

Is it truly private?

SimplePractice fully complies with HIPAA privacy standards. It uses the same type of encryption used by banks and other institutions that depend heavily on security. And because you won’t need to travel across town or sit in my waiting room, you can be confident that you won’t run into someone you know. Everything you say during our online therapy sessions will be confidential, so you can speak freely.

Will my insurance plan cover online psychiatry?

Finding online therapy that is covered by insurance isn’t a problem for New Yorkers; insurance companies are required by law to cover virtual mental health counseling to the same extent as in-office therapy. My services are considered out-of-network, but most of my clients receive reimbursement through their insurance plans. Many insurance companies have even decided to waive co-pays during the pandemic; please contact your provider to confirm coverage.

I’m not sure this is the best time.

It’s tempting to “wait until things settle down” before coming in for therapy during times of change, challenge, or uncertainty. Unfortunately, you could miss out on opportunities to make meaningful changes in your life if you put mental wellness on the bottom of your list. By getting guidance and support when you need it most, you increase your chance of coming out of this stage of your life on a new, healthier trajectory. Every step you take toward better mental health will make the next one more manageable. By engaging in web-based therapy now, you can be in a much better place down the road.

Online Therapy Can Offer Healing When In-Office Treatment Isn’t An Option 

This is a challenging time for all of us, but you don’t have to go it alone. Receiving treatment now can help you get through this chapter in your life in the most effective and productive way by teaching new strategies and tools to build resilience, cope with uncertainty, and feel calmer.

Contact me to schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation to discuss any questions you may have and learn how I can help you heal and grow from the comfort and safety of your own home. 

Bibliography

• Deslich, S, et al. Telepsychiatry in the 21st Century: Transforming Healthcare with Technology. Perspective in Health Information Management. Summer 2013.
• Hilty DM, et al. The Effectiveness of Telemental Health: A 2013 Review. Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2013, Vol 19, No.6, pages 444-454.
• Beck M. How Telemedicine is Transforming Health Care. The Wall Street Journal. June 26, 2016

 ¹ https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-telepsychiatry