I have been asked many times what I think about virtual mental health care. My experience over the last few years has been mixed. Technical glitches are frustrating, and the effectiveness of video calls is definitely not the same as an in-person visit, but e-health is the way of the future, so here are a few observations.
One of my psychiatrists used Zoom technology during conference calls. Our appointments were very short. Our sessions include him, his psychiatric nurse, and a psychiatry student. I found all three faces looking at me at the same time unnerving. With an in-person session, I can focus on talking to one person, or, if I choose, I can just look at the space in front of my shoes. In the Zoom call, I felt obligated to look at everyone and into their eyes, which I found overwhelming. I tried to figure out what they were thinking instead of focusing on sharing my own concerns. I always shut down the conversation as soon as possible.
Other distractions didn't help the situation, such as the clock at the bottom right of my screen and my own face in the upper right. There were no clocks in my therapist's office, at least none that I could see. I didn't worry about finishing up "on time" or if I had wasted too much time on a specific topic. Also, my therapist's office doesn't have a mirror. Seeing my face online was distracting. It broke my train of thought, especially since I was wearing noise-canceling headphones. I looked ridiculous.
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