More Californians are now receiving mental health care through teletherapy than in-person sessions, marking a significant shift in mental health service delivery. In 2023, nearly half of the approximately 4.8 million adults seeking mental health or substance use disorder treatment did so exclusively through teletherapy, according to a KFF Health News analysis of data from UCLA’s California Health Interview Survey.

Teletherapy offers convenience, allowing patients to connect with therapists from home. "It's actually really effective," said Joshua Heitzmann, president of the California Psychological Association, highlighting the comfort it provides to patients. Research supports this, indicating that teletherapy is as effective as in-person therapy, according to Tao Lin from the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety.

However, teletherapy presents challenges. Therapists may miss nonverbal cues like hand motions or body language during video calls, potentially impacting the therapeutic process. Lin noted that therapy over the phone is less effective than video conferences due to more information loss.

Teletherapy is increasingly accessed through apps like BetterHelp and Talkspace, which offer subscription-based services. While many users report satisfaction, some face issues like technical difficulties or unprofessional behavior from therapists, as noted by Eunkyung Jo, a researcher at the University of California-Irvine.

Despite its benefits, teletherapy usage is uneven across demographics. Californians living below 200% of the federal poverty level and those in rural areas are less likely to use teletherapy compared to urban residents. The UCLA data shows that about 81% of Bay Area residents used teletherapy in 2023, compared to 62% in rural counties.

Bill Handel