You can meet in person at our Westerville or Johnstown office, or through telehealth counseling in Ohio from anywhere in the state. Telehealth is available to anyone in Ohio, for all of our services, including individual, couples, family, and child counseling. Sessions are by appointment only, Monday through Saturday. Here is how telehealth counseling in Ohio works with our practice.
If you have been wondering whether online counseling is a real option, or how it compares with sitting down in the office, this guide walks through what telehealth is, what research says, who can use it here, and how to get started.
What telehealth counseling in Ohio is
Telehealth is a broad term. The American Psychological Association describes it as using electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support clinical care at a distance. In counseling, that often means meeting in real time by audio or video, rather than in the same room.
Ohio’s counseling board uses the word teletherapy for real-time audio or audiovisual communication that allows a meaningful interaction between a client and a licensed professional. The rule also notes that other tools, such as phone or video, can fall under that umbrella. New Heights Counseling Services offers telehealth counseling sessions, but we do not need to get into a specific platform here. When you schedule, we will walk you through how your telehealth counseling session will work.
A first session can happen in the office or online. Ohio rules also say that an initial in-person visit is not required in order to begin teletherapy.
Does online counseling work?
Many people worry that a session on a screen will feel less helpful than a session in the office. Research does not support that fear as a general rule.
The American Psychological Association reports that teletherapy, including services delivered by telephone or videoconferencing, has been shown to have similar outcomes to traditional, in-person therapy. It has been shown to be an effective option for a variety of concerns, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Patients also generally report high satisfaction with virtual mental health care.
A Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration evidence review reached a similar conclusion: when talk therapies are delivered through live telehealth in a way that stays true to the original approach, they can be comparably effective to in-person services. The National Institute of Mental Health also notes that psychotherapy for depression can take place in person or virtually.
That does not mean online counseling is the right fit for every person, every day. It does mean that meeting online is a serious form of care, not a lesser substitute, when it is a good match for you.
Who can use telehealth at New Heights
Telehealth at New Heights Counseling Services is available to anyone in Ohio, for all of our services. That includes the same kinds of support you would find in the office, such as help with anxiety, depression, trauma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and sleep trouble linked to worry or low mood. You can read more about anxiety counseling, sleep counseling, Could it be ADHD?, and Understanding ADHD.
Ohio rules require that a professional providing teletherapy to someone who is physically present in Ohio be licensed in Ohio. Those same rules also require the professional to confirm the client’s location at the time of the session. In practical terms, you should plan to be in Ohio when you meet online with us.
Your counselor is also expected to consider, over time, whether telehealth counseling is still a good fit for your needs. A counselor is not required to offer an online session if their clinical judgment is that it is not an appropriate way to meet with you. If you would rather be in the office, or if you want to switch later, you can say so when you schedule or at any point along the way.
In-person offices are still here
Online counseling is one option, not the only one. New Heights Counseling Services has two offices, and both offer the same level of care in a comfortable, private setting.
Our main office is the Westerville counseling office at 120 N. Otterbein Ave., Westerville, Ohio 43081, close to Uptown Westerville. Our Johnstown counseling office is a private office inside Oak Creek Bible Church at 10444 Crouse Willison Road, Johnstown, Ohio 43031, through our partnership with the church. Many clients appreciate its quieter setting.
If you live or work nearby, coming in person may feel simplest. If you live elsewhere in Ohio, have a tight schedule, or would rather meet from home, telehealth may be the easier path. You can also start online and later meet in the office, or the other way around, depending on what works for you.
What to expect in a telehealth session
The heart of the first visit is the same whether you meet in Westerville, in Johnstown, or online. Your counselor will explain how confidentiality works, answer your questions, and give you a chance to share what brought you in. Together you will begin to set goals.
For an online session, Ohio rules add a few extra steps. During the initial session, your counselor must establish informed consent, including how teletherapy is delivered and the potential risks, security issues, and confidentiality issues that come with meeting online. You should have enough time to ask questions and get answers. Your counselor will also confirm your location at the time of the session.
Privacy matters in an online session just as it does in the office. Ohio rules say a professional should not provide teletherapy when the client or the counselor is in a setting where the confidentiality of the session could reasonably be expected to be compromised. Plan to be in a quiet, private place where you will not be overheard, and to stay in one place for the appointment. If meeting from home is hard, think ahead about a space in your day where you can close a door or step away from other people.
Ohio rules also say that informed consent should include a discussion of how teletherapy may affect billing and access to insurance benefits. Coverage varies by plan, so it is worth asking about insurance when you schedule, including if you want to meet online. We can walk you through insurance and payment options. We do not want you to assume that every plan treats an online session the same way.
How to get started
If you would like to meet online, say that when you contact us about telehealth counseling. Call (614) 918-8349, or send a message through our contact page. Tell us who the counseling is for, and whether you would like to meet by telehealth or in person at Westerville or Johnstown. All sessions, in the office and online, are by appointment only, Monday through Saturday.
You do not need to have the right words. Reaching out is enough. Help is available, and we are ready to walk with you.
If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, please call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In an emergency, call 911.
Sources
- American Psychological Association. Telehealth and telepsychology. https://www.apa.org/practice/telehealth-telepsychology
- Ohio Administrative Code, Rule 4757-5-13. Standards of practice and professional conduct: teletherapy. https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-4757-5-13
- Ohio Administrative Code, Rule 4757-5-02. Standards of practice and professional conduct: clients/consumers of services (informed consent and confidentiality). https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-4757-5-02
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders (PEP21-06-02-001). https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep21-06-02-001.pdf
- National Institute of Mental Health. Depression. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression
- National Institute of Mental Health. Anxiety Disorders. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders
- National Institute of Mental Health. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. https://988lifeline.org/get-help/