Blog

Do you make a New Year’s resolution each year?

In the United States about half the population makes a resolution. While this is still a popular tradition, the success rates in keeping resolutions are incredibly low, only about 9% of those who make a resolution keep it all year long.

Why are the success rates so low? Why keep making a resolution each year after failing to keep the previous one?

There are so many things that factor in to making and keeping a New Year’s resolution, so here are a few things the keep in mind for 2022.

Why?

Why are you making a New Year’s resolution? Because everyone is doing it? Because it is something you grew up doing? Understanding why you create a resolution each year can help you effectively keep it! If you’re doing it just because others are, you’re much less likely to keep that resolution. However, if you’re doing it for yourself, you have a higher chance of being successful.

Are you trying to stop a “bad” habit?

So often, resolutions become about stopping a behavior or a habit that we have labeled “bad.” For example, a resolution might be to stop drinking soda. In this resolution, drinking soda has been deemed a “bad’ thing, something that needs to be stopped. Why has this behavior been labeled “bad” in the first place, and what is driving it? Maybe an individual craves a soda at the end of a stressful workday? Getting to the underlying motivation to that perceived “bad” habit will help them be more successful in keeping their resolution. For example, understanding why this individual reaches for a soda might help them change that behavior and ultimately keep their resolution.

Add something instead of removing something.

Using the previous example, if stress is driving a person’s soda drinking habit, why not create a New Year’s resolution to help decrease stress? Maybe add a meditation into their daily routine, or a morning walk. By adding something to decrease stress, they are addressing the root of a perceived “bad” habit. This will potentially lead to lasting change and hopefully a lower stress level! It is easier to start a new habit than it is to stop an existing one, so keep that in mind when creating your resolution this year.

For more information see:

New Year’s Resolution Statistics (2021 Updated) – Discover Happy Habits

Why Forming a New Good Habit Is Easier Than Breaking a Bad One (lifehack.org)

Do you get tired just thinking about the holidays? Maybe you are overwhelmed by all the cooking, cleaning, and family time. Or, maybe you’re worried about staying within your financial budget this holiday season?

The holidays are supposed to be a time for joy and excitement. Time spent with those you love, doing things you all enjoy. But, so often the preparations leave you tired, frustrated, and burnt out before the holiday begins.

What about rest? Do you feel well rested after the holidays?

The answer to that question is probably, no. Here are a few things to keep in mind to help you prioritize rest this season.

Quality over quantity

It is far too easy to feel obligated to attend every event you and your family are invited to. You want to spend time with those you love, right? Overbooking your social calendar can lead to burnout, fatigue, and irritability. You can go to multiple events and never feel like you spent quality time with those there. To avoid this, think of time with others in terms of quality instead of quantity. Prioritize events that create lasting, enjoyable memories and avoid the events that don’t.

Say no, guilt free

Do you find yourself saying “yes” more than you say “no” during the holidays? There might even be a time or two that you agree to something and regret it later. Say “no” to things that lead to exhaustion, frustration, or conflict. If someone asks you to do something, give yourself some time to think it through. Will it bring you joy? Will it foster connection? Will it lead to quality time with others? If not, then maybe this is something you don’t partake in. Here is your permission to say “no” this holiday season, guilt free!

Plan ahead

Often, the holiday season creeps up very quickly! This can lead to feelings of hurry, anxiety, and frustration. Planning ahead of time and intentionally setting aside “down time” can help decrease these uncomfortable emotions. Are there meals you fix every year? Go ahead and get those items from to grocery store in advance, to decrease the number of late-night grocery runs. Do you find yourself coming home from events later than you wanted? Have a game plan for you and your family before leaving the house. Maybe create a “signal” that you can give the others when it is time to leave, a wink, tap on the shoulder, or maybe a specific phrase. Making a plan in advance eases anxiety and decreases conflict, creating a much more enjoyable experience for everyone!

By prioritizing quality over quantity, saying “no,” and planning ahead you can hopefully head into the New Year feeling rested and refreshed.

When you think about therapy what image pops into your mind?

Maybe someone lying on a couch?

Another person holding a clipboard?

It is safe to say there are many common misconceptions about therapy. This blog post is an attempt to “debunk” a few of those!

People will think something is wrong with me if I go to therapy.

If you have thought this before, don’t worry, you’re not alone. This is a very common misconception, and one that often impacts whether someone seeks out a therapist or not. The stigma around mental health leads people to believe that therapy is only for individuals who are “broken” or have something “wrong” with them. However, that could not be further from the truth. Therapy is for everyone! Many topics discussed during therapy center around communication skills, relationships, family, friendships, work-life stress, life transitions, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and the list goes on. These are topics that you might experience daily. Seeking guidance and support in these areas is absolutely normal!

Therapy is awkward. Am I going to have to lie down on a couch?

We have all seen the classic scene where a therapist sits with a clipboard listening their client who is lying on the office couch. While you are more than welcome to lie down during therapy, that certainly is not expected. Yes, many clinicians have a couch in their office, but it is simply to ensure clients have a comfortable place to sit. Clinicians do their best to provide a safe and comfortable environment for their clients, and often this includes having a couch in their office. You may feel slightly uncomfortable or awkward at first, but you might be pleasantly surprised with how quickly those feelings subside. 

I’ll just go one or two times, and everything will be better.

Consistency is key for many things in life, including therapy. Finding a clinician you like and maintaining regular appointments will provide the best results. Unfortunately, clinicians do not have a magic wand (that would be awesome though!), so, many times there isn’t a “quick fix.” Therefore, staying consistent will help your clinician provide the best services they can and will allow you to see long-term improvements.

These days, you can find holiday decorations in major department stores as early as September. Some people dive into the holiday season head first while others dread it. There are so many reasons why this season can be difficult for individuals, and grief is a main one.

Mary Easton, LCSW has immense experience providing both grief and bereavement counseling. Prior to working here at Carolina Psychological Associates, she worked at Hospice for close to five years. During her time there she presented their “Coping with the Holidays” program. Here at Carolina Psychological Associates she works with adolescents, adults, couples, and families experiencing grief, loss, anxiety, and depression. Below she provides insight for navigating grief during the holidays. 

Why can the holidays be difficult for someone experiencing loss? 

The loss of a loved one brings on a range of emotions but the holidays can pose even more emotional struggles. The holidays are full of rituals that typically involve our loved ones.  We have more gatherings with family and friends, which reminds us of those who are not with us.  In addition, there can be emotional landmines everywhere.  Individuals may not be prepared emotionally for the images on television or social media.  Both music in stores and certain seasonal smells can prompt an emotional response from someone who has experienced the death of a loved one.  

How can friends and family best support someone experiencing/struggling with grief during the holidays?

It is incredibly important to check in with those who have experienced a loss and acknowledge whatever emotions they are experiencing.  Whether it the first holiday season without their loved one or the fifth, it is generally helpful for individuals to know that they are being considered.  Finding ways to memorialize someone’s deceased loved one can also be a way to ease their emotional pain.

What is the importance of setting boundaries during the holidays?

For someone who has experienced the death of a loved one, there may be a high level of emotional fatigue.  For that reason, they may need to set boundaries during the holiday season. This can range from not attending family functions, to bringing their own car and leaving early.  They will likely have to make decisions about what traditions to keep, what to let go off and what to add. 

How does an individual set and uphold boundaries with those who do not understand their grief?

Ideally, they need to communicate their thoughts and feelings about the holiday season to those around them. That said, the goal isn’t necessarily to help someone else understand their grief but for the individual who has experienced the loss to care for themselves.

What is the most important thing to remembers during the holiday months for someone walking through grief and loss?

Be compassionate to yourself during this difficult time.  Grief can be unpredictable.  Make a plan.  Communicate with your support system. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! Think about things you can take off your to do list (perhaps the Christmas card or putting up a tree), consider the things you must do (spending time with family or preparing a meal) and possibly things to add (lighting a candle or donating to charity in honor of your loved one).  And remember you can do it all different next year.

Help us welcome Bomly Tsuen, M.Ed., NCSP, LCMHCA to Carolina Psychological Associates!

We are thrilled to have Bomly join us in the Chapel Hill office. She sees children, adolescents and adults and has over 9 years experience providing assessments to adolescents with various learning differences. Her specialty has a wide range, including anxiety, depression, relationship and communication, adjustment, life stage transition, parenting, time management, and stress reduction.

Continue reading to learn more about Bomly!

What brought you to the mental health field?

That is a great question! Since I was a kid, I’ve always enjoyed listening to people and hearing about their fascinating personal stories. I was especially intrigued when people shared their thoughts about things, what they are going through, how they are feeling, and their past experiences. I guess it makes sense that I am now a professional listener!

What is your education history?

(Regarding my M.Ed. and NCSP credentials) I am an English Language Learner; when I was very young, I attended school in Hong Kong for a year before my family moved to the Northeast. I couldn’t speak English at all for the first couple of years I was in the United States. Fortunately, I had great elementary school teachers and administrators who looked out for me, and my parents were huge supporters of my education. I also had a great group of friends who looked out for me. I graduated high school, went to college (majoring in psychology), and then went back for more school. I graduated from UNC-CH’s School Psychology Specialist’s program in 2012. Soon after, I applied to be a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) and obtained those credentials.

(Regarding my LCMHCA credentials) During my internship year in another state, I was able to do therapy and testing at my assigned schools. However, upon returning to North Carolina, I had very little time to do therapy in the schools I served. Therefore, I decided to pursue a counseling license in order to continue to provide therapy outside of the school setting.

How would you best describe your therapeutic approach?

Because there are pros and cons to each approach, I generally select techniques from a diverse set of therapeutic models—depending on what is most suitable for each of my clients. Like a strong teacher who would differentiate instruction based on each student’s strengths and needs, I choose the most appropriate strategies from several therapeutic models to cater to my client’s strengths and needs.

What population of clients do you serve? Why that group?

Having served as a school psychologist in many public school systems for over 9 years, and over 1.5 years in private practice, I have worked with a very diverse set of individuals (e.g., race, gender, age, sexual orientation, intellectual and achievement abilities, socioeconomic status). And a common, foundational issue I’ve discovered is that our social relationships are essential to our health and wellness. I have had the most success empowering gifted children, as well as adolescents and adults, who experience issues with self-esteem, anxiety, depression, stress with school/work life, and social/communication skills. It’s incredibly rewarding to empower members of the community with the skillsets necessary for developing healthy relationships with themselves as well as with others.

Did you recently move to the Chapel Hill Area? If so, where did you move from?

Not recently. I’ve been in the triangle for a long time—since I moved here for college.

What are you looking forward to most about being a part of the CPA family?

Oh, this is a tough question to choose just one thing. I try to support local businesses as much as I can–whether I’m at home or traveling—so, it only makes sense that I am thrilled to be part of a local practice! Moreover, I really love the energy CPA radiates! Everyone has been so kind, knowledgeable, insightful, helpful, and supportive. If I HAD to choose, I would say I’m most excited about being part of the CPA family because of the opportunity to work amongst the many passionate and skillful, yet humble, clinicians.

What is something that you enjoy doing for fun?

I have a pretty eclectic range of interests! I love SUP/kayaking, baking, dancing, making lip balms and cream blushes, watching anime, traveling, and sometimes just watching TV with my cat. 😊

Share a fun fact about yourself!

When I was a kid, I did not understand the concept of being “tired” and would always think, “Why do adults keep using that word when they don’t want to play anymore?” Then my mom would tell me I have the energy/spirit of a monkey (in my culture, monkeys symbolize cleverness and high energy playfulness). And I would always wish for a pet monkey, so I could have someone to run around and play with me all of the time. Nonstop.

It is that time of the year again, seasonal transition. 

When some people buy all the pumpkin spice lattes (PSLs) they can drink while others grip on to the last days of warm summer sunshine.

Where do you find yourself during this transition?

Are you ready for sweater weather and cooler temperatures? Or are you dreading the growing number of dark hours in the day?

Fall is a season full of various emotions. Sadness that summer is over and joy for the changing colors of leaves. Anticipation of shorter days and excitement for holidays with loved ones. Grief for those no longer here to celebrate with and hope for new memories to be made.

No matter what side you’re on, whether you’re ready for fall or not, here are some important things to keep in mind during this transition.

Get some sunlight

As the days get shorter and colder, you might find yourself missing the warm sunshine. Listen to your body and go outside when you can, for as long as you can.

This might seem like a small, insignificant chore but you will most likely thank yourself later. This could look like eating lunch outside your office building or taking a lap around the parking lot when you get a couple free minutes. Carving time out of your workday can be tricky. Set a reminder on your phone or simply put “go outside” on your to-do list each day. Feel free to invite some coworkers with you, they might enjoy the sunshine too!

The sun is a large source of Vitamin D. Therefore, when there is a decrease in the amount of sunny hours a day, individuals might get as much Vitamin D as they need. This deficiency can impact mood and the immune system. Speak with your primary care physician about possibly adding a Vitamin D supplement during the winter months.

Routine

Find a routine and stick with it. As the hours of sunlight slowly diminish, it can interrupt your daily schedule. Be aware of this and develop a routine that you can stick to throughout the darker days of winter.

Remember that it is okay for your days to look different during different seasons. Maybe bedtimes are later in the summer and earlier in the winter. Morning alarms might go off later in the summer and earlier in the winter. You are allowed to change your routine and schedule to best suit your needs in whatever season you find yourself.

Be mindful of what your mind and body need in this season! Most importantly, find a routine that works and stay consistent. This consistency might be helpful on particularly hard days.

Reach out

Social support systems are often underrated and underutilized. You might be asking, “what is a social support system?”

Community. Friends. Family. Social Groups. Mentors. Peers.

People who fall into each of those categories can be considered social supports. Reaching out to those around you is essential for your success, especially through seasonal transitions. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help or to just catch up!

Also, remember to reach out to professionals for additional support if needed. 

The concept of self-care has become fairly mainstream in recent years as mental health awareness has increased. You may have heard about self-care from a magazine, a blog, or even from a training at work.

However, in the mental health profession, self-care has always been a vitally important topic for both professionals and clients.

What is your definition of self-care?

Does it look like binging a new season on Netflix? Maybe taking a nap? Treating yourself to something special on the weekend?

Those could potentially all be seen as self-care activities.

What does self-care actually mean?

Self-care is anything that increases mental and physical wellness, personal engagement, self-appreciation, and helps regulate stress.

There is no one self-care activity that suits everyone. Instead, there is a wide variety of techniques that can be tailored to each person’s needs. This means that while meditation might work really well for one of your friends, it might not work well for you and your needs.

Self-care is a continuous process of taking inventory of your needs and setting time aside to participate in activities that increase overall wellness and reduce stress.

It is very easy, in our quick moving society, to not put ourselves first or even be aware of our own needs. We might prioritize someone else’s happiness, easily bypassing our needs to take care of others. While this might seem like a very kind thing to do, not meeting our own needs regularly can have negative effects. We can quickly experience burnout, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and even irritability.

Incorporating self-care into an already busy schedule

There is no question that your schedule is already full. So, you might be thinking, “how am I supposed to add more things to my schedule?”

Self-care activities do not have to take up a large amount of time. While taking an afternoon off to relax or taking a yoga class might sound nice, it isn’t practical for everyone all the time.

These activities can be quick check-ins with yourself to take inventory of how you’re doing and what you need. Some options are listed below.

Meditation. There are so many apps that offer guided meditations.

Read. Grab a book at bedtime instead of picking up your phone.

Move your body. This can look like taking a walk, stretching, doing yoga, dancing in the kitchen etc.

Journal.

Practice gratitude.

Learn a new skill.

Try a new hobby.

Volunteer.

Spend time with a friend.

Do a puzzle.

Take a nap.

Create something. This can be with paint, clay, wood, paper, etc.

The options for self-care activities are endless. Sometimes the best way to practice self-care is to set limits and say no when you feel you are doing more than you are used to.

Continuous Process.

Self-care is the continual process of proactively tending to your needs to increase and maintain your overall wellness. It can be difficult to put your needs first. It might feel easier to stay busy and not have to sit with those difficult feelings and emotions.

But the most important part to remember about self-care is that it’s a journey. There is no one right way to do “self-care.” You will get better the more you practice.

You might feel that the concept of self-care is just trendy. But investing in yourself and your wellness is important, and self-care is just one easy way to do so.

Trigger Warning: This blog talks about suicide and suicidal ideation. This is a heavy topic. You might need longer to read through and process all the information in this post. Give yourself the time and space to do so.  

We often shy away from talking about suicide. It can be a trigger for some. It might cause feelings of sadness, fear, anger, and even confusion.

However, the best way to prevent suicide is to become educated and talk about it.

This blog is a limited attempt to facilitate both.

Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death in the United States. It is even higher among younger populations, the 2^nd leading cause of death among those between the ages of 10 and 34.

The suicide rates have been steadily climbing since 1999, increasing a total of 35.2% from 1999 to 2018.

It is important understand that there is a difference between suicide and suicidal ideation. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is defined as, “death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior.” They have also defined suicidal ideation as, “thinking about, considering, or planning suicide.”

This means that a person may have suicidal ideation, but may not be actively suicidal. It is best to let a professional determine this difference, as it can be difficult to tell. 

Risk Factors

Risk factors are factors that create a higher likelihood that someone might consider, attempt, or die by suicide. It is important to look for potential risk factors in those around you. Some of these are listed below.

• Mental Health Diagnosis
• Substance Use Disorder
• Presence of Hopelessness
• Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
• History of trauma or abuse
• Previous suicide attempts
• Family history of suicide
• Job or financial loss
• Lack of healthcare and mental health treatment
• Lack of social support and a sense of isolation
• Access to lethal means

It is also very important to keep in mind that these risk factors do not cause suicide, but only contribute to the likelihood of someone considering or attempting suicide.

Warning Signs

Warning signs are things that someone might be exhibiting or experiencing that can be an indicator of suicidal ideations and possible suicide attempt. These can include, but are not limited to:

• Talking about wanting to die or kill themselves
• Searching for or obtaining means to harm or kill themselves
• Talking about being hopeless
• Expressing that they have no reason to live
• Discussing feelings of feeling trapped
• Talking about being in unbearable pain
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Increasing use of substances
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Isolating themselves from others
• Extreme mood swings

Action Steps

So what happens if you are aware of the risk factors and start noticing the warning signs from someone you know? Great question! The National Institute of Mental Health gives FIVE action steps for helping others.

1. ASK – “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”
2. KEEP THEM SAFE – Reduce access to lethal items or places.
3. BE THERE – Listen carefully and acknowledge their feelings.
4. HELP THEM CONNECT – Give them the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number or help them get connected with a mental health professional.
5. STAY CONNECTED – Follow up and stay in touch.

If you see any of those warning signs in someone you know, the best thing to do is ask. The National Institute of Mental Health suggests asking, “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” This question can be hard and uncomfortable, but remember, it is the first step in getting your loved one the support and care they need.

Reducing their access to lethal means is an incredibly important step. This can look like removing firearms, locking up medications, or taking their car keys. Removing these lethal means immediately increases their safety.

Following with a listening ear is just as important. Listen to how they are feeling, what they are going through, and ensure them that they are not alone. Then, get them connected with someone. This can be the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number or a local clinician.

Additional links, resources, and numbers.

Here are some additional resources that provide more information and education. 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

Crisis Text Line 741741

National Institute of Mental Health Website: www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention

#BeThe1To Website: Home – #BeThe1To

Suicide Prevention Lifeline Website: Talk To Someone Now : Lifeline (suicidepreventionlifeline.org)

CDC Suicide Website: Suicide rising across the US | VitalSigns | CDC

Some things to remember. 

Suicide is a very difficult, sad, and often painful topic. However, due to the rising rates of suicide, it is important to know how to recognize both the risk factors and warning signs of suicide. Speaking up when you see those warning signs is very difficult and uncomfortable, but has the potential to change the life of someone you know.

Offering a listening ear might make all the difference to someone experiencing suicidal ideation and/or contemplating suicide. If you are unsure of what to say or how to respond, just validate their feelings and emotions. Let them know they are not alone.

It is also important to know that you will not always notice the warning signs. This is in no way an attempt to put the responsibility on you for the decision someone else makes with their own life.  Our only responsibility is to love others well through the good times and the hard times.

Transitions are hard. For any and everyone.

With this being said, the transition back to school can be exceptionally difficult, for both kids and parents. 

On top of that, we are still experiencing a worldwide pandemic.  Many children have not been to a face-to-face class in over a year. It is safe to say, this transition back to school might be more difficult that years prior. 

In an effort to help ease some anxiety, here are a few things to keep in mind during the weeks leading up to the first day of school.

“Name it to tame it”

When feelings go unnoticed or unnamed it can increase anxiety. This is true for both children and adults. When it comes to transitioning back in the classroom, children might have various emotions: joy, anxiety, excitement, fear, or sadness. In order to help them name these feelings, have a conversation with them. Ask them how they are feeling about school starting. At first, they might be hesitant to share. This is a great opportunity for you to model this by sharing your feelings about the start of the school year. They might feel more comfortable to share their emotions after you have shared yours.

Children do not always have the language to fully explain how they feel, which makes it difficult to share or name their emotions. Hopefully, having this conversation will help them discover how they are feeling and gain the language to express it! The most important part of this conversation is to validate the way they are feeling. This will further encourage them to share in the future!

Create a routine

Transitioning from a relaxed summer schedule to a very busy school schedule might create anxiety. This shift can cause even more anxiety if it is an abrupt change, with little to no preparation. To best prepare yourself and your child, sit down and develop a schedule together. Discuss the upcoming change in routine with them and the thing things you both need to foster a smooth transition.

While they might be unhappy about waking up early, creating a routine might give them a larger sense of control leading up to the start of school. Make it fun! Create a schedule that can go on the fridge or in their room for them to refer to often.

Focus on the positive

It is so easy to talk about the negatives of school starting, like the end of summer, homework, and early mornings. However, there are many positive things about school starting. Your child might be looking forward to seeing their friends and teachers, playing sports, and getting back into a routine again.

If you find your child focusing on the negative, encourage them to name some exciting things about school starting. Ask them what they are looking forward to. If they can’t think of anything, help them brainstorm some of the positives of school starting. They might be so focused on the negatives, that finding a positive on their own is almost impossible.

These will certainly not eliminate all the anxiety you or your child experience.  However, they can help decrease anxiety during the weeks or days leading up to the first day of school. Creating a space where your child feels comfortable talking about their feelings and emotions is incredibly valuable and a great place to start!

The COVID Pandemic caused many shifts in the way our society operated. Restaurants more widely offered curbside pick-up, working from home became the new normal, and professionals were forced to change the way they delivered services to their clients.  

Mental Health professionals also had to shift the way they were delivering services. This shift included utilizing telehealth in order to provide services from a safe distance. This allowed clients to continue meeting with their providers from the safety of their own home.  

Telehealth services have been around for a long time but were not widely used because face-to-face services were generally preferred by both clients and practitioners. However, when face-to-face services were no longer the safer option, telehealth offered a much-needed alternative.  

You might be asking “what in the world is telehealth?” Or “Is this something I should be using?”  

Look no further! Jennifer Sommer, Ph.D., a clinician here at Carolina Psychological Associates, has offered some great insight on telehealth below.  

What is telehealth? 

Telehealth, sometimes referred to as telemedicine, is the practice of healthcare that is delivered electronically by telephone or through an interactive video platform. Carolina Psychological Associates uses Doxy.me, an online service that allows us to see our clients remotely while still providing the same confidentiality and quality of care. 

How long have you been providing telehealth services?  

Prior to the pandemic, teletherapy was becoming more well-known and accepted by psychologists as it was particularly helpful for people living in remote areas where it was difficult to find a mental health provider.  Nevertheless, many therapists did not conduct teletherapy on a regular basis. I had not used telehealth before, but my experience with it over the past fifteen months has opened my eyes to its benefits, both for the client and clinician. 

What were your initial thoughts about telehealth? Why?  

During my training as a psychologist, we were told about the possible disadvantages of telehealth, and it has only been in recent years that it has gained popularity.  Potential concerns I had included not being able to build a connection with clients as well, difficulty noticing client’s nonverbal communication, clients minimizing their difficulties, or therapeutic approaches being less effective. 

Have your opinions of it changed? If so, what are some positives of telehealth services that you’ve seen? 

My opinion of telehealth has changed dramatically, and I appreciate the multitude of benefits. Most importantly, the research shows that clients and clinicians are still able to establish the same quality working relationship and the strategies used appear to be equally effective when engaging in telehealth. Of additional benefit, many clients report it is easier to schedule and keep appointments, that they feel more comfortable talking in their own spaces, and that they are better able to access specialized care from providers who may not practice locally. Because of the success of telehealth during the pandemic, many providers are contacting their general assemblies in hopes that laws will be passed to increase access to telehealth and to ensure insurance reimbursement even beyond the pandemic.  

What are some drawback/negatives about providing telehealth services? 

I have not experienced many drawbacks to providing telehealth that cannot be overcome.  One challenge occurs when either the client or clinician experiences a technological issue. Thankfully, telehealth can be conducted using many devices (e.g., a cell phone, tablet, or computer), as well as by telephone.  Although I assumed some clients would find it difficult to participate in the session from a confidential location that has not yet been an issue. You would be surprised by the creative places that clients have decided to meet with me including homes, offices, cars, hammocks, even tree houses! I have even been introduced to beloved household pets. 

Who in your mind is the “best fit” for using telehealth services? Why?  

Optimally, telehealth seems to be the best fit for clients who feel that they are as able to participate in the virtual session as they would in-person. Initially, I thought telehealth would work best with clients I had already established an in-person working relationship with prior to the pandemic but it was equally as effective when meeting new clients. The largest caveat is that I would not recommend telehealth for someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis as it is easier to discuss safety plans and supports when meeting face to face. 

How has telehealth impacted your practice throughout the pandemic?  

It has allowed me to meet with people across the state, as well as to provide ongoing services to clients who have recently moved. It has also enabled me to meet with clients during times that I would not typically be able to conduct an in-person appointment. As a former skeptic of telehealth, I hope that other providers and clients will consider its use as it allows us to provide a broader range of services, while affording clients the flexibility, comfort, and confidentiality they deserve. 

Jennifer Sommer Ph.D. sees children, adolescents, and adults here at Carolina Psychological Associates. She is a clinical psychologist who specializes in comprehensive assessments and treatments for individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Prior to joining Carolina Psychological Associates, Jennifer worked at a clinic specializing in ADHD. She has experience directing treatment and research programs for children with ADHD and other social, emotional behavioral and learning difficulties. Jennifer also has interests in family and parenting issues, children’s behavioral concerns, learning disorders and giftedness, anxiety, and adjustment issues.