Connect online with a mental health influencer
Internet Psychotherapy
Is It Safe?
Nothing will ever match individual face-to-face conversation when it comes to privacy and security. However, therapy conducted online is still considered safe and confidential. There are inherent risks involved in transmitting information over the internet, but we use encrypted software to reduce this risk as much as possible.
Physical safety is also important. Since internet therapy can be conducted across a great distance, great care is taken to help the client identify local resources and establish a safety plan in case of treatment emergencies.
Is It Effective?
Yes! It is certainly a newer form of therapy, but the current research overwhelmingly indicates that online therapy is just as valid and effective as therapy conducted in person for a variety of issues. Additionally, there are certain disorders that can cause a person to never seek in-person therapy in the first place, which this format can work around.
Is It Covered By Insurance?
In many cases, insurance will reimburse for internet-based psychotherapy. It is important to check with your particular insurance provider to verify this. The out of pocket rate for therapy conducted onilne is the same as in person. This rate is $150 per hour, which can be reimbursed by many PPO insurance plans.
Do I Have To Live In California?
In general, yes. The current rule of thumb is that internet therapy can only be completed with individuals who reside in the same state that the therapist holds a license. However, there are certain exceptions in which we can see clients who live in a different state. This is looked into on a case-by-case basis with that particular state's licensing board. Please contact us if you would us to look into this possibility for your state of residence.
Who Am I?
My name is Dr. Robert Duff. I am a licensed clinical psychologist, practicing out of Camarillo, California. I have a doctorate in clinical psychology from UC Santa Barbara, where I completed my dissertation on internet-based psychotherapy. I am also a popular self-help author, podcaster, and mental health influencer. Unlike the online therapy provided through some of the more popular applications and programs, you know exactly who you will be working with and we will establish a consistent schedule that fits your needs and lifestyle.
Please fill out the contact form to inquire about internet therapy!
Why Internet Therapy?
The main advantage of online therapy is that it can be done from any location with internet access. Some people have symptoms that are so strong that they are not able to easily get to appointments. For instance social anxiety or agoraphobia might be disorders that make a face-to-face meeting nearly impossible. For others, they simply don't have the ability to regularly attend in-person appointments due to their geographical location or their work schedule. It is also important to simply acknowledge that internet-based communication has become a primary form of communication for so many people. While there are certainly aspects of face-to-face conversation that cannot be replicated when using a computer to communicate, many people are just more comfortable using this medium.
What is Internet Therapy?
Simply put, internet therapy is regular psychotherapy that you would do in-person with a therapist or a counselor, but instead performed through online communication. Typically this is done through video chat, very similar to Skype or any other popular web chat application. It can also be completed through audio only, or even instant text message formats in some cases. Regardless of the format, the research is clear that internet-based psychotherapy is as effective as traditional in-person treatment for a wide variety of conditions including anxiety and depression.