The ability to deliver mental health services virtually has the potential to revolutionize mental health care at a time when change is sorely needed. Mental health care providers can hold counseling sessions by video conference, communicate by texting, and use remote monitoring for updates on a patient's condition.

These tools have a distinct advantage in many situations in which mental health services are provided. For example:

• Patients with anxiety or agoraphobia can remain in their homes or other familiar location as treatment begins. This removes a significant barrier to these patients seeking treatment in the first place. As treatment progresses, the therapist may choose to continue the telehealth sessions or help the patient become comfortable coming to the office.
• When using video conferencing, the provider can still see the patient, giving them the important ability to read body language the same way they would if they were sitting in the same room. This is a significant advantage over trying to counsel patients over the telephone.
• Patients who are located in remote areas and who may have an unusual condition can see a provider who specializes in their particular disorder, even if that specialist is located across the country — or around the world. Practitioners can counsel patients while the patients are out of town, on vacation, or after they've moved.

While telehealth services are advantageous for many areas of medicine, their use in mental health services may change the game. The nature of mental health treatment, which depends so heavily on the positive patient-provider relationship and typically requires repeat, regular visits, makes it a natural fit for this technology-driven approach.