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Group Therapy Sessions are on the Horizon for Telepsychiatry
In Part 1 of this Q&A, Edward Kaftarian, MD, Psych Congress Steering Committee member and CEO of Oribit Health Telepsychiatry, Encino, CA, discusses the idea of group therapy for telepsychiatry, expanding on his recent Psych Congress Elevate virtual session, entitled “Telespychiatry 2.0: Where do we go from here.”
Group therapy will be part of the future for telehealth and telepsychiatry as it offers a more convenient option for patients seeking care, especially those underserved by conventional on-site care, explains Dr Kaftarian.
In Part 2, Dr Kaftarian discusses group demographics and offers suggestions on the best ways to structure remote group therapy sessions.
Question: Do you see group therapy sessions on the horizon for telepsychiatry?
Answer: Yes, I believe that most forms of mental health treatment can be highly effective when done remotely, including group therapy. Remote group therapy has been slower to take hold than 1-on-1 care given by psychiatrists and mental health clinicians. However, as the world continues to embrace telehealth, I think group therapy will happen more frequently.
Q: What are some of the advantages of remote group therapy?
A: Remote group therapy is very convenient for all who are involved. Being able to login for a remote group is easier than fighting traffic to and from where the onsite sessions are located. For this reason, people may be more willing to schedule remote group sessions in their busy lives. Also, this mode of healthcare delivery allows greater access to care to remote populations—those who have been underserved by onsite care.
Q: Are there certain conditions that benefit more from remote care?
A: There is insufficient research to determine if group therapy done remotely is more suited for a specific type of patient. However, remote care is often less intimidating than being in person. For example, a patient with an anxiety disorder, such as social phobia or agoraphobia, may be reluctant to put themselves in front of a group of strangers for the first time. They may be more likely to participate in remote groups instead.
Edward Kaftarian, MD is a nationally recognized psychiatrist and leader in the field of telepsychiatry. Trained at the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital, he is board-certified in Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine.
Dr. Kaftarian has served in a variety of executive roles within the California prison system, including Chief Psychiatrist, Senior Psychiatrist, Medical Director, and Director of Pharmacy. He is the founder of California’s Statewide Prison Telepsychiatry Program, which is the largest correctional telepsychiatry program in the world. As a representative for California Correctional Healthcare Services, Dr. Kaftarian has served alongside Federal Court monitors on extensive quality improvement audits for prisons throughout the State of California.
Dr. Kaftarian is currently the Chairman and CEO of Orbit Health Telepsychiatry, a company that provides telepsychiatry services to jails and prisons.
