What Actually is Therapy?

What Actually is Therapy?

Curt and Katie chat about the confusing laws related to telehealth and other technologies that open up questions of how therapy is actually defined. We look at what is not therapy, what constitutes a therapy session, what differentiates therapy from coaching, and how therapists can navigate confusing laws related to texting, telehealth, and interstate communication with their clients. 

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about what therapy is and what it is not

Curt identified some laws that don’t quite work because what is considered therapy is changing. What time does therapy happen if you are texting? Where is it located? And what actually is therapy and needs to be held under the laws of the profession AND the laws regulating telehealth and technology?

Why does Curt want to fix the telehealth laws?

Rules surrounding knowing where your client is and safety depend on therapy happening concurrently.

New types of therapy (like texting and asynchronous messaging) don’t have the same parameters to be able to identify what is supposed to be documented in therapy sessions.

What is therapy and what is not therapy?

Therapy versus coaching

Therapy versus coping skills training

What is therapy versus what is therapeutic

Does the presence of a therapist make something therapy?

What about continuity of care or coping/coaching calls when someone is traveling?

Things that are called therapy and are not: retail therapy, conversion therapy

What is billable to insurance?

How do we differentiate what we do from non-therapists?

Deeper emotional work within psychological principles

Legal responsibilities of confidentiality

What is a therapy session?

Therapy sessions versus coaching calls

Therapists define what is a therapy session (according to CAMFT)

We need to make sure that we clarify with clients what therapy is with each of us

Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Article from Stephen P. Becker – Wilderness Therapy: Ethical Considerations for Mental Health Professionals

Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:

Rage and Client Self-Harm: An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT

It's the Lack of Thought That Counts: Ethical Decision-Making in Dual Relationships

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Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/