Telehealth in Clinical Practice
Online Therapy

Telehealth in Clinical Practice: What to Know and What Helps

GLPG3 min read

Telehealth continues to be an essential part of clinical care. Across settings, clinicians and clients rely on virtual sessions to maintain access, flexibility, and continuity of care when in-person sessions are not feasible. Thoughtful telehealth practices help ensure that sessions remain ethical, effective, and supportive for both clients and clinicians.

Below are key considerations to help clinicians navigate telehealth successfully as a consistent part of their practice.

Why Telehealth Matters

Telehealth can reduce barriers to care related to scheduling constraints, transportation challenges, health concerns, or geographic limitations. For many clients, virtual sessions increase accessibility and consistency, particularly during periods of transition or instability.

For clinicians, telehealth offers flexibility, supports continuity in the therapeutic relationship, and can help reduce cancellations while maintaining a predictable caseload.

Establish Clear Expectations Early

Clarity is foundational to effective telehealth work. Clients benefit from understanding how virtual sessions function and what is expected of them from the outset.

Key areas to review include:

  • How sessions will be conducted and on which platform

  • Expectations for privacy and confidentiality on the client’s end

  • Policies around cancellations, tardiness, and rescheduling

  • What to do if a session cannot proceed as planned

Revisiting these expectations periodically can help prevent misunderstandings and reduce stress for both clients and clinicians.

Plan for Technology Challenges

Technology disruptions can occur in telehealth for a variety of reasons, including platform updates, device issues, or connectivity limitations. While not always predictable, planning for these challenges helps sessions stay on track.

It can be helpful to establish:

  • How to reconnect if a session is interrupted

  • How long to wait before reaching out or rescheduling

  • What to do if audio or video quality interferes with the session

Addressing these logistics in advance supports continuity of care and minimizes frustration.

Prioritize Safety and Ethical Standards

Telehealth requires ongoing attention to ethical and legal responsibilities. Best practices include:

  • Verifying the client’s physical location at the start of each session

  • Confirming emergency contact information is current

  • Reviewing how crisis situations will be handled during virtual care

These steps help ensure appropriate response and compliance regardless of where the client is located.

Support Structure and Consistency

Virtual care can sometimes make schedules feel more flexible, which may unintentionally reduce consistency. Supporting structure helps clients remain engaged and supports therapeutic momentum.

Clinicians may find it helpful to:

  • Encourage recurring session times rather than irregular scheduling

  • Discuss factors that may impact attendance or engagement

  • Normalize fluctuations in focus, energy, or motivation

Predictability benefits both clients and clinicians by creating stability within the therapeutic process.

Attend to the Therapeutic Environment

Telehealth shifts the therapy space into each person’s environment. Small adjustments can significantly improve session quality:

  • Maintaining professional lighting and camera placement

  • Minimizing visual and auditory distractions

  • Encouraging clients to choose a private, comfortable space when possible

These details help preserve presence, focus, and professionalism in a virtual setting.

A Note on Clinician Well-Being

While telehealth offers flexibility, extended screen time and back-to-back virtual sessions can contribute to fatigue. Building in breaks, varying session formats when possible, and staying connected with colleagues through consultation or peer support can help clinicians remain grounded and effective.

Supporting Care Through Telehealth

Telehealth is a reliable and adaptable component of modern clinical practice. With clear expectations, thoughtful planning, and attention to ethical standards, clinicians can continue to provide high-quality care in virtual settings.

At Great Lakes Psychology Group, clinicians have access to systems and support that make it easier to manage telehealth services, adjust schedules, and stay connected with clients. With the right tools in place, telehealth can remain a sustainable and effective part of clinical work year-round.