Breakthrough connects clients with licensed mental health professionals for sessions via secure video, phone, and web.

Telepsychiatry and teletherapy – mental health services delivered through secure video, phone, and web – have emerged as effective, affordable, convenient, and safe methods of treating stress and mental illness. Telemedicine has several substantial benefits:

1) Effectiveness:

Over fifteen years of research confirm that telemedicine is as effective as in–person treatment. This is particularly true in psychiatry and clinical psychology where much of the treatment is doctor–patient communication. Click here for a list of research studies on the effectiveness of telemedicine.

2) Convenience:

Fifty percent of therapy clients drop out after a few sessions, but research shows teletherapy can boost retention to over ninety percent. Because clients can hold sessions anywhere with phone or internet access, they are much more likely to go and stay in treatment. Breakthrough supports sessions via video, phone, email, and live chat.

3) Affordability:

Telemedicine sessions can cost ten to fifty percent less due to reduced overhead, travel time, and staffing needs. On BreakThrough, providers set rates that are almost always more affordable than in–office visits.

4) Access:

Research shows the fit between clients and mental health providers is essential to positive outcomes. Most people will not travel to a provider beyond fifty miles, but telemedicine lets clients work with the best licensed provider regardless of location. Breakthrough clients can find providers on a wide variety of criteria, including price, reputation, location, gender, experience, credentials, and more.

5) Confidentiality:

Eighty percent of therapy clients worry about the stigma of treatment. To protect clients, Breakthrough requires minimal information, enabling treatment with a level of discreteness and security not possible with in–person treatment.