Telehealth Psychiatry: How Online Sessions Actually Work

You've decided to see a psychiatrist. You've found a provider you like. But then you see the words "telehealth appointment" and suddenly you have a whole new set of questions. Can a psychiatrist really evaluate me through a screen? How do prescriptions work? What if my Wi-Fi drops?

These are completely normal questions — and ones we hear every day. The truth is, telehealth psychiatry has been around for over a decade, and the evidence is clear: it works just as well as in-person care for most psychiatric conditions. Let's walk through exactly how it works, step by step.

What Is Telehealth Psychiatry?

Telehealth psychiatry (also called telepsychiatry) is psychiatric care delivered through secure, HIPAA-compliant video. You and your provider have a real-time, face-to-face conversation — the only difference is you're not in the same physical room.

It covers the full scope of psychiatric care:

• Comprehensive psychiatric evaluations
• Medication management and adjustments
• Individual therapy (CBT, trauma-focused therapy, supportive therapy)
• ADHD assessments and ongoing management
• Crisis assessment and safety planning
• Follow-up visits and medication check-ins

What You Need (It's Less Than You Think)

You don't need any special software, apps, or equipment. Here's all it takes:

That's it. No special telehealth app to download. No account to create on a third-party platform. We send you a secure link, you click it, and you're connected to your provider.

Step by Step: What a Telehealth Session Looks Like

1. Before Your Appointment

After you book (through our website's real-time calendar), you'll receive:

• A confirmation email with your appointment details
• A reminder 24 hours before your session
• A secure video link — sent to your email 15 minutes before your appointment

If it's your first visit, you'll also receive intake forms to fill out ahead of time. Completing these in advance gives your provider more time to focus on you during the session rather than paperwork.

2. Logging In

Click the video link at your appointment time. Your browser opens a secure, encrypted video room. You'll see a brief loading screen, and then your provider appears. That's it — no waiting rooms, no driving, no parking.

If you have any tech issues (camera not working, audio problems), your provider's team is available to help troubleshoot. In rare cases, a phone call backup is available.

3. The Session Itself

Here's the part that surprises most first-time telehealth patients: it feels remarkably normal. Within the first few minutes, most people forget they're on video.

Your provider will:

• Confirm your identity and current location (required for telehealth compliance)
• Review your current symptoms, medications, and any changes since your last visit
• Discuss treatment options and adjust your plan as needed
• Answer your questions and address concerns
• Schedule your next appointment

"My patients often tell me they actually prefer telehealth. There's something about being in your own space — your couch, your favorite chair — that makes it easier to open up." — Dr. Nageley Michel

4. After the Session

When your session ends, you simply close the browser tab. Behind the scenes, your provider:

• Sends prescriptions electronically — directly to your preferred pharmacy. Most medications are ready within 1-2 hours.
• Updates your chart — complete clinical notes documenting your visit
• Files insurance claims — we handle all billing automatically
• Sends a visit summary — for DPC members, this includes notes and next steps

How Prescriptions Work in Telehealth

This is the question we get asked the most. Yes — psychiatric providers can prescribe medication through telehealth, including:

• Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion, mirtazapine)
• Anti-anxiety medications (buspirone, hydroxyzine, SSRIs)
• Mood stabilizers (lithium, lamotrigine, valproic acid)
• Atypical antipsychotics (quetiapine, aripiprazole)
• Non-stimulant ADHD medications (atomoxetine, guanfacine, viloxazine)
• Sleep aids (trazodone, melatonin receptor agonists)

Prescriptions are sent electronically through a certified e-prescribing system directly to your pharmacy. There's no paper prescription to pick up or fax to wait for.

Is Telehealth Psychiatry Covered by Insurance?

Yes. Since 2020, the vast majority of insurance plans cover telehealth psychiatric visits at the same rate as in-person visits. This includes:

• Most major commercial insurers (Aetna, Blue Cross, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare)
• Medicare and Medicaid (in most states)
• Employer-sponsored plans
• Marketplace (ACA) plans

At EnnHealth, we verify your insurance benefits before your first visit at no charge. You'll know your copay or deductible responsibility upfront — no surprise bills.

We also offer Direct Psychiatry Care (DPC) memberships starting at $99/month for patients who prefer flat-rate pricing with unlimited messaging and priority scheduling.

When Telehealth Might Not Be the Right Fit

We believe in honesty. While telehealth is excellent for the vast majority of psychiatric care, there are a few situations where in-person care may be more appropriate:

• Active psychiatric emergencies — if you're in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room
• Certain neurological evaluations — some assessments require physical neurological examination
• Patients without reliable internet access — a stable connection is necessary for quality care
• Court-ordered evaluations — some jurisdictions require in-person forensic assessments

For everything else — from initial evaluations to ongoing medication management to therapy — telehealth delivers the same quality of care with far greater convenience.

Why Patients Prefer Telehealth

After seeing thousands of patients via telehealth, here's what we hear most often:

• "No commute." — Save time, gas money, and the stress of driving to an appointment
• "I feel more comfortable at home." — Familiar surroundings reduce anxiety and make it easier to open up
• "I don't have to take a half-day off work." — A 30-minute follow-up fits into a lunch break
• "Nobody in the waiting room." — Mental health stigma is real; telehealth eliminates the waiting room entirely
• "Same provider every time." — At EnnHealth, you see the same provider at every visit. No rotating clinicians, no retelling your story.

Tips for Your Best Telehealth Experience

1. Test your tech beforehand — Click the video link a few minutes early to make sure everything works
2. Find a private space — A room with a door you can close. Your car works in a pinch.
3. Use headphones — Improves audio quality and adds a layer of privacy
4. Have your medications nearby — Your provider may want to see bottles or verify dosages
5. Write down your questions — It's easy to forget what you wanted to ask once the conversation starts
6. Keep your camera on — Visual cues help your provider assess how you're doing

Ready to Try Telehealth Psychiatry?

If you've been putting off seeing a psychiatrist because of logistics — finding a provider, taking time off work, sitting in traffic, waiting in a waiting room — telehealth removes all of those barriers. Quality psychiatric care is now as accessible as opening your laptop.

At EnnHealth Psychiatry, we've built our entire practice around telehealth because we believe access to mental health care shouldn't depend on your zip code or your schedule. We serve patients across 30+ states with board-certified providers who take the time to actually know you.