Before the coronavirus pandemic introduced us to social distancing, therapy was offered almost exclusively in person. All it took was a global health crisis to change mental-health care as we knew it. Despite our collective isolation, access to therapy greatly improved, thanks to the widespread adoption of teletherapy.
Even as pandemic restrictions lifted and life shifted back to the new normal, teletherapy remained at the forefront of mental-health care. The American Psychological Association reported in 2021 that 96 percent of therapists maintained remote services, with 50 percent taking a hybrid approach of virtual and in-person. The trend has only grown over the past few years. In 2024, an APA survey found that 69 percent of psychologists had adopted a hybrid approach, with just 12 percent committing to fully in-person.
As for quality of care, according to a 2022 study in the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, patients not only rated teletherapy highly and preferred it, but clinicians did, too. The study also found that practitioners saw virtual mental-health services to be equally—if not more—effective than in-person, as completion rates, attendance, and number of visits increased when remote programs were offered. Meanwhile, a 2025 study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that in routine practice, teletherapy and in-person sessions offer similar therapeutic and symptom-reduction benefits.
Nevertheless, you may want to consider a few other factors when deciding on which is best for you.
Your Coping Behaviors
A major advantage of in-person therapy is the access it gives therapists to nonverbal behaviors, often lost in virtual therapy. Dupont Circle psychotherapist Karen Osterle urges virtual clients to embrace waist-up video calls. “Don’t waste your time or money on collarbone-up therapy,” she says, noting that body language offers valuable information that’s pivotal in determining therapeutic technique.
Your Living Situation
Columbia Heights therapist Alban Zamora emphasizes privacy and psychological space for teletherapy clients. His perspective? If you’re worried someone can hear, you may technically be in the session but you won’t be as forthcoming, so it may not be as effective.
Your Ability to Stay Present
The tricky part of teletherapy is remaining focused, especially when a session is sharing screen time with pinging notifications. Capitol Hill psychotherapist Monica P. Band says to be honest about whether you’ll be emotionally open onscreen or more detached.
Your Schedule
Teletherapy has grown in popularity because of its convenience. You no longer have to waste time sitting in traffic or on public transportation. It makes prioritizing therapy much less of a headache, especially for parents, students, and busy professionals.
Your Comfort Level
Perhaps most important, your comfort plays a role. According to Zamora, it’s key to acknowledge where you can show up most fully. If seeking health support from your home feels safer and allows you to be more open, then teletherapy could be the right fit.
27.8%
Percentage of Americans who rely solely on telehealth options for outpatient mental-health care. Factors associated with a greater use of virtual care include younger age, higher education, access to private insurance, and higher income.
Source: “Telemental Health, Hybrid, and In-Person Outpatient Mental Health Care in the US,” JAMA Psychiatry
This article appears in the October 2026 issue of Washingtonian.
