TELEPSYCHOLOGY

Telepsychology, also known as telehealth or telemedicine, allows for a patient and therapist to work together without being in the same location. It is a delivery mechanism for providing behavioral health services and does not change the quality of care that is provided. Behavioral health (aka mental health) is a natural fit for telehealth services. In 2016, over 85% of telehealth services billed were for behavioral health. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly expanded the adoption of telepsychology as a means for delivering mental health services. 

At this time, Dr. Kobus is only accepting new patients for virtual sessions via telepsychology, with office visits available only in crisis situations. For these services, Dr. Kobus uses doxy.me, a secured, HIPAA-compliant telecommunications technologies for sessions.  Doxy is similar to Zoom or Teams platforms, but has features added to better protect confidentiality and does not allow for videorecording of sessions.

Telepsychology is not a good fit for everyone.  Some people prefer the experience of being in the same room as their therapist or require this because of their specific clinical needs or the lack of access to privacy at home.  If you are unsure about your interest in and appropriateness for telepsychology, Dr. Kobus can help you determine if this is a good fit for you. 

The option to obtain health care services by telehealth was made permanent in Illinois in July, 2021, when Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 3308 into law. This law expands access to mental health care services and requires coverage be paid at the same rates as in-person care. Since some self-funded payors have the option to not cover these services, it is important to double check with your insurance company to be sure your policy covers telehealth.