Video visits save time, but they ask a little more of you before the visit starts: a working device, a signal that holds and a room where you can speak freely. Here is a short way to decide whether video fits you, how to set it up and when an office visit makes more sense.
Is video as good as being in the room?
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) says virtual care can be effective for anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression and PTSD. That is a statement about video working, not a promise that it suits everyone equally. How well it works for you depends on your symptoms, your setting and your comfort on camera, and your provider will tell you if an office visit would serve you better.
The challenges NIMH names
- Access to technology: you need an internet connection and a device such as a smartphone or computer.
- Technical trouble: a weak connection or a device problem can interrupt a session, and moving between devices or apps can be confusing.
- Privacy: people nearby may see or hear you, and some people feel uneasy when a provider can see their home.
NIMH also advises choosing a provider whose platform is secure, protects your privacy and verifies your identity.
A ten-minute readiness check
- Charge your phone, tablet or laptop, or keep it plugged in, and test the camera and microphone.
- Sit near your router, or stand where your phone shows a strong signal.
- Pick a room with a door. Headphones help keep your side of the conversation private.
- A parked car can work as a private space. Never join a visit while you are driving.
- Have your insurance card, a list of everything you take, including vitamins and supplements, and your questions written down.
- Keep your phone nearby. If the video drops, your provider calls you by phone to keep going.
Need to Talk to Someone?
In-person in West Ashley or telehealth statewide across South Carolina.
Privacy at home
If someone walks in, it is fine to pause the visit. Some people turn on a fan or a radio outside the door, or ask family to step out for the hour. If home is not a safe or private place to talk, tell us; an office visit may be the better choice.
When to come in person
MedlinePlus notes that some diagnoses require an in-person exam or a lab test. Come to our West Ashley office when you prefer a face-to-face visit, when you have no private place to talk, or when your provider recommends it. Lab work can be done at a lab of your choice near you, and video and office visits can be mixed in whatever way works.
When video is never the answer
A scheduled video appointment is not crisis care, and neither is a message to the office.
Questions worth asking any provider
NIMH suggests asking about a provider's experience with your symptoms, the treatment methods they use and how long treatment usually takes. You are welcome to ask us all three. The telehealth FAQ answers the questions we hear most, and our care is available by secure video anywhere in South Carolina. Request an appointment.
Sources: NIMH, Getting Mental Health Support Virtually (revised 2025); MedlinePlus, Telehealth (updated May 2020).
This article is general information, not medical advice, and does not create a patient–provider relationship. Every situation is different, so see a provider who can evaluate yours and develop a plan of care. If you are ever in doubt about an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Frequently Asked Questions
NIMH says virtual care can be effective for anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression and PTSD. Which suits you best depends on your symptoms, your setting and your comfort on camera, and your provider will suggest an office visit when that would help more.
Use a room with a door, wear headphones and pause the visit if someone walks in. A parked car can work too, but never join while driving.
Your provider calls you by phone to continue the visit, so keep your phone nearby.
When you prefer it, when you have no private place to talk, or when your provider recommends it. MedlinePlus notes that some diagnoses need an in-person exam or a lab test.