How Telehealth Therapy Works: Virtual Counseling in North Carolina
- Heather Steele
- Mar 13, 2025
- 4 min read
Can therapy really work through a screen? Here's how telehealth counseling works—and why it might be exactly what you need.
Written by Heather Steele, MS, CPC, LCAS, LCMHC-QS
Owner & Clinical Director at Morrisville Counseling and Consulting
Last Updated July 8, 2026
You want to start therapy, but something keeps getting in the way.
Maybe your schedule is packed. Maybe you don't have reliable transportation. Maybe the thought of sitting in a waiting room makes you anxious.
Or maybe you just want the option to talk to a therapist from your couch, in your sweatpants, with your dog nearby.
Whatever the reason, telehealth therapy makes mental health care more accessible than ever—and research shows it's just as effective as in-person sessions for most concerns.
At Morrisville Counseling and Consulting, we offer secure telehealth services throughout North Carolina, connecting clients from Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Apex, Chapel Hill, and beyond with experienced, licensed therapists.
Here's everything you need to know about how virtual therapy works.
What Is Telehealth Therapy?
Telehealth therapy—also called online counseling, virtual therapy, or teletherapy—is therapy conducted through a secure video platform instead of in person.
You meet with your therapist face-to-face via video call, just like you would in an office. You talk, they listen, you work through things together. The only difference is you're in different physical locations.
It's not texting with a chatbot. It's not an app with pre-recorded videos. It's real therapy with a real, licensed therapist—just delivered through technology.
How a Telehealth Session Works
Before Your Session
After scheduling, you'll receive a secure link to join your video appointment. At MCC, we use a HIPAA-compliant video platform that protects your privacy and confidentiality.
To prepare:
Find a quiet, private space where you can talk freely
Test your internet connection, camera, and microphone
Have headphones handy if you're in a shared space
Close other tabs and silence notifications
During Your Session
When it's time, click the link and your therapist will be there—just like walking into their office.
Sessions typically last 50 minutes, same as in-person. You'll discuss whatever you need to: stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, life transitions. Your therapist will use the same evidence-based approaches they'd use in person, including:
EMDR (yes, EMDR works via telehealth)
Somatic and mindfulness-based approaches
Solution-focused techniques
Some therapists use screen sharing for worksheets or exercises. Others keep things purely conversational.
Either way, the therapeutic relationship—the most important factor in successful therapy—develops just as strongly online as it does in person.
After Your Session
Just like in-person therapy, you might leave with something to think about, a technique to try, or simply a sense of relief from being heard.
You'll schedule your next session (usually weekly to start) and continue the work.
Who Is Telehealth Therapy Good For?
Telehealth works well for most people dealing with:
Anxiety and depression
Stress and burnout
Relationship issues
Life transitions (career changes, divorce, new parenthood)
Trauma and PTSD (including EMDR via telehealth)
Grief and loss
It's especially helpful if you:
Have a demanding schedule with little flexibility
Live in a rural area far from therapists
Have mobility challenges or chronic illness
Experience social anxiety about waiting rooms
Are a busy parent who can't easily leave home
Travel frequently for work
Simply prefer the comfort of your own space
Many of our clients across the Triangle—working professionals in RTP, busy parents in Cary and Apex, graduate students in Durham and Chapel Hill—choose telehealth because it fits their lives.
Is Telehealth Therapy as Effective as In-Person?
Yes. Research consistently shows that telehealth therapy is as effective as in-person therapy for most mental health concerns.
A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that video-based therapy produced equivalent outcomes to face-to-face therapy for depression and anxiety. The American Psychological Association also supports telehealth as an effective delivery method for psychological services.
What matters most isn't the medium—it's the therapeutic relationship, the therapist's skill, and your willingness to engage in the process.
Common Concerns About Virtual Therapy
"Won't it feel impersonal?"
Most clients are surprised by how natural it feels. Within a few minutes, the screen fades into the background and it just becomes a conversation. Many clients actually feel more comfortable opening up from home.
"What about privacy?"
We use HIPAA-compliant platforms with end-to-end encryption. Your session is private and secure. For your part, find a space where you won't be overheard—headphones help.
"What if my internet is unreliable?"
Test your connection before your first session. If technical issues arise during a session, your therapist will have a backup plan (often a phone call). Minor glitches happen, but they rarely derail the work.
"Can you really do trauma therapy online?"
Yes. EMDR therapy has been successfully adapted for telehealth. Our trained EMDR therapists use virtual techniques that are effective for processing trauma remotely.
Telehealth vs. In-Person: How to Choose
There's no wrong choice. Here's a simple guide:
Choose telehealth if:
Convenience and flexibility are priorities
You're comfortable with technology
You have a private space at home
You experience anxiety about offices/waiting rooms
Choose in-person if:
You want a clear separation between "therapy space" and home
You struggle to focus at home
You prefer the structure of leaving the house
Technology frustrates you
At MCC, we offer both options—and you can switch between them as your needs change.
Getting Started with Telehealth at MCC
Starting virtual therapy is simple:
Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. We'll discuss what's going on and match you with a therapist.
Complete intake paperwork online. Everything is digital—no printing or scanning.
Receive your secure video link. Log in from anywhere in North Carolina.
Show up. That's it. Your therapist will take it from there.
Therapy That Fits Your Life
You shouldn't have to rearrange your entire week to take care of your mental health.
Telehealth makes therapy accessible, flexible, and private—without sacrificing quality or connection.
Phone: (484) 682-9281
Insurance: BCBS, Aetna, Cigna | Self-pay: $170/session
Serving: All of North Carolina via telehealth
Schedule your free consultation and see how easy starting therapy can be.
Heather Steele is the founder of Morrisville Counseling and Consulting, PLLC, offering in-person and telehealth therapy throughout North Carolina since 2017.
