Mode of Therapy – Home Based Therapy

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In a therapeutic relationship, the potential success of anymental health counselingsession depends upon the level of trust and comfort between client and therapist. For the best results, therapy should take place in the most secure environment possible to create an atmosphere conducive to sharing and healing. For this reason, many therapists spend a great deal of their time and resources on improving their office space, providing comfortable seating, a warm and inviting atmosphere, and welcoming décor to ensure that everyone, regardless of personal taste or background, feels at ease.

However, even if atherapistputs both time and money into customizing the office space, to the client, it never feels as safe and comfortable as his or her own home environment. This is one of the advantages of home-based therapy. It allows patients an opportunity to feel the maximum level of comfort and ease in their surroundings since they are in their own space ― their “safe haven” ― during the entire session.

Home-Based Therapy: What Is It?

For those unable or unwilling to seek therapeutic support outside of their homes, home-based therapy is a welcome option. Therapists can determine if home-based therapy is something they plan to offer their patients, and, if so, which one of the different types of home-based therapy they want to use.

Home-Based Therapy: What to Expect

Many in-home therapists elect to work with a partner who serves as an additional level of support during the therapeutic session, and, in some situations, one or more members of the family may participate in the counseling session.

In many cases, counselors prefer home-based therapy since it typically makes it easier to connect with the client and his or her immediate support network in a controlled environment. These situations include:

Home-Based Therapy: Challenges and Issues

The benefits of home-based therapy cannot be overstated, especially from a client’s perspective. However, from a therapeutic point of view, a handful of ethical and practical issues must be considered prior to scheduling home-based sessions. The sessions must take place in an environment that is not problematic to effective counseling, and the therapist must consider all aspects of the home setting with these issues in mind before the initial session takes place.

In some situations, it’s impossible or highly unlikely that individuals could receive ongoing counseling and support outside of their home. They may have issues with reliable transportation or emotional instability that make it difficult to leave their property. When these types of problems are present, home-based therapy may present an ideal, if not the only, option.

However, home-based therapy can create additional complications for the therapist, including:

If implemented correctly, home-based therapy offers advantages for the therapist as well as for the client. In the following situations, home-based therapy:

For these reasons and others, some therapists look at home-based therapy as a welcome opportunity. While the advantages are clear, home-based therapy should be reserved for those situations that truly merit this type of intervention. Moreover, it should not become a regular alternative to therapy in traditional settings.

Home-Based Therapy: Risks, Limitations, and Ethics

Home-based therapy is ideal in those situations in which the client is unable to leave his or her home for regular counseling because of physical disability or mental instability. Moreover, when an assessment of the home environment is necessary, again, home-based therapy presents an attractive option. However, therapists should be aware that after they initiate home-based counseling, it becomes easier for professional boundaries to begin to erode. The therapist must maintain a professional demeanor and keep the focus of the therapy session on the client. The therapist is not to be regarded as a guest in the home, but, instead, as a professional conducting a medical evaluation.

Additionally, the therapist must consider all safety precautions. If the home is an unstable environment for the client, then the therapist may be entering a dangerous situation. Rather than attempting to intervene in arguments or conflicts that may lead to violence, the therapist should maintain back-up support and remain aware of those potential scenarios that demand the intervention of law enforcement. This is especially important when working with children or with those vulnerable members of society who are unable to protect themselves.

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