Seven Ways That Telephone Counseling Can Help Improve Mental Health

Medically reviewed by Corey Pitts, MA, LCMHC, LCAS, CCS

Updated January 17, 2025by Regain Editorial Team

Please be advised, the below article might mention trauma-related topics that include suicide, substance use, or abuse which could be triggering to the reader.

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Many people can benefit from talk therapy, but issues like stigma, lack of access to transportation, scheduling challenges, long wait lists, and cost can pose a barrier to accessing in-person therapy.

Telephone talk therapy can remove or reduce these barriers, and many people use it to address issues like depression, anxiety, relationship issues, anger problems, substance use disorders, and many other mental health challenges. This article will discuss seven ways that telephone counseling may be able to help you.

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What is telephone counseling?

Telephone therapy (often called phone therapy) is when you work with a talk therapist, counselor, or psychologist over the phone. Unlike videoconferencing, phone therapy includes audio but not video.

Telephone counseling and videoconferencing

Research has found that both telephone and videoconferencing therapy can be effective for a wide range of mental health challenges, and both have significantly lower dropout rates compared with in-person therapy—likely because it’s more convenient to attend therapy sessions online, and it can be both cheaper and more comfortable to attend therapy from home.

However, because phone therapy lacks the body language cues and nuances that can be picked up on during videoconferencing, it might not be as helpful for some people. According to the American Psychological Association, talk therapists will typically address only certain types of challenges during phone therapy, and other problems may benefit more from videoconferencing or in-person therapy.

Seven ways phone therapy might be able to help your mental health

Here are some of the problems commonly addressed during phone therapy and benefits of this format:

Phone counseling for marriage therapy

Marriage counseling is a popular reason to seek out telephone counseling. Sometimes a couple is at an impasse in their marriage, and they can use the help of an expert to facilitate helpful and constructive conversations with your partner.

When you start online marriage therapy through a platform like Regain, you’ll indicate what type of therapy you want (videoconferencing, voice calls, live in-app messaging, or a combination of these deliveries). If you and your partner are feeling a little unsure about trying therapy together, voice calls might be a more comfortable place to start than videoconferencing or in-person sessions.

When you need someone to talk to

If you or someone you know needs immediate counseling services, telephone counseling from a crisis hotline can be the quickest route to get rapid assistance. Some crisis hotlines include Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Crisis Text Line, and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

In a study conducted in 2017 by the Center for Disease Control, 7.4% of high school students were in need of crisis counseling in the 12 months prior. If you need to talk to someone or want to get connected to resources near you, these hotlines can be a great place to start.

Coping with anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns

According to peer-reviewed research, telephone counseling can be effective for anxiety and depressive disorders, when compared to no-treatment or treatment-as-usual. For people with severe social anxiety or those navigating symptoms like extreme fatigue or lack of motivation, telephone therapy and in-app live messaging can make it easier to navigate therapy services.

Convenient therapy

If you’re traveling or busy working, telephone therapy can be a much more convenient option than in-person therapy or video therapy:

In-person therapy is often only offered during standard business hours, which means you might need to take time off work and commute to sessions.
Videoconferencing therapy is almost always more convenient than in-person therapy, but it requires a stronger internet connection than phone therapy, and many people take steps to ensure they’re in a professional environment and professional attire, because their therapist will be seeing them. For a phone call, in contrast, you can wear whatever you’re comfortable in and you can attend sessions from many different locations (like sitting in your parked car, in your living room, or even in your office during your lunch break.

If you’re worried that the convenience of phone therapy comes at the cost of effectiveness, this might alleviate your concerns: The Journal of Counseling states that the effectiveness of telephone counseling “appears to be an effective psychological practice.” They also state that “in contrast to face-to-face counseling, telephone counseling is convenient and less expensive.”

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Telephone counseling can be cheaper

Telephone therapy is often significantly less expensive than in-person therapy, especially if you don’t have health insurance or if there aren’t any therapists in your area who are in-network providers with scheduling availability.

Because telephone therapy has less overhead such as office rent, commuting expenses, and furnishing expenses, therapists providing online therapy typically offer lower rates.

For example, while out-of-pocket costs for in-person therapy might be somewhere between $100-$300+, telephone therapy might cost anywhere between $0-$70 per session.

Accessible options for survivors of domestic violence

For people who’ve survived a domestic violence situation, telephone therapy can be a useful option. This is especially true if you’re living at a shelter, have limited access to transportation, or have a busy schedule navigating work and/or legal situations.

Additionally, if you’re currently in an abusive relationship or have left an abusive relationship, you may want to consider calling a free 24/7 hotline like the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Volunteers working for these hotlines are trained to provide crisis counseling, and they can help connect you with other local and/or national resources.

Using telephone support for substance use disorder recovery

For people navigating substance use disorder recovery, phone therapy can offer a non-judgmental safe space to discuss vulnerable topics surrounding drug and alcohol use. While phone therapy can be effective on its own, it can also be helpful to use in-app messaging with a licensed therapist, so you can reach out for support whenever you’re experiencing cravings or want someone to talk to.

When used together, services like phone therapy, messaging, group therapy, Alcoholics Anonymous, medications, social support from loved ones, medical care, and other services can help people successfully recover from substance use disorders.

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Takeaway

Telephone therapy can be an effective, convenient, cost-effective, and less intimidating form of talk therapy, compared to in-person therapy. Though some types of therapy may require more extensive in-person or videoconferencing help, phone counseling can help address a wide range of challenges, like depression, anxiety, relationship problems, or substance use disorders.

Online therapy platforms such as Regain allow you to access therapy delivered in a variety of ways, including phone therapy, videoconferencing, and in-app messaging.

Frequently asked questions

Read more below for answers to questions commonly asked about this topic.

Can you do counseling or therapy over the phone?

Yes! Telephone counseling has become an increasingly accessible form of mental healthcare services, and it’s often more affordable than in-person therapy. Phone therapy is a legitimate form of mental health treatment that can be administered by licensed psychologists, therapists, and mental health professionals. Phone counseling may be a good alternative to traditional face-to-face therapy since it can offer accessibility while still providing mental health services.

Additionally, while many in-person therapists have long wait lists, telephone therapy increases your access to therapists in your state so you’ll likely be connected with a provider more quickly. Telephone-administered psychotherapy can be a great option to receive mental health care in the comfort of your own home. Many mental health professionals practice telehealth, and you can find their services online.

Is telephone counseling effective?

Distance therapy through online therapy platforms or telephone counseling is often effective. Research shows that therapy types, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), are effective when conducted using telephone counseling. Research also shows the efficacy of online therapy for treating mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, telephone psychotherapy can be an effective addition to antidepressant treatment. You can learn more about telehealth and other forms of mental health services online through the Journal of the American Medical Association. In addition, other studies that used randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, surveys, and field-based investigation methods also stated the efficacy of online therapy for treating eating disorders and bipolar disorder.

If telephone counseling is not something that sounds like a good fit for you, but you are interested in distance therapy, you may want to consider videoconferencing, which is often just as effective as in-person therapy. Video conferencing in counseling psychology is a way for therapists and professionals to meet with their clients virtually, with the use of video technology.

How does telephone counseling work?

Much like traditional in-person therapy, telephone counseling typically requires that you make an appointment with your provider and show up for the selected appointment time. Unlike in-person therapy, which is typically conducted at the therapist’s office, telephone therapy can generally be conducted anywhere you have a phone connection. Telephone psychotherapy enables patients to be connected with a licensed therapist and have counseling sessions over the phone. With the help of telephone-delivered psychotherapy, patients and clients are able to discuss their concerns without having to worry about the availability of professionals within their area.

What is mobile counseling?

Mobile counseling allows you to attend therapy remotely. Like traditional in-person therapy, your therapy sessions are with a licensed mental health provider. However, instead of meeting at their office or a medical facility, you’ll meet with them remotely. Online counseling may be considered convenient because it doesn’t require the clients to be physically present, unlike traditional therapy. Just like with traditional therapy and other forms of counseling, informed consent during phone counseling is still needed before proceeding. Some people may want to be physically present and interact with a therapist, while some are comfortable with having the therapeutic relationship virtually. You can have your first session as face-to-face therapy, switching to online only after.

Are telephone counseling sessions considered telehealth?

Telephone counseling sessions are often considered a form of telehealth. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), the definition of telehealth is “the use of telecommunications and information technology to provide to health assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and information across a distance, rather than face to face. Also called telemedicine.”

Telehealth services may include medical appointments and online talk therapy. Distance therapy can accommodate various therapy types or counseling, including marriage counseling, individual therapy, and group therapy.

Can I talk to a counselor or therapist online for free?

If your insurance covers therapy sessions or counseling sessions in full, you will likely be able to receive types of therapy such as online therapy and telephone counseling or therapy that is free or has a specified co-payment rate.

If you have a form of insurance such as Medicaid, you may want to contact your insurance provider, search the web, or ask your primary care provider for a referral to find a counselor or therapist who takes your insurance and offers online therapy or telephone counseling/telephone counseling. Another option is to use an online therapy directory to find a therapist near you or search the web using terms such as “find a therapist near me online sessions,” “find a therapist marriage counseling,” or “find a therapist near me CBT” to find a therapist that suits your needs. Choose a therapist that has practice in and skills for the concerns you want to address.

What are the benefits of telephone counseling?

Phone counseling can offer several benefits and advantages for both clients and patients, including convenience and accessibility when it comes to treating mental illness and other mental health concerns. Through phone counseling, clients can make appointments with a trained professional without needing to be physically present with the therapist. This can enable busy clients to focus on other things instead of waiting in traffic as before treatment and other professional services. It also benefits clients who are located in a different city than their provider, providing access to communication with professionals who practice therapy in many forms.

The growing number of clients with mental health concerns makes telephone-delivered psychotherapy a viable option for treatment. When it comes to the efficacy of phone counseling as an adjunct to antidepressant treatment, research shows there are no significant differences when comparing in-person counseling vs telehealth in the reduction of depression symptoms, making phone counseling a viable alternative to in-person counseling for the treatment of mental illness. In addition to that, phone counseling can also help in reducing anxiety, increasing focus, improving self-esteem, and understanding oneself. In the field of counseling psychology, further research and field-based investigation have supported several benefits of telephone counseling for clients.

What is the role of a telephone counselor?

A telephone counselor is a professional who provides counseling and mental health services to clients through phone calls. A telephone counselor offers support and services to clients by addressing issues and helping clients work towards solutions. An effective telephone counselor will create an ethical therapeutic relationship, using active listening and empathy, and carefully attends to the nonverbal cues of the client. Months and years of training, research, practice, experience, and licensure are required for an individual to offer telephone-administered psychotherapy. It is important to seek professional help if you know you are dealing with mental health conditions.