VOA常速英语:Teletherapist

In light of everything thats happening with COVID-19,
鉴于现在COVID-19的状况，
many therapists, who otherwise see their clients face-to-face,
很多原来是跟客户面对面治疗的心理医师，
are now making the switch to exclusively teletherapy services.
现在都转向了远程一对一治疗。
And this sudden switch has presented an array of unique challenges
这个突然的转变也带来了一系列独特的挑战，
that might not otherwise apply to offering teletherapy.
而这些挑战在以往的远程治疗中是不存在的。
Im Dr. Marie Fang. Im a psychologist working in private practice in San Jose, California.
我是方·玛丽医生，是一名心理学家，在加州圣何塞的私人诊所工作。
And ever since I started my practice in 2012, Ive been working with primarily face-to-face clients.
自2012年开始执业以来，我一直都是和客户进行面对面治疗。
But as of March 14th of this year, I made the switch to exclusively teletherapy services.
但从今年3月14日起，我改为只提供远程治疗服务。
Hi, Vanessa. How are you doing today?
你好，瓦内萨。今天过得怎么样？
There are many advantages to teletherapy
远程治疗有很多优点
and particularly, lately, surrounding the social distancing precautions around COVID-19,
特别是最近的大流行病要求我们实施安全距离方案措施，
teletherapy allows many people to access mental health care
远程治疗可以让更多人接受心理健康治疗，
who otherwise wouldnt be able to access it or in order to access it, they might need to put themselves at risk.
否则他们可能无法获得治疗，或者要冒着很大的风险才能接受治疗。
Teletherapy refers to all therapy services offered electronically,
远程治疗是指所有以电子方式提供的治疗服务，
whether it be video, phone call, email or text.
无论是视频、电话、电子邮件还是电子文本。
But colloquially, when therapists refer to teletherapy, most of the time theyre referring to video therapy.
但通俗地说，当治疗师提到远程治疗时，大多数时候他们指的是视频治疗。
Teletherapy is subject to the same rules and regulations as in-person therapy
远程治疗需要遵守与面对面治疗相同的规章制度，
with a few extras to address the need to maintain patient privacy.
同时会提供一些额外服务以满足维护患者隐私的需要。
It does seem to be the case that
事实上，
the option of meeting a therapist through a screen caters well to some populations and not so well to other populations.
远程治疗似乎很适合某些人群，而不太适合其他人群。
So, for myself, I work primarily with millennials
所以，我的大部分客户都是千禧一代，
who often work from home and are meeting via video for their work calls anyway.
他们经常在家里工作，而且经常会通过视频进行工作电话会议。
So, the idea of meeting through video with their therapist doesnt feel very uncomfortable
所以通过视频进行治疗并没有很让人不舒服，
and many are excited to do so.
很多客户甚至会非常兴奋。
However, Ive heard from other therapists
但是我也听我的同事说，
who found that their clients dont even want to meet at all
他们的客户完全不想见面，
if it means that they have to put themselves on a video.
如果必须要通过视频的话。
There is research backing up the effectiveness of teletherapy showing that,
有研究证实了远程治疗的有效性，
its just as effective as in-person therapy when utilizing the same interventions.
表明如果医生采取相同的干预措施，远程治疗的效果和面对面其实是一样的。
Within the current context of the COVID-19 restrictions,
在大流行病的禁令背景下，
my practice has shrunk significantly and there are a number of factors contributing to this.
我的客户明显减少了，背后的原因也很多。
One big factor is my schedule has had to change.
一个很大的原因是我个人的日常安排必须改变。
Normally, I drop my daughter off at daycare in order to go see my clients
通常，为了跟客户见面我都会把女儿送去托儿所，
and my daughters daycare is currently closed.
但是现在托儿所都关闭了。
So, Ive needed to reduce my total hours available to see clients
所以，我就需要减少我的工作时间
to about a third of what I typically offer to them.
目前大概是减少了三分之一治疗客户的时间。
So, I only have a few slots available on my schedule right now.
所以我现在只能接待几位客户。
Im hearing from the majority of my colleagues that their income has dropped
我听说大多数同事的收入都缩水了，
as a result of COVID-19 and switching to teletherapy.
因为他们也受到新冠肺炎影响，不得不转战远程治疗。
For some, their income has dropped as much as 50 percent or more.
一些同事的收入甚至下降了一半甚至更多。
And there are some who arent taking a paycheck right now at all.
还有一些同事现在赚不到一分钱。
Were already seeing major impacts of COVID-19 on peoples mental health,
我们已经看到新冠肺炎对人们的心理健康有很大的影响，
especially for those under the mandate to shelter-in-place.
尤其是那些因为禁令强制居家的人。
They may feel literally trapped in whatever dysfunction might be going on in their household.
他们可能觉得自己被困在家里，每天要面对家里的一些琐碎的问题。
Generally speaking, my colleagues and I have so far seen an increase in anxiety in a major way.
总的来说，到目前为止，我和我的同事们普遍看到了焦虑的增加。
If clients were already experiencing symptoms of anxiety,
如果客户已经出现了焦虑的症状，
theyve just kicked up into high gear.
他们的病情就会迅速发展。
And for those clients who, maybe, werent otherwise experiencing anxiety,
对于那些还没有经历焦虑症的客户，
there is a greater sense of medical anxiety as well as grief over canceled plans.
他们可能因为计划的取消而出现更大程度的医疗焦虑或悲伤。
People have had to move their weddings and even funerals around because of the shelter-in-place mandate.
由于居家隔离的禁令，人们不得不推迟婚礼或葬礼。
And for those clients who are prone to depression,
对于那些容易患抑郁症的客户来说，
isolation and loneliness have also contributed to increased symptoms of depression.
隔离和孤独也增加了他们抑郁的症状。
In order for teletherapy to be successful,one of the biggest actors required is a great Wi-Fi signal.
为了让远程治疗比较顺利，最大的一个需求就是有一个稳定的wifi信号。
Now most of the time when there is a spotty connection,
很多情况下，当网络不稳定，
if the therapist or client moves closer to the Wi-Fi signal, its often resolved.
如果治疗师或客户靠近wifi信号一点，问题一般就解决了。
But given the nature of our current situation,
但考虑到目前的状况，
its not always an option to move closer to the Wi-Fi signal while maintaining a private confidential space for therapy.
并不能总是兼顾离wifi信号近一点，同时给顾客创造一个私密的治疗环境。
In my opinion, one major downside of teletherapy is it doesnt have that same kind of like special sauce that comes when you meet face-to-face.
在我看来，远程治疗的一个主要弊病就是，远程治疗无法带来面对面治疗的那种特殊感觉。
Its kind of similar to if you have a loved one who lives far away
就像你有一个很喜欢的人，但是他住的离你很远，
and youre meeting via FaceTime or some other video means,
所以你们只能通过FaceTime或其他方式视频，
it doesnt feel quite the same as when youre in-person.
这和你们面对面还是有很大区别的。
Because therapists have had to make this switch on such short notice,
因为治疗师必须在这么短的时间内完成这个转换，
there are many factors that have created challenges for us,
有很多因素会我们带来挑战，
such as trying to get the necessary trainings
比如，很难获得足够的培训
in order to make sure were on top of all of the ethical regulations to provide teletherapy
来确保我们提供的所有治疗都符合道德规范，
and also figuring out technological issues just like everyone else in the world these days.
或者会遇到一些技术问题，跟现在世界上的其他人一样。
Its hard to figure out which platforms are HIPAA secure and care for your clients privacy
你很难去判断哪些平台符合义务型可携带式健康保险法案的要求，关心客户的隐私，
and trying to onboard your clients to those platforms at the same time.
同时也努力让你的客户可以接受这些平台。
I know therapists, who have tried one platform, had technological issues
我认识一些心理医生，他们尝试了一个平台之后，发现了一些技术问题，
and then switched to two or three different platforms until they found one that really works for their practice.
然后接着换第二个、第三个平台，直到找到那个适合他们治疗的平台。
One major issue that Ive experienced meeting with my clients via teletherapy,
我通过远程治疗与客户会面时遇到的一个主要问题，
particularly while the shelter-in-place mandate is in effect for some of us,
尤其是在强制居家期间，就是事实上，对于我们中的一些客户来说，
is because there are so many people inside the household,
由于居家的人实在是太多了，
its really difficult to find a private space to meet with your therapist.
很难找到一个私密的地方与你的治疗师视频。