PROVO, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A recent study shows telephone therapy is nearly as effective as face to face consultations. Now, a Provo family therapist is taking that idea a step further offering virtual therapy.
April Dahl decided to try online counseling when she ran into some minor behavior issues with her children.
“The same problems that most people have with kids that didn't want to do what they were supposed to be doing and just, you know, causing a lot of contention over silly things," says Dr. Randy Hyde, who offers the virtual therapy for his patients.
Hyde says most people do have the same parenting problems, and he says he knows what works from his many years of practice.
"This is something I have implemented for 25 years and tried to perfect. It's really been the foundation of our clinic. It's really effective," says Hyde.
Hyde put his sessions online. He discusses case scenarios that show problems and solutions.
"If we can teach them the principles of the why or what to do, and the skills the how to do it, I find that parents are the best therapists," says Hyde.
The Dahl family says learning online worked, and was convenient.
"It was easy for us to be able to look at it online and listen to the thing that they had to say," says April Dahl.
April also says it was nice to be able to re-visit the doctor’s orders.
“If we were like what did he say about that, then we could go back and kind of review," says April.
Dr. Hyde says he hopes because the therapy is online, and inexpensive, it will be more accessible for people that may not have the money, or time for traditional counseling. He says ultimately he hopes to help families.
"It's difficult being a parent," says Dr. Hyde.
The Dahls say Dr. Hyde's therapy worked for them.
"It’s much more peaceful," says April.
Dr. Hyde’s program is called “The One-week Parenting Miracle.”
It costs about $30.00.
For questions not covered online, Hyde offers blogs, emails, and phone calls as part of the program.
