What is Telebehavioral Health?
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
Understand what Telehealth is, what it is not, and why it might help.
What is Telehealth?
If you've ever hopped on a video call, sent a text, or chatted with an online assistant, you already understand the basics of telehealth. “Telehealth” is the umbrella term describing the use of any kind of digital or communication technology in order to deliver healthcare services remotely.
For veterans and their families, telehealth can make a real difference. Here's why:
Geography doesn't have to be a barrier. If there's no clinic nearby or you’re on the road, you can connect with a provider miles away, or even across state lines.
Your privacy is protected. For many veterans, concerns about being seen in a waiting room or office are a real obstacle to seeking mental health care. Receiving care from home removes that barrier entirely.
Scheduling gets easier. Virtual appointments often mean shorter wait times and more flexibility, which matters when you're balancing work, family, and the demands of transitioning back to civilian life.
You have more choices. Without geography limiting your search, you have access to a wider pool of providers. That means a better shot at finding someone with the right specialty, the right experience, and the right fit for you personally.
Telehealth has been around longer than most people realize. The medical journal The Lancet mentioned using the telephone to reduce office visits as far back as 1879, and NASA was pioneering telehealth technologies by the 1960s (Services, 2012).
Still, it wasn't until COVID-19 in 2020 that most people started using it broadly. Even after restrictions were lifted, usage stayed elevated. Research from the Military Health System found that telebehavioral health services remained significantly more utilized than before the pandemic (Glassman et al., 2025).
What is Telebehavioral Health?
Telebehavioral health is the branch of telehealth focused on mental, emotional, and psychiatric care delivered virtually. At ValorMynd, our services are built specifically for veterans and their families, covering PTSD, anxiety, depression, reintegration challenges, and family counseling.
Research confirms that telebehavioral health is just as effective as in-person care for a range of conditions, including PTSD and depression.
What to Look for in a Telebehavioral Health Provider
Not every provider is the right fit, especially for veterans.
Licensed clinicians with military and veteran cultural competency. Understanding the military experience, such as deployments, unit culture, and the transition home, isn't something every therapist brings to the table. It matters.
Evidence-based treatments. Look for providers trained in approaches with a proven track record for veterans: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are among the gold-standard options for PTSD and related conditions.
Privacy, HIPAA compliance, and flexible scheduling. Your sessions should be confidential, and your provider's platform should be secure. Scheduling flexibility for evenings, weekends, or even short notice is a real advantage of virtual care.
The right fit, personally. Therapeutic chemistry matters. Whether you need someone direct and structured or warm and collaborative, finding a provider whose style matches your needs is worth the search.
At ValorMynd, our mission is to provide Texas veterans and their families with the high-quality mental health care they deserve. We understand military life, and we make this experience and connection the foundation of every service we offer.
Learn more about our Services, and sign up for our Newsletter for updates.
Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. (n.d.). What is telehealth?. Health Resources & Services Administration (“HRSA”). https://www.hrsa.gov/telehealth/what-is-telehealth
Services, B. on H. C. (2012, November 20). The evolution of Telehealth: Where have we been and where are we going?. The Role of Telehealth in an Evolving Health Care Environment: Workshop Summary. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207141/
Glassman, L. H., Schmied, E. A., Jun, H.-J., Bonkowski, J. F., Levine, J. A., & Walter, K. H. (2025, September 16). Telebehavioral Health Care Utilization Among U.S. Military Personnel Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Oxford Academic. https://academic.oup.com/milmed/issue/190/Supplement_2
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