Clients are seen on their own turf rather than what they report to mental health professionals in the sterile office environment.
Providers get to meet important members of the family who might not attend an office session, or are reluctant to seek psychological treatment for fear of being stigmatized.
Providers have the opportunity to provide in-vivo interventions such as parenting skills, behavioral methods for child management, couples and family therapy.
Get a first-hand view of the family living situation, such as the neighborhood, overcrowding, presence or absence of food in the cupboards, medication, unused medical supplies, hygiene, a sense of their organizational abilities, and to learn about the family’s parenting practices.
The clinician not only observes but “experiences” the client’s home environment in regards to the boundary fluidity, cultural and religious symbols, sleeping arrangements, and how people experience visitors.
Creative intervention not possible in the office, or co-utilized home/office in treating client with phobias or with those resistance to change, (ie: taking a brisk walk with a depressed or isolated client, utilizing both home and office for agoraphobic clients, accompanying a client to their doctor’s visit, accompany a grieving patient to a funeral, playing basketball with a despondent youth, zoo for a fear of snakes, etc.)
Home visits often breaks-the-ice, thus reducing suspiciousness and increasing trust.
Health Psychology. Changing behaviors and lifestyle in the home environment often generalizes to the outside world.
Home visits cut ER and Hospitalizations Costs: ER and hospitalizations are very expensive in comparison to home visits. Home visits can prevent hospitalizations by dealing with the problems before a crisis occurs.
There is a surge in home-based therapy in the 21st century due to the increased demand from the aging population, advanced radiology and laboratory technologies, and pressure to decrease the cost of mental health and medical treatments.
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