For Jody Heitritter, the path to recovery began with a digital connection. After a series of devastating losses including her father and beloved pets, coupled with a difficult breakup and a job loss, Heitritter found herself at a breaking point. A crisis involving alcohol eventually led her to the emergency room in March 2025, where she was referred to Sanford Health’s behavioral health program. Facing a future where she knew she needed lifelong support but lacked easy access to it, she opted for virtual therapy. This decision paired her with Emy Carlson, a licensed professional counselor located 100 miles away in Watertown, South Dakota.
The convenience of telehealth has proven to be more than just a luxury; for many, it is the only viable bridge to care. Counselor Emy Carlson notes that virtual services dismantle common barriers such as transportation issues, rigid work schedules, and childcare responsibilities that often prevent people from seeking help until they reach a crisis state. The flexibility is so profound that Carlson has conducted sessions with patients sitting in tractors or combines on their farms. By meeting patients exactly where they are, these programs are reaching underserved rural populations who might otherwise suffer in silence due to provider shortages or the lingering stigma surrounding mental health.
Beyond simple conversation, the digital format allows therapists to integrate real time educational tools and coping worksheets via screen sharing, increasing patient engagement. For Heitritter, this approach was a game changer that helped her rebuild her life after her lowest moments. Though she entered the process skeptical and struggling with trust, she now advocates for virtual therapy regardless of whether someone is currently in crisis. With Sanford Health completing over 123,000 video visits between 2023 and 2026, the shift toward remote behavioral health reflects a growing understanding that mental wellness must be treated as holistically and accessibly as physical health.
