The power of being heard: how virtual therapy changed Pat’s life

The annual Teladoc Health Forum is the place to hear from leaders across healthcare. It’s filled with conversations about innovation and the future of virtual care.

At Forum 2025, a Teladoc Health member took the mainstage for the first time to look back at her long journey and the support she received from her therapist. It was a fireside chat like no other.

A last resort for Pat 
Pat, a Teladoc Health mental health member from Knoxville, Tennessee, joined USGH U.S. Group Health President Kelly Bliss on stage to share her journey. 

At 49, Pat became a mother, adopting her now 18-year-old daughter as a newborn. “It has been the delight and honor of my life to be her mom,” she said, pointing her out in the audience with a wave. 

Pat opened up about the trauma she experienced in childhood and how, despite efforts to tell adults what was happening, she wasn’t believed. “I came to Teladoc as a last resort,” she said. “It’s been a long, long journey.”

 For years, Pat cycled through therapists, only to be met with doubt. “I was asked, ‘Why have you waited so long?” she shared. “When that question came to me, that said, ‘You’re not telling me the truth.’” After that, she shut down.

 Getting the care she needed—from home
 An email from her insurance company prompted her to consider Teladoc Health. It took three tries before she finally clicked to book a session. 

“It was the best decision that I made for myself,” Pat said. “After 58 years of not being believed and not being heard and not having my story validated, it was validated.”

 Being at home, comfortable and present for her daughter made a difference. When she first met her therapist, Keisha, over the phone, Pat’s main issue was sleep. 

“I would go days without sleep,” she said. Keisha worked with her to increase the amount of sleep she was getting. “Once that happened, I was thinking, I really do feel better. I think she knows what she’s doing!”

 Things began to shift. A major breakthrough came when Pat wrote an impact statement and recalled memories she hadn’t before.

 “I was able to say that I was truly the victim, and it shed a lot of heavy weight I’ve been carrying since I was a little girl.”

 Pat had never built a bond with a therapist until Keisha. To be her full self, Pat said, she had to talk about the things she’d always been afraid to bring up, and Keisha gave her that space. 

As her mental health improved, Pat also worked with a dietitian and psychiatrist, all through Teladoc Health. “To be me, I had to be healthy in every way,” she said.

 Consistency without barriers 
The week before Forum, Pat and Keisha had completed their 70th weekly session. “And we’re not done yet,” Pat exclaimed. 

In a surprise moment, Kelly introduced Keisha, who joined Pat on stage for their first in-person meeting. The two embraced emotionally. 

“Healing is not only clinical, but it is relational,” Keisha said. “And I’m honored to be able to share this therapeutic alliance with Ms. Pat.”  Keisha approached Pat’s care with empathy, non-judgment and respect. She emphasized how virtual care provided the consistency and access Pat needed. 

“She didn’t have to navigate long wait times, she didn’t have to retell her story,” explained Keisha. “The therapeutic space was conducive to her growth.”

 The two laughed and smiled through tears. “You are responsible for me being upright, and I can never thank you enough,” Pat said. “You will always have a part of my heart.”

 Receiving the right care allowed Pat to heal, take care of herself and serve others. “I have a life that is meaningful, and I’m able to express my story. It’s ugly sometimes, but if I can help someone else, even at 68, you can still be in the healing process for restoration. So, here I am,” she said. “And I thank Teladoc from the bottom of my heart, really.”