You will often hear people telling you that the first step
of healing trauma or breaking the unhealthy cycle involves going out to get
help. But, for some people, getting out of the house is a task on its own.
Whether it's due to mobility issues, factors relating to ease of access to your
doctor's office, or simply feeling too drained to get out of bed, the internet
has a solution for you.
You might have heard about this form of therapy from a
family member, a friend, or any other source, or you just happened to stumble
into this article out of curiosity. Either way, welcome to this safe space as
you learn about the basics and benefits of this form of therapy.
What Is Online Counselling
The trends in the evolution of technology have only helped
redefine this concept's meaning. While this approach might feel like a
relatively new experience, it has existed for over 30 decades. The first
session of online psychotherapy can be dated back to the late 1980s at Cornell
University in New York.
Simply, online psychological counselling is the ability to
access therapeutic services from a licensed practitioner via the web. Most
psychologists refer to this form of therapy as telepsychology, web therapy,
phone therapy, text therapy, etc.
When you sign up to receive online therapy from a licensed
service, your consultations will be through any number of social media
platforms, including short messaging services, phone calls, video conferencing
services, emails, online text messaging, etc.
Teletherapy occurs in real-time much like the traditional
approach to therapeutic counselling via calls, whether audio or video.
Sometimes, this approach is offered through a time-delayed approach when your
therapist sends you emails or text messages. However, unlike the traditional
approach to therapy, web therapy cannot enforce human contact or assess a
patient's body language and reactions.
Web therapy is an evolving field with tons of research past
and ongoing to help make it better for its consumers. Since its conception, web
therapy has only recently begun to pick up momentum owing to the COVID 19
pandemic and the need to maintain social distancing.
How Effective Is Mobile Therapy
It would not be uncommon for people to assume that online
counselling would not be as effective as an in-person approach. However, there
is a lot of
research
that backs it up. That being said, it is important to note that mobile therapy
does not apply to every form of mental condition. Some of these forms of mental
illnesses require a traditional approach.
There are a lot of limitations when it comes to online
psycho counselling. For example, while this therapy is cheaper than an in-person
approach, insurance does not always cover it. Insurance policies on web therapy
vary depending on your state. Even then, some mental health therapists don't
accept insurance covers as payment. This would require you to go into your
pocket to cover the sessions.
Mental health professionals are generally licensed to
practice within a specific state. Because of this, most states will not allow
an out-of-state provider to offer mental health rehabilitation services.
In essence, the measure of effectiveness depends on the
individual receiving the treatment. While telepsychology faces a couple of
drawbacks, it is still backed by numerous supporters. Your willingness to
contribute to the sessions by building a good relationship with your therapist
and actively contributing to getting the work done are the factors that will
help gauge how effective the treatment was.
Benefits of Online Counselling
The state of your physical health is directly influenced by
how well you are doing mentally. As you take care of your physical body, it is
also important to give some much-needed attention to your mental health.
Online therapeutic services offer convenience,
affordability, accessibility, and comfortability. You can access these services
from any location with a reliable internet connection and a good phone or
laptop.
They are also inexpensive. Traditional therapy can run you a
minimum of 75 dollars a session which adds up to at least $300 a month. On the
other hand, mobile therapy charges as low as $60 a week for as many sessions as
you would like. Some services offer monthly packages as low as $75.
Conclusion
Taking the step to protect your mental health and find healing is one of the bravest things you can do. Especially since the topic of mental illness is still met with many misunderstandings, don't let the inconvenience of accessing traditional treatment get in the way of your treatment.
