If you’re like many Americans, you probably found yourself dealing with stress, depression, anxiety, or any number of other mental health issues over the last few years. With an ongoing worldwide pandemic, several wars going on, and civil unrest happening frequently, it’s no wonder. Although Mental Health Care seems to be stigmatized in the United States, the power of the internet is making it easier to get the care you need quickly and easily. Online therapy is the road to getting there. Today, we’ll explore five benefits of online therapy and how it could work for you.
Convenient
Perhaps the biggest selling point for online therapy is its convenience factor. You’re busy. You probably have difficulty making time for yourself and your daily activities. So, where would you fit therapy into the mix? It’s a valid question. Fortunately, online therapy makes it easier and more convenient to get the care you need when you need it. Most insurance companies cover telemedicine or teletherapy in some form. So, you just need to find a provider and sign up. Once you sign up, you’ll be matched with a board-certified and licensed therapist to address your needs. Therapists will be located in your state and be ready to address any concerns you have. That way, you don’t even have to leave your house to get extremely valuable Mental Health care.
Effective
In addition to being extremely convenient, teletherapy is pretty effective. The ability to speak with another person and explore deeply personal issues changes the way we think. It essentially rewires our brains. Having somebody to discuss revelations and breakthroughs with is an effective means of improving our mental health. And all the research on the subject is relatively new, there’s strong evidence showing that teletherapy is just as effective as in-person therapy for most patients.
Private
Teletherapy is an incredibly private service. Just like any other medical appointment, there are certain privacy standards and practices that must be in place. All teletherapists have to be HIPAA compliant. They cannot share your medical information with anybody without your consent. Furthermore, when you get online to speak with them, they use encryption and private connections to ensure your data remains private. Ultimately, online therapy is safe, secure, and private which makes it ideal to help you get the care you need.
Accessible
Quality online therapy sessions are accessible to more people than standard therapy. The reality is that traditional in-person therapy has plenty of barriers. Whether it’s geographical boundaries, excessive distance, or the inability to travel to an office, these barriers make it difficult for some people to get help. Removing geographical boundaries immediately renders therapy more accessible to a larger swath of potential patients. Furthermore, some people have difficulty leaving home due to a pre-existing anxiety or condition. Being able to get treated online is a victory for accessibility, not to mention being more comfortable overall.
Comprehensive
Online therapists and psychologists are certified professionals who work with patients every day. Instead of holding therapy sessions in-office, they speak with people over the phone or via teleconferencing. In practice, a teletherapist can utilize all of the therapy methods (Cognitive behavioral therapy, Psychoanalysis, Behavior therapy, Integrative therapy, and Humanistic therapy) over the phone in the same way they can in an office. They can treat a wide range of conditions effectively.There are a few conditions for which online therapy isn’t appropriate, however. Several psychological disorders are only able to be diagnosed in person. Some psychological problems can only be effectively treated that way as well. If you have a severe psychological disorder or believe you do, then telling a therapist is not the best option. For most other mental health concerns, however, teletherapy can be one of the most beneficial services available today.