Teletherapy is considered mental health counseling through phone or online through video conferencing.
As technology evolves over time, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it forces many therapists and clients to switch to new methods of communication that can be done remotely from anywhere.
Therapy plays an important role in dealing with depression through online sessions.
In this article, we will look at how it’s works, and its advantages and disadvantages. We will also look at how teletherapy is transforming mental health issues.
What is Teletherapy?
Teletherapy refers to remote therapy to help clients easily communicate. Things include such as:
- Online therapy sessions on phones
- Group chat or group call
- Videoconferencing for couples, individuals, or group therapy
- Instant message or email support
What conditions can be treated?
Some of the conditions that can be effectively treated with teletherapy include:
- Addiction
- Anger management
- Bipolar Disorder
- Stress Eating
- Depression
- Relationship Conflict
Therapy is a useful tool for a variety of mental health conditions but in complex situations where close attention to treatment is required it is not the best option.
Benefits of Teletherapy
There are a range of benefits of teletherapy including:
For therapy clients
The research has suggested that teletherapy is as effective as in-person therapy. The benefits of seeking research-supported teletherapy with a licensed therapist include:
- Easy Access to care
- Physical disabilities, geographic location, or scheduling issues.
- Lower costs
- Teletherapy may help clients save money on treatment.
- With teletherapy patients experience more privacy. People do not have to wait for longer hours and wait for their turn.
- When people are able to get the treatment from the comfort of their homes.they are not exposed to public health service areas from where they can catch multiple infections so it overcomes the spread of the illness.
For therapists
Teletherapy has benefits for therapists as well it includes:
- Reduced cost: To have a proper setup of a clinic can be costly. Switching to a teletherapy setup is cost-effective for therapists.
- Teletherapy can help to reach more clients and improve access.
- People with disabilities, financial worries, transportation difficulties, and other barriers. This improved access helps the therapist to help people.
Challenges of Teletherapy
There are some possible limitations of teletherapy. Teletherapy is not for everyone. Some drawbacks include:
- Compliance: In online setup, the privacy issues of clients’ data may occur. So this thing must be ensured by the therapist that the privacy should not get leaked.
- Therapy environment: those people who do not have privacy or any quiet space at home may find it stressful to have therapy remotely.
- Technical difficulties: People who are not used to new technologies may find it difficult to get the online session. There might be some other issues as well such as slow internet, no proper video, or glitches in the video call.
- Communication: Communicating across a digital channel can make it more difficult to read body language and other subtle cues. Email and phone therapy eliminate these forms of communication.
How Teletherapy Works?
Despite the fact that teletherapy may be conducted over the phone or via email, the most common method of communication for modern telemental health sessions is video chat.
The therapeutic procedure is comparable to treatment that takes place in person. On average, it starts with a few introductory sessions, during which the therapist and the client get to know each other and talk about the therapeutic objectives that they want to achieve.
After that, the therapist may go more into the concerns that the client is experiencing, provide suggestions for changes in the client’s behavior, and encourage the client to reflect on their feelings.
Things to Consider While Taking Teletherapy
Teletherapy is becoming an increasingly common thing however one needs to self-evaluate whether they need e-therapy or in-person therapy.
In some situations where the mental illness is severe like depression and schizophrenia that require more attention.
Both the client and patient will mutually decide which method is suitable. If you feel that e-therapy is the right option for you still you need to search through multiple sites to make a better and more informed decision before choosing the option.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How does telepathy work for treating depression?
Participants in teletherapy for depression engage in online sessions with therapists trained in a variety of treatment modalities. Depending on the specific requirements of the patient, they may include mindfulness practices, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and other similar approaches.
- What are the benefits of teletherapy?
Teletherapy has many important advantages, such as:
- People living in remote places will have easier access.
- Convenience in session scheduling.
- The social stigma of seeking help via therapy has diminished.
- Possibility to choose from a more diverse pool of therapists and treatment modalities.
- The incorporation of supplementary resources, such as guided meditations and mood monitors.
- Is teletherapy suitable for everyone?
Although many people may benefit from teletherapy, it might not be the best option for those who are experiencing serious mental health concerns and need prompt in-person assistance. Talking to a doctor may help you figure out what’s going to work best for you.
- What if I am not comfortable with teletherapy?
Finding a treatment plan that suits you is crucial. Talk to your therapist about your worries if you don’t feel comfortable using teletherapy. They may assist you in looking into alternative possibilities, such as in-person therapy.
Conclusion
To sum up, teletherapy is an effective way to treat mental health conditions. Even if you live in remote areas and find it difficult to travel. It reduces symptoms of depression and provides effective depression treatment in the comfort of your home.
You can easily connect with a range of mental health consultants through it. However, if you are facing a severe mental health condition then telepathy might not be the perfect option for you. Talk to your mental healthcare professional and only after their prescribed method of reducing depression symptoms you can opt for treatment. Take a step toward a better life with sound mental health.