Mental illness is a growing health concern that deserves more attention than it’s getting. In America, about a quarter of all adults suffer from some form of mental disorder. To add insult to injury, more than 4% of the global population has an anxiety disorder. These startling stats can be attributed to a variety of psychosocial stressors that cause a rift in our current fast-paced society.
Thankfully, there are many online therapy platforms and resources that you can utilize to get convenient counseling sessions whenever you need them. These platforms provide clients with a large pool of trained therapists who offer effective teletherapy services at an affordable price.
Benefits of online therapy:
There are many perks of using online therapy services as opposed to in-person therapy. These include:
Convenience: since teletherapy is done online, you don’t need to travel all the way to your therapist’s physical location to receive treatment. This option is both convenient and time-consuming.
Privacy: Therapy sites should comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards that require online platforms to maintain information confidentiality and privacy of therapy sessions.
Ease of access: online therapy is remarkably easy to access; all that’s needed is a computer/smartphone and a decent internet connection. This allows disabled people and those living in remote regions to access therapy services easily.
Diverse payment methods: although most insurance providers cover teletherapy services these days, it’s important to confirm whether your insurer can reimburse you before starting any online therapy sessions. However, you can also pay out of pocket since online therapy is delightfully affordable.
Here are 4 tips to choosing the best online therapy platform:
1. Security and Confidentiality
Before subscribing to an online therapy platform, ensure that all the information you share with your assigned therapist will remain private and confidential.
Teletherapy refers to treating mental health issues using online psychological techniques such as cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation treatment.
Traditionally, therapy was conducted in a formal setting that involved patients visiting their therapist’s physical office and receiving treatment face-to-face. Sessions were privileged and patients felt safe.
However, the digital revolution allowed patients to access therapy resources online, making treatment quick and convenient. It’s important to check whether the therapy site/app you’re using is HIPAA-compliant.
Conduct ample research about the platform to ascertain whether your safety and privacy are guaranteed.
2. Licenses and Qualifications
Every state grants licenses to psychologists who’ve studied and earned all the appropriate certifications. Therefore, it’s important to check whether the therapist you’re dealing with is licensed or not.
Do they have a physical address where patients can receive in-person treatment? In a world where scammers have become quite rampant, there’s every need to look before you leap.
You might come across a team of quacks posing as professional therapists, fall into their trap and spend your hard-earned money on mediocre counseling services.
Always inquire for your therapist’s license number and their registered state. Avoid receiving therapy from self-taught practitioners since they may have inadequate knowledge and training on mental health.
3. Experience and Track Record
Your preferred online therapy platform should have an impeccable track record and their counselors should have years of practicing experience under their belt.
There are many review sites that provide candid feedback on different therapy apps, so make sure you visit them before making up your mind.
You can also rely on recommendations from friends and family members who’ve used online therapy platforms before − these will provide more insight into the different techniques and methodologies used by therapists working there.
The high success rate of a particular psychologist or therapy platform can give new clients the confidence they need to jump on board.
However, it’s vital to watch out for potential red flags when conducting your research. For instance, do they charge exorbitant prices and hidden costs for their therapy services? Is their website designed professionally?
Don’t leave any stone unturned when exploring your options.
4. Suitability of the Therapy Services
A growing number of individuals prefer online therapy to in-person counseling sessions because of the added discretion.
Most online platforms don’t require you to disclose your personal information, especially when you need emergency psychotherapy services.
Another impressive perk of online therapy is the diverse modes of communication that can be used. Apart from texting, you can choose to conduct a voice call or video chat − whatever you’re most comfortable with.
However, ensure that the platform you choose is right for you. Do you feel like you’re making significant progress with your therapist, or are you feeling worse than you did in the beginning?
Use the first few sessions to assess whether the platform suits you or not.
