With the government now advising members of the general public to safeguard their health and that of others by staying away from pubs, bars and restaurants, as well as mass gatherings, and self-isolating if showing signs of illness, the internet has an even bigger part to play in how we lead our lives over the next few months.
If you’ve been seeing a therapist to help you with anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions, you might want to consider arranging to see a therapist online for the foreseeable future so you can stay within the guidance offered by the government while still getting the help you need.
There have been numerous studies carried out over the last few years showing that online treatment can be very effective for a wide range of conditions.
For example, a 2018 study led by the University of New South Wales, Australia, and published in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders, found that internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy is effective, practical and acceptable as a form of healthcare - and that it was just as effective as in-person treatment for disorders such as social anxiety, generalised anxiety, panic and major depression.
Online hypnotherapy and mindfulness-based therapies work in exactly the same way as face-to-face therapy, except that you’re talking over your computer screens instead of sitting on a sofa in their therapy room. It’s also not a new concept and has been carried out in some form or other for years, initially over email and then, as software was developed, over chat and now in video format.
There are all sorts of benefits associated with going digital with your therapy sessions. You may well find it more convenient since you don’t have to travel anywhere and can talk from the comfort of your own home - and, because it’s done online, you can do it from wherever you are so you’re less likely to miss a session and be left feeling unsupported.
It can also help save on the cost of travelling to and from appointments and parking fees which, as we all know, all adds up. You might also save some time as well. Caregivers may also find they prefer online sessions because it means they can stay with those they’re looking after and won’t have to spend money on care costs in order to go out.
Others may well find online therapy more effective if they experience social anxiety, are very shy or are suffering from severe depression, where the thought of getting dressed and leaving the house seems impossible.
Having the first few sessions carried out over the internet could even help give you the confidence boost you need to start seeing your therapist in person.
If you’d like to discuss any of the above further, get in touch with Alex at The Mindful Therapist today.