The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of us and changed our lives in innumerable ways. As stressful as this lockdown has been for most of us, we have all learned how we cope in stressful situations. We have discovered much about ourselves as individuals.
This crisis has also brought to light an awareness and embracing of therapeutic treatment tools that allow those who are struggling to begin and/or continue with therapy. These tools have been available for some time. Telehealth (or telemedicine) and online counseling have been around for decades but are now experiencing a surge in popularity because of the mandatory quarantine.
Once life gets back to normal, will these virtual tools fall by the wayside? It’s doubtful because they simply offer too many benefits to patients and providers. At Headway Therapy, we foresee a hybrid approach to continuing treatment when we are able to be return to the office. We will be offering either online counseling or in-person office visits, based on client and clinician preference.
Here are some benefits of online counseling and why you may want to start making the switch:
Better access to care
In some rural areas of the country, it’s not easy to find qualified mental health therapists. Online therapy would provide access to care to anyone that needs it.
Better integration
Online therapy would allow for the integration of behavioral health care and primary care. This will ultimately lead to better outcomes for the patient.
Privacy
Despite the progress we’ve made over the last couple of decades, there is still a stigma attached to mental health treatments. This stops many people from seeking the help they need. Online therapy means an individual can receive help from the comfort of their home without anyone knowing.
Convenience
How often do patients cancel appointments or show up late because of other family and/or work responsibilities or traffic jams? Access to online therapy would reduce many of these scenarios.
Safety
We are currently seeing a situation where it isn’t safe to be around other people. And yet, should a person lose access to mental health care because of illness and disease? Certainly not.
What about unsafe weather? In many parts of the country, there are snowstorms, ice roads, and hurricanes that make it impossible to travel safely.
Online therapy allows people to receive the help they need, regardless of any unsafe conditions.
Access for Disabled populations
Oftentimes the people who need therapy the most are the very people who find it difficult to leave their homes or navigate the outside world. Online therapy allows bedridden patients and those with debilitating chronic illnesses access to the help they need.
We offer online counseling to patients because we want to help as many people as we can as safely as we can. If you’d like to explore this style of treatment, please get in touch with us.
Read here for more information about therapy.
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