Does Online Mental Health Therapy Work for You?

While telehealth has been around for some time, it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic overturned our lives that online therapy sessions entered the mainstream.

This is a worldwide phenomenon. One recent survey found that 64 per cent of U.S. households used a telehealth service in the last 12 months.

India has witnessed a phenomenal growth of digital connectivity, boosted by the Indian government’s ‘Digital India’ initiative that connected a massive number of people to the internet. This further encouraged medical services to go online for convenience, reach, accessibility and affordability.

It appears telehealth therapy will only become more common as we move into the future. According to Precedence Research, the global telehealth market — which clocked a revenue of $40.3 billion in 2020 — is poised to reach $224.8 billion by 2030.

Why is telehealth becoming popular?

One of the main reasons for growth in online medical support is the several benefits telehealth therapy, especially in mental health support,provides for both clients and therapists.

What benefits do clients get from telehealth?

From the patient’s side, the online approach to therapy has plenty of advantages:

• You can access your online counsellor from the comfort of your home. You can easily access mental health servicesfrom the comfort of your home. The only equipment you need is a smartphone or computer – something we all have now! 
• It’s so easy to book appointments.Booking an appointment with your mental health counsellor is easy.Most centres have a self-serve page on their website wherein you can choose your therapist as per your need and book a convenient slot that suits your schedule. 
• You don’t have to travel to the clinic. It can be a daunting task to drive in heavy traffic or travel via taxi in the current scenario. Most therapy is over multiple sessions, so you can save significant time, money and effort by avoiding going back and forth to the clinic to meet your counsellor.
• You can access therapy from wherever they are.You don’t have to be in the same town or even country to reach out to your therapist. Sometimes, we need a specialist who specialises in a unique niche. You can get the perfect therapist match for your needs. The internet allows us to connect with them easily from anywhere.
• It helps you avoid infectious diseases. Hospitals or clinics are usually crowded, and there’s always the risk of infections, especially in the Covid-19 era. Some mental health clinics reported a sharp fall in physical footfalls during the lockdown days. On the other hand, there was an increase in online appointments for patients who continued to get mental health or psychological support from the safety of their homes.
• It’s easier to have your family member involved in the therapy process.Some therapies, such as couples counselling, parenting or relationship counselling, may require a partner or family member to participate in a session. Or it might just be for moral support and comfort. If the family member is in another location, a digital meeting will allow all of them to participate and make the process more productive and seamless.
• Quality of care improves. Mental health care usually does not require a physical examination. The screen is enough for meaningful engagement. The visible background of the client’s home environment gives subtle cues to the counsellor regarding their personality and lifestyle. Moreover, the body language is visible. Clients and therapists have reported high satisfaction and effective treatment through online media.

Hope Trust – how innovation helps to serve you

Hope Trust was established in 2002 as a pioneer in residential treatment for addictions. Over the years, the organisation realised it had gained a wealth of experience in therapy. The experience with dual diagnosis cases also added to their psychiatric knowledge and expertise.

• Hope Trust started offering outpatient therapy for psychological, emotional, relationship, parenting, addiction and psychiatric issues to leverage this knowledge. Qualified therapists joined the team offering a range of therapeutic methodologies such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), Motivational Interviewing, Group Therapies, Yoga and Mindfulness. Like in the residential setting, the treatment was based on an integrated model and individualised to suit each client’s unique cultural and family dynamics.And then the pandemic hit!Adapting to the new normal, Hope Trust swiftly adapted to online mode and now offers both in-person and online therapies. The organisation witnessed several benefits, such as:
  • Serving a larger geographical area
  • Can serve more clients
  • Improves work-life balance of counsellors and reduces burnout risk

  Hope Trust is onboarding more therapists to serve you better, wherever you are, whatever your issue is. All this is carried out within strict ethical guidelines to ensure clients’ safety, confidentiality, and welfare.

  If you or a loved one is seeking support for any psychological issues, click here or call +91 90008 50001 for an appointment with an expert.