And drawing back from my own (relatively subtle) concerns for a moment. A Preliminary Study Of Betterhelp’s Text-based Psychotherapy…could e-counselling be the answer to the psychological health issues escalating amongst under-30s? With cuts to mental health services truly starting to bite, digitised treatment could be simply the ticket for young people who already filter almost every element of their lives– pals, work, sex, home entertainment– through a screen.
Not everyone is completely convinced that shifting mental health care online is the method forward. “For me, what works in treatment is when you satisfy somebody in person, in the same room,” states London-based psychotherapist Sandra Tapie. “You get to know not just what it resembles to talk with the individual, but how it feels to be in a room with them. Utilizing Skype is the next best thing: it’s ‘good enough’, but it does not develop the closeness, the intimacy, that actually gets individuals to open up and check out things.”
” I have actually carried out some research study into Skype counselling,” states London-based psychotherapist Dr Aaron Balick, “and it’s not the ‘practical equivalent’ of traditional counselling; it’s just not quite the same thing. It’s really essential that people who participate in it understand that it’s a various experience from remaining in the room with someone, speaking face-to-face.”
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” In terms of accessibility, it’s an excellent start and absolutely better than nothing. It’ll hopefully lead them to ultimately showing up in the room. Nevertheless, if you’re fighting with relationship concerns, accessory problems, or much deeper issues, it’s much better to be in the room with someone. Skype and the internet provides a range from your counsellor that might not be useful.”
In cases of mild depression, the NHS is now directing some patients towards online programs instead of in person counselling, a phenomenon that worries Dr Balick.