And pulling back from my own (relatively low-key) concerns for a moment. Better Help Cost…could e-counselling be the answer to the mental health problems intensifying among under-30s? With cuts to psychological health services truly beginning to bite, digitised therapy could be simply the ticket for young people who already filter nearly every aspect of their lives– buddies, work, sex, home entertainment– through a screen.
Not everybody is entirely convinced that shifting psychological health care online is the way forward. “You get to understand not only what it’s like to talk to the individual, but how it feels to be in a room with them.
” I’ve carried out some research into Skype counselling,” states London-based psychotherapist Dr Aaron Balick, “and it’s not the ‘functional equivalent’ of traditional counselling; it’s just not quite the exact same thing. It’s really essential that people who participate in it know that it’s a different experience from being in the room with someone, speaking in person.”
Bbc
” In terms of availability, it’s a great start and definitely better than nothing. It’ll ideally lead them to ultimately showing up in the room.
In cases of mild depression, the NHS is now directing some patients towards online programs rather than in person counselling, a phenomenon that worries Dr Balick.