And drawing back from my own (relatively low-key) problems for a moment. Betterhelp Technology Studies…could e-counselling be the answer to the mental health problems escalating amongst under-30s? With cuts to psychological health services really beginning to bite, digitised therapy could be just the ticket for young people who already filter nearly every element of their lives– buddies, work, sex, entertainment– through a screen.
Not everybody is completely encouraged that moving psychological health care online is the way forward. “You get to understand not only what it’s like to talk to the person, however how it feels to be in a space with them.
” I’ve carried out some research into Skype counselling,” says London-based psychotherapist Dr Aaron Balick, “and it’s not the ‘practical equivalent’ of conventional counselling; it’s simply not quite the same thing. It’s really essential that people who participate in it know that it’s a different experience from remaining in the space with someone, speaking in person.”
Bbc
” In terms of accessibility, it’s a great start and absolutely better than nothing. It’ll hopefully lead them to ultimately showing up in the room.
In cases of mild depression, the NHS is now directing some patients towards online programmes rather than face-to-face counselling, a phenomenon that concerns Dr Balick.