And drawing back from my own (fairly low-key) problems for a moment. How Much Can I Make As A Therapist On Betterhelp…could e-counselling be the answer to the mental health problems intensifying among under-30s? With cuts to psychological health services actually beginning to bite, digitised treatment could be just the ticket for young adults who already filter almost every element of their lives– friends, work, sex, home entertainment– through a screen.
Not everyone is completely convinced that moving mental health care online is the way forward. “For me, what operate in therapy is when you satisfy someone face-to-face, in the same room,” states London-based psychotherapist Sandra Tapie. “You are familiar with not only what it’s like to talk to the individual, but how it feels to be in a space with them. Using Skype is the next best thing: it’s ‘sufficient’, but it does not produce the closeness, the intimacy, that really gets individuals to open and check out things.”
” I’ve carried out some research study into Skype counselling,” states London-based psychotherapist Dr Aaron Balick, “and it’s not the ‘functional equivalent’ of standard counselling; it’s simply not quite the exact same thing. It’s truly essential that people who engage in it know that it’s a different experience from being in the space with somebody, speaking face-to-face.”
Bbc
” In terms of accessibility, it’s a good start and certainly better than nothing. It’ll ideally lead them to eventually appearing in the room. Nevertheless, if you’re struggling with relationship issues, attachment concerns, or much deeper issues, it’s better to be in the space with someone. Skype and the internet provides a distance from your counsellor that might not be valuable.”
In cases of mild depression, the NHS is now directing some patients towards online programs rather than in person counselling, a phenomenon that concerns Dr Balick.