And pulling back from my own (reasonably subtle) concerns for a moment. Phelps Betterhelp…could e-counselling be the answer to the mental health issues intensifying among under-30s? With cuts to psychological health services actually beginning to bite, digitised therapy could be simply the ticket for young people who already filter almost every aspect of their lives– friends, work, sex, home entertainment– through a screen.
Not everybody is totally persuaded that moving mental healthcare online is the way forward. “For me, what operate in treatment is when you meet somebody face-to-face, in the exact same space,” states London-based psychotherapist Sandra Tapie. “You are familiar with not just what it resembles to talk to the person, however how it feels to be in a space with them. Using Skype is the next best thing: it’s ‘good enough’, but it does not develop the closeness, the intimacy, that really gets people to open and explore things.”
” I’ve performed some research into Skype counselling,” says London-based psychotherapist Dr Aaron Balick, “and it’s not the ‘functional equivalent’ of conventional counselling; it’s simply not quite the same thing. It’s truly important that people who participate in it understand that it’s a different experience from remaining in the space with somebody, speaking in person.”
Bbc
” In terms of availability, it’s a great start and definitely better than nothing. It’ll hopefully lead them to eventually appearing in the space. Nevertheless, if you’re fighting with relationship issues, accessory problems, or deeper issues, it’s better to be in the room with somebody. Skype and the web uses a distance from your counsellor that may not be practical.”
In cases of mild depression, the NHS is now directing some patients towards online programmes instead of face-to-face counselling, a phenomenon that worries Dr Balick.