Mental health is an integral part of a healthy and happy life. According to a research by the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), almost one in every five Americans experiences mental health issues.

As your mental health is responsible for your emotional, psychological, and social well-being, you need to pay as much attention to it as possible. Where therapy has shown positive results in the past, with the spread of coronavirus, it is becoming quite difficult for mental health patients to reach their therapists.

Where on one side, the current pandemic is the cause of loneliness, depression, and anxiety in people, teletherapy has seen a huge rise. According to a local survey at Southern Cross University, a poll suggested that almost 98% of respondents agreed that the pandemic had taken a toll on their mental health. So, as the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow, so does the need to talk to your therapist over the internet.

Like every other industry in the world, the health sector has also transformed itself to fit the current needs. Where you once had to travel miles to your therapist’s office, all you have to do now is boot up your computer, and you are good to go. Most therapists are saying that people are starting to get used to the idea of online therapy.

“I think that people have started to get used to the idea of doing therapy over the video, even if it’s not ideal for either party. I do think that video will stay consistent for some time to come, even if COVID numbers go down, for the sheer usefulness of the platform,” said Jason Fierstein, a licensed professional at Phoenix Men’s Counseling.

Benefits of Online Therapy

Online therapy isn’t only feasible during the pandemic, but it offers benefits that surpass the traditional form of therapy.

?      Time Saver

First of all, teletherapy is great for people who have a busy schedule. Most people ignore going to therapy by saying that they don’t have enough time to fit therapy into their daily schedule. I have known people who have left going to therapy because it took them a lot of time to go to their therapist’s office. With online therapy, you don’t have to face such problems as you can choose a time that suits you.

?      Comfort

Another benefit of going for online therapy is that you can do it from the comfort of your home. As patients feel comfortable in their homes, they have an easy time opening up and discussing their issues rather than being present in an alien environment.

?      Cost-Effective

Last but not least, another attractive benefit of choosing teletherapy is that it doesn’t weigh that much on your pockets. You won’t have to face any extra expenditure like gas money, bus tickets, taxi, etc. All you need is a stable internet connection, and you are good to go.

Things to Keep in Mind When Going for Online Therapy

While online therapy might be very useful, it doesn’t mean that you should go with any online therapist you come in contact with. As you are trusting your therapists with lots of darkest secrets, you need to make sure that he is capable of treating your problems. Let’s take a look at a few things that you should ensure before you start mental therapy with a counselor.

?      Choose a Reputable Service

A very important thing that you must keep in mind is to make sure that the online therapy service you are going for can be trusted. As teletherapy is a considerably new thing, there are a lot of services which claim to be the best, but in fact, are the opposite. These services hire unlicensed therapists who are not capable of handling people’s health. Here is a list of ways free teletherapy can be harmful so that you know how to differentiate good services from bad ones.

?      Find a Private and Quiet Space

The next thing that you need to focus on is to ensure that you are not disturbed during your session. Being in a comfortable environment is one thing, but if you are too comfortable, you will not be able to focus. Find a quiet and private space where no one can distract you. It will be better for both you and the therapist as he will be able to do his job, and you will be able to pay attention to what he is saying.

?      Keep Your Phone or Mobile Charged

Moreover, as you will be attending a live session through your mobile phone or laptop, you need to make sure that you keep your electronic devices charged. There should not be any disturbance between the sessions to let things flow smoothly. You should also take a look at your internet connection and make sure that it is working fine.