Is Contact With An Online Psychologist During A Pandemic A Good Solution?

While most people are at home quarantine and movement is difficult, direct contact with a psychologist in many cases may not be possible. What to do in that case? Will remote therapy or consultation be as effective as stationery? For whom such contact may be insufficient, and for whom is it necessary?

Online therapy is a form of help in which the psychologist and the client contact each other via electronic media. This form of help can take place in the current time, i.e. during a video call, or it can be postponed, i.e. support is provided by e-mail or chat.

In recent weeks, online therapy has become increasingly popular and is gaining both its opponents and supporters. So why so many different opinions and controversies regarding this method of therapy? There are many myths around skype psychotherapy. Opponents accuse this method that it is not possible to establish a real relationship using a messenger, which may contribute to the deterioration of the quality of assistance provided. Also, they list such difficulties as problems with internet connection or uncertainty, lack of credibility of the person sitting on the other side. It is worth noting here, however, that online therapy, just like face-to-face therapy, must meet specific requirements, forms, and specificity of the conversation.

The code of ethics for the work of a psychologist, and thus discretion and proper working methods, apply to him regardless of the form of therapy!

For whom and in what situations online therapy is a good solution? First of all, online therapy is a good solution in situations when we have difficult contact with a psychologist; it can be caused by, e.g. a current pandemic or when we do not have access to a qualified psychologist or psychotherapist in our place of residence. This solution is necessary for people who feel severe anxiety, severe depression, and leaving the house is a huge challenge for them.

Online therapy is also helpful for people who do not know how to cope in a difficult situation, do not know where to seek help and what steps to take to improve their mental health. Such initial consultation may help to recognise the specificity of the problem, and the psychologist will present the possibilities and ways to solve the client’s specific problem.

Online therapy is a good option for people with physical difficulties. Many people suffer from various ailments that prevent them from moving; this form of help seems to be a great help. The advantage of online therapy is also the opportunity to participate in therapy from anywhere in the world.

All you need is a device and Internet access. You do not have to spend money on getting to the psychological workshop where the psychologist works.

Moreover, in some cases, first aid is faster because the waiting time for an online visit is shorter than a stationary visit. Another, one of the best advantages of online therapy is – the possibility of any choice of therapist. Thanks to this method, we can choose a psychologist from all over the world and even the world! We are not limited to psychologists located in our area, which is particularly important for people living in small towns, where sometimes they have one psychologist at their disposal.

Is online therapy for everyone? Online therapy is not always good for everyone. In some more severe cases, e.g. in people with auto-aggression, severe anxiety, addiction or depression, such contact is insufficient. Online therapy may also be inappropriate for older people who have problems using a computer or instant messengers. This form of therapy can cause them unnecessary stress and discomfort resulting from the attempt to contact a psychologist.

Online therapy will also not be helpful for people who are not convinced of the quality of services provided by a psychologist in this form, have fears and feel a reluctance to this form of contact. The presence of our household members is also an obstacle during the ongoing pandemic. Some of us may find it difficult to find such time and space to talk freely, especially since some of the difficulties that are now emerging in our lives may be related to family life.

Also, children who have participated in therapy in a stationary manner will not benefit from this form of assistance.  During meetings with the child in the office, some therapeutic interactions take place during play. In this way, the bond with the child deepens in a safe and friendly environment. Thanks to this, you can calmly talk about sensitive topics, e.g. relationships with parents. It is hard to imagine such an online meeting with a child staying in a house full of people.

We have one more question to pay attention to. How to choose a psychologist and check his credibility? If we want to choose a good psychologist, then the first thing we need to check is his qualification and level of education. Let’s remember a psychologist is a person who finished 5 years of psychology degree.(a psychotherapist is a person who additionally studied in a specific current) No other person who has not completed such studies can call himself a psychologist. To obtain such information, you can search the Internet for information about a given psychologist, read an opinion about him or simply ask a given psychologist what school he graduated from or what working methods he uses. You don’t have to worry that such questions are wrong, it’s good that you want to know if you’ve come to a specialist.

To sum up, online therapy is always a good idea when we do not have the possibility of direct contact with a psychologist in his office. Especially those who started the therapy process before closing psychotherapy offices should use it at present. Let’s remember this possibility. Emergency help in a crisis can be very valuable.

Author Bio:-

Tryphena is the author of the Reliefseeker. She tried out lots to help the people who need medical care. Now, she created a website to spread medical knowledge. she writes about Online Therapy, telemedicine etc. she is passionate about writing reviews for most of the best Telehealth techniques that she tried out. She encourages her readers to share their ideas and information too about that.

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