Is online therapy a sign of progress in mental health?

More and more users and professionals opt for online therapy. Although its arrival in the West is recent, this type of care's comfort and flexibility make it gain more followers. And not only on the part of the patients: psychology professionals are also predisposed to dealing with their patients through the computer. At least, the conclusion reached by a survey conducted by licensed psychologists in Madrid published in the Science Direct magazine. More specifically, the survey results indicate that 26.66% of the psychologists who participated already used some online format to exercise; 60.49% positively value doing it in the future; and only 12.78% discard it. These data reflect a fairly positive attitude towards this new format. However, some mental health professionals remain concerned that we may take steps back to quality treatment with patients.

Is online therapy more salable?

One of the factors that drive us to ask ourselves these questions is that psychology is experiencing a commercialization phase in recent years, maybe reproducing the model of other health divisions such as dentistry, which provide "discounts, bonuses and reduced rates for depending on what special situations ". In this way, online counseling is typically significantly cheaper than face-to-face therapy for obvious reasons: you have to pay less to provide the service. The cost aspect could be one of the key explanations why rising numbers prefer it at the same time.

Generally speaking, it may not be a reason for alarm if more and more individuals prefer internet counseling, as long as it is seen that it is no longer successful relative to conventional therapy. But what do studies on the effects of online therapy say? The findings may be controversial: the degree of partiality is hard to discern, and evidence for and against have been identified. But the best practices for online therapy published in the Journal of Technology in Human Resources suggest, one of the most common trials which explore this issue, that online therapy works without any major differences in face-to-face therapy. , in particular in situations involving fear or tension.

Even so, the human factor is the most decisive when it comes to specifying the therapy's effectiveness, above the means used. Some therapists are reluctant to use Skype or other means to see us with our patients because of the fear that the bond will suffer. However, the research Telepsychology and videoconferencing: problems, opportunities and a guide for psychologists, published in Australian Psychologist, support the previous research conclusions and reflect no significant differences between the therapeutic alliance developed in face-to-face therapy and that obtained in teletherapy.

What is evident is that having this possibility is a step forward because it opens up new possibilities and paths for us. For example, it allows us to work with people who, for some reason, must migrate and want to continue keeping their reference professional. Other advantages that patients who choose online therapy tend to refer to reduce the time they must invest in it, not having to travel saves them time. And it is easier to find one free hour a day than two. Online therapy can also help reduce the emotional impact of going to a psychologist's office and the stigma that it still carries.

It is a practical resource for therapists when they have to set up a clinic on their own. Starting a business is not always an easy task, and this modality offers us certain facilities. As for the patient, the therapist can also save time by choosing this therapeutic format.

But one of the most important benefits is crisis care. On many occasions, the patient experiences a critical situation in which he needs his therapist's help. Being able to see each other online is a resource that eliminates the coldness of the telephone or other less personal means such as WhatsApp or email.

Despite the advantages that it can have, it is important not to lose sight of the fact that not all teletherapy is valid and that we must find some way to regulate the services offered to not fall into an "anything goes". It is common to find job offers where it is intended that a psychologist attend by WhatsApp or email innumerable requests from people who have problems and whom they do not know. There are no easy and generalized solutions, doing therapy is always a process of dedicated personalization. There are many clinics and hospitals in these corona times that provide telehealth psychiatric services.