Can online therapy work for you?
On my blog, I’ve written openly about mental health, hoping that my story and my experiences can support other people so that they don’t feel alone. I also advocate for getting professional help when you need it. This post is a guest post that I coordinated with BetterHelp. It was written by Marie Miguel.
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
To recount my experiences with mental health illness: Although my mental health has been quite positive lately, I suffer from depression and in the past I have been suicidal. More recently I have experienced symptoms of anxiety, and have become increasingly aware of triggers or events/reminders that put me on edge because of experiences I have had in the past.
I asked BetterHelp to provide the copy for this blog post as I don’t have personal experience with therapy and didn’t feel I was in a place to write about it. 🙂
Why Online Therapy May Be the Best Choice for You
No matter what kind of mental health condition you may be suffering from, you should remember: everyone has mental health issues, and they may fluctuate on a daily basis. Nobody can be happy and carefree every single day. Even someone with the most well-balanced mental health in the world has had bouts of anxiety, worry, or depression at some time in their lives. Some of us are more susceptible to depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders, but there is always help out there for anyone who suffers from mental illness. Professional therapy or counseling is the top choice for helping with any type of mental illness, whether it is an anxiety disorder, chronic depression, schizophrenia, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Causes of Mental Illness
Anxiety disorder is the most common mental health condition in the United States. In fact, over 40 million adults in the United States have been affected by some type of anxiety disorder. Depression is another common disorder that affects about 16 million adults in the United States annually. Anyone can develop depression or anxiety disorders, but they are more common in females, those between the ages of 20 and 45, people with chronic medical conditions (e.g., cancer or diabetes), individuals who have experienced some form of trauma or abuse, those who have family members with depression, and/or people who abuse drugs or alcohol.
Getting Treatment
All of these disorders are treatable, but only 35% of those with a mental health condition will seek help. There are many reasons why we neglect to get help for our mental health. One reason is denial. Many people just do not believe they have a problem. Once you have lived for so long feeling depressed or anxious, you may think it is normal, until you notice that other people do not feel the same way. However, those with depression and anxiety sometimes lack the motivation to reach out or are too embarrassed. There is still plenty of stigma about mental illness and that is one of the main reasons why a lot of people continue to suffer rather than getting counseling. Others do not get help because they do not have insurance or their insurance does not cover mental health.
Online Therapy
Online therapy can help with all of these issues and more. If you are anxious or depressed and lack the motivation to find and visit a therapist, being able to talk to a professional from home can be the perfect solution. Many with depression may feel that it can be difficult just getting out of bed some days, so the fact that we can talk to our therapist from bed is amazing! In fact, with online therapy, you can text or message your therapist anytime, day or night. The price can be cheaper than in-person therapy as well. While traditional therapy can cost up to $300 per hour on average, you can talk to your therapist online starting at $35 per week. And as far as being embarrassed, nobody will know because you are at home in your own house so the only ones who can find out are those you choose to tell. You can get help today!
If you have additional comments or want to share your experiences with therapy, feel free to leave a comment on this blog post.
Disclaimer: The content in this post about online therapy was provided by BetterHelp.
Comments on this post
Jane
When my dad’s insurance ran out and I had to stop therapy, my therapist continued working with me but I ultimately had to stop because while she said she’d temporarily charge me $45 (insured price) despite my lack of insurance, I got to where I couldn’t afford it. But she had mentioned being open to doing a session on Skype, even though it wasn’t ideal.
Then I read a book, which I rated low (but that’s irrelevant to my point), about a character who had become terribly afraid of the world around her and operated her life from her apartment. I admired that, and I’d have loved if a story focused on such a lifestyle—not because it’s what I aspire, but because it opened my mind to the many options the internet provides to people with all sorts of needs. What stuck with me most was that, and the fact that she had a therapist who provided sessions via online video calls. I searched the web for something that seemed legit, but unfortunately most sites I landed on seemed like scams (e.g. “Get Happier Now!” ugh) because there weren’t as many options back then.
I’ll be keeping BetterHelp in mind for when I may be in need of therapy again, and it definitely helps to see it on a blog I love by a person I trust!
I’m just…I’m so over going out of the house for doctors appointments. Like, I got immunotherapy four days a week for about six months, and then I started going to therapy twice a week even during that time. It takes a toll on a person and eats up gas, and there is the anxiety of choosing an outfit…so I’m glad online therapy is getting recognition and not, like, still this super taboo thing.~
Jane
Not quite a follow-up to this, but BetterHelp has a sister site for the LGBTQ+ community called Pride Counseling.
Michelle
I couldn’t even pay for therapy due to it being a drain on our funds every Monday when I went, so they just used a code(that’s how insurance knows what to pay for. There are different codes for different procedures etc;) and bill my insurance without me paying.
I’ve heard of this service as I’ve seen it advertised on several places online like Philip defranco’s YT. But I understand how it feels to be caught up in the stigma of mental illness as I deal with a very uncommon one.
Still, I’m glad that this online therapy exists for those that cannot get the help that they need.