Exploring the Benefits of Exploring the Benefits of Digital Therapy: Why More People are Opting for Online Counseling
Online therapy allows people to get help without driving or fighting traffic, dealing with child care, or spending time out of work. This can make it easier to overcome obstacles that prevent many people from seeking treatment, such as anxiety or cost.
People are also more open in a place that makes them feel comfortable.
Convenience
Online therapy allows people to connect with therapists through websites or apps that offer video chat and messaging. These services typically have flexible hours and can be accessed anywhere there’s an internet connection or cell phone signal.
A recent study found from experts like Mark Hirschhorn that patients who use a digital therapeutic are more engaged in their treatment and compliant with their care plans. This translates into better outcomes for the patient.
Those who want to get the most out of their digital therapeutics can opt for personalized content, such as tailored activities and progress reports. These tools help keep the conversation moving forward between appointments. They also allow therapists to address non-compliance, like missing sessions or taking too long between charges. This is important because it can lead to the recurrence of symptoms.
Online therapy is ideal for addressing many issues without dealing with transportation, parking, sitting in a waiting room, child care, or taking time off from work. It can also help reduce costs.
However, if you aren’t careful, the convenience of online therapy can be distracting. It’s essential to create a quiet space in your home where you won’t be interrupted and to ensure a reliable internet connection.
Also, since you are relying on an internet connection to connect with your therapist, there is always the risk that it could fail. Discussing this with your therapist and determining a backup plan if that should occur is essential. You may need to switch to a different video conference app or phone your therapist.
Talking to a mental health professional from home may make people feel more comfortable. This can be particularly helpful for individuals anxious about beginning treatment and might find it challenging to open up in an unfamiliar setting.
However, limiting distractions is essential to get the most out of virtual therapy. This includes asking other family members to keep quiet, turning off the TV, and muting any apps you don’t need during sessions.
In addition, it’s a good idea to choose an online counseling provider that offers multiple formats for meetings (video, phone, and text), a convenient user experience, and easy access to therapists and administrators. A sound system also allows people to cancel or switch therapists with minimal hassle in the case of unexpected obstacles.
Accessibility
Digital therapeutics (DTx) are software-based treatments that can be self-guided, delivered with a coach or therapist, or integrated into a face-to-face treatment plan. Unlike direct-to-consumer apps, DTx programs require a prescription from a physician or clinician and are designed to treat specific mental health issues.
Several commercially available DTx programs target addiction. For example, behavioral therapy and sensor technology guide patients with opioid addictions through recovery. Despite these benefits, digital therapeutics remain a small segment of the market.
Many DTx companies are startups that rely on contract work to facilitate business growth. This model should raise concern regarding ensuring that these tools are well integrated into physicians’ workflows and that therapists are not incentivized to use them for financial reasons rather than clinical ones.
Ease of Scheduling
Many people have little time and are looking for a simple, quick way to schedule counseling. Ensure your website makes this easy for potential clients by providing them with all the information they need to contact you and schedule an initial phone consultation/intake.
Digital therapeutics (DTx) rely on large amounts of personalized patient data. To overcome this challenge, DTx solutions use an R&D approach similar to drug development and undergo clinical validation before entering the market.
Despite its proven benefits, digital therapy is not a replacement for medication. Instead, it provides an alternative to traditional care and can be incorporated into existing services. For example, a behavioral treatment program guides patients with substance use disorder to change their behavior and reduce cravings using mobile apps.
