Why Online Counselling Is The Trend Now
When combined with conventional cognitive behavior therapy, online counselling has been proven effective in addressing a wide range of clinical issues including depression, phobias, and anxiety, amongst others. Also known as web counselling, people who access online counselling services usually connect with psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and other mental health care professionals via emails, online chat rooms, and Internet forums as well as VoIP technology.
With benefits such as the ones discussed below, the growing popularity of web counselling is not surprising. But emphasis must also be made that it has its share of disadvantages that every individual interested in it should take note of, if only to set realistic expectations.
Ease of Accessibility
One of the best things about e-counselling is its ease of accessibility – just log into the Internet, choose the counselling website, and start asking for advice from the mental health care providers in it, even ask for advice from your fellow patients in the forums. You can use the services, such as depression counselling, anytime and anywhere as long as you have a personal computer, even a smartphone or tablet, with an Internet connection.
E-counselling is particularly beneficial for people who have previously experienced challenges that prevented them from seeking timely therapy. These include people living in rural or remote areas where health care providers are miles away, people who have physical disabilities that cannot access mental health services without experiencing significant inconveniences, and people who want the relative anonymity of web counselling.
Convenience of Communication
Removing the barrier of needing to be in the same room at the same time, you and your online counsellor can enjoy the convenience of being at opposite ends of the country, or indeed different countries and yet still communicate with each other at varying times of the day and night. You will appreciate the less amount of pressure to set and meet appointments by travelling to and from the clinic. You don’t even have to wrack your brains about what your psychologist said in your last session as you can follow the “chat history” via your chat box or email inbox.
Of course, you can even leave messages to your psychologist at any hour of the day or night instead of waiting for the clinic to open. Just writing down your feelings at the moment can lessen your mental and emotional burden, too, such that your online relationship counselling sessions become more effective.
Other benefits of e-counselling is the avoidance of social stigma usually associated with seeking professional help for your mental health issues; the affordable rates; and the anonymity provided by the online sessions.
With benefits such as the ones discussed below, the growing popularity of web counselling is not surprising. But emphasis must also be made that it has its share of disadvantages that every individual interested in it should take note of, if only to set realistic expectations.
Ease of Accessibility
One of the best things about e-counselling is its ease of accessibility – just log into the Internet, choose the counselling website, and start asking for advice from the mental health care providers in it, even ask for advice from your fellow patients in the forums. You can use the services, such as depression counselling, anytime and anywhere as long as you have a personal computer, even a smartphone or tablet, with an Internet connection.
E-counselling is particularly beneficial for people who have previously experienced challenges that prevented them from seeking timely therapy. These include people living in rural or remote areas where health care providers are miles away, people who have physical disabilities that cannot access mental health services without experiencing significant inconveniences, and people who want the relative anonymity of web counselling.
Convenience of Communication
Removing the barrier of needing to be in the same room at the same time, you and your online counsellor can enjoy the convenience of being at opposite ends of the country, or indeed different countries and yet still communicate with each other at varying times of the day and night. You will appreciate the less amount of pressure to set and meet appointments by travelling to and from the clinic. You don’t even have to wrack your brains about what your psychologist said in your last session as you can follow the “chat history” via your chat box or email inbox.
Of course, you can even leave messages to your psychologist at any hour of the day or night instead of waiting for the clinic to open. Just writing down your feelings at the moment can lessen your mental and emotional burden, too, such that your online relationship counselling sessions become more effective.
Other benefits of e-counselling is the avoidance of social stigma usually associated with seeking professional help for your mental health issues; the affordable rates; and the anonymity provided by the online sessions.
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