The traditional means of counseling is changing thanks to online tools such as Skype and online meeting tools that allow a patient to log in from the privacy of their home computer and meet with a qualified Christian Counselor. The mental health field is changing thanks to technology and internet-based therapy is quicky becoming a mainstream choice. Instead of having to take off from work, travel across town or commute a long distance, people who are looking for answers can now log on from the privacy of their homes to meet with a qualified mental health counselor for online therapy sessions.
"Telepsychiarty" is a new term that has been coined that is defined as the use of electronic communication and information technologies to provide or support mental healthcare by a Psychiatrist at a distance"(Corsini and Carriho, 2012).
Thanks to the growing tools available over the internet, Mental Health professionals across the country are using tools such as teleconferencing software, live instant messenging and videos to provide online services to their clients.
Benefits and Advantages to Online Therapy
Online counseling offers a number of helpful benefits to both clients and Mental Health Care profesisonals alike. Clients no longer have to worry about lengthy commute times in traffic.
Online therapy is also reaching people that may not visit a therapist's office due to the anxiety
sometimes associated with visiting a doctor's office and the need for privacy and confidentiality.
Online therapy is providing care and support to patients who may live in rural areas who do not
have close access to a doctor's office and who would normally have to take time off from work,
find childcare and commute to larger cities where they can find quality care professionals.
Correctional facilities are also benefiting as therapists are more likely to offer their services online to inmates than take time away from their practice to visit prisons and jails. Elderly populations
are also embracing the internet to receive counseling consultations. Residents in retirement homes
can receive online therapy without having to leave the comfort of nursing homes, hospice or
the safety of their own homes.
Finally, those working in unsafe environments such as war zones or natural disaster areas can also benefit as it brings therapists' expertise directly to those experiencing trauma. Military leaders are
also exploring online counseling options for troops facing combat-related stress.
The Future of Online Counseling
The rise of online counseling offers a number of benefits to both clients and therapists alike. Growing internet technologies are delivering better mental healthcare to many people who might otherwise suffer from a lack of quality care. The new internet based tools also open the door for improved consultation and support between mental healthcare professionals. Research has consistently demonstrated that online therapy has comparable satisfaction rates with in person therapy and similiar client satisfaction rates.
Sources
Kevin D. Corsini and Marlene Carrilho, "Double-click for Therapy. Telepsychiartry and the rise of skype-based therapy", Christian Counseling Connection, Volume 18, Issue 2.
