It takes courage to reach out for help when trying to overcome addiction. Achieving recovery takes a lot more effort and time that not everyone can afford. Fortunately, there are growing numbers of treatments and programs that take place over the internet.
These online treatment programs offer solutions and therapies to all kinds of addiction and allow the patients to work towards the path of recovery.
While online therapies offer convenience and can help people quit their addiction, some people might need extensive measures to quit their addiction.
By understanding the positive outcomes and the drawbacks of online therapy, you can decide on a path that is well suited for your needs.
What Is Online Therapy?
Online therapies are the same therapy services given to addictive patients. The only difference between traditional therapy and online therapy is that online therapy offers treatment via the internet.
Online therapies are generally given by experts through cameras, video conferencing, or chats. Due to the technological and electrical aspect, some people also call online therapy E-therapy, teletherapy, or cyber counseling.
In online therapy, people can get in touch with the therapist face to face via video conferencing and share their problems. All the sessions happen online, and the patients receive online consultation.
Why Choose Online Therapy?
For most people, online therapy is not an option but a one-and-only solution. With the pandemic outside, most therapists are conducting their therapy sessions online. Furthermore, online therapy is less expensive than traditional therapy sessions.
As we can see, the pandemic has caused havoc in modern society. People are suffering from food shortages, salary cut-offs, and relationship failure. This has forced people into experiencing depression and anxiety.
To recover from depression, people are looking for therapists who can solve their problems without visiting their centers. This is where the whole concept of online therapy comes into the frame.
There are no offices and particular visiting hours with the online therapy session. You are free to join a live video session anytime to get your answers.
That being said, if you are currently in need of a therapist who can help you with addiction counseling, visit https://www.gallusdetox.com/locations/texas/san-antonio-detox-center/.
How Is Online Therapy Helping In Substance Abuse Counseling?
The effectiveness of online counseling is increasing compared to traditional counseling – And there are many reasons for that!
1. Accessibility
Accessibility is a significant advantage of online therapy over traditional therapy sessions. This is because, with the traditional therapy session, there needs to be a location, an office, and a particular time.
However, with the online therapy session, therapists and patients suffering from addiction can omit all these fundamental requirements.
With online therapy, therapists and patients can get in touch with each other via video conferences. Patients can share their thoughts, and the therapist can answer all the questions.
Online therapy has also been seen as benefiting teenagers and young children.
2. Convenience
Online therapy is convenient for both the client and the therapist. With online therapy, both sides can reduce the stress of finding the right time and date for the appointment. Now you can take your addiction counseling at any time of the day.
With the online concept, you can potentially schedule your appointment with a therapist over a 24 hours time span.
3. Affordable Plan
Additional therapy is expensive; just accept it. The cost of one session is high enough that a normal person with an average salary cannot afford it. But with online therapy, everybody gets access to affordable plans.
Considering the fact that you do not have to travel to visit the therapy office at a particular time, online therapy is relatively cheaper than traditional therapy. You only need to pay for the session at the comfort of your home.
Furthermore, the cost of therapists also decreases because they do not have any liabilities in the form of rent, fuel, or electric costs.
4. Omni-Channel Communication Method
The standard of online communication has various forms. For example, you can communicate with the other side via text messages, emails, video conferencing, audio messaging, or other applications.
The wide array of communication channels allows clients and therapists to find a comfortable communication medium. This way, a person suffering from addiction can talk about his pain and suffering. At the same time, the therapist can help them by giving solutions.
5. Obscurity
People might feel insecure while talking about their bad experiences, love failures, and addiction face to face. However, what if the therapist can’t see you? This way, you feel more secure and confident in sharing your feelings.
Online therapy helps individuals share their darkest times and bad experiences without feeling insecure. This, in return, helps the therapist understand the patient’s needs and give tailor-made solutions.
Downside Of Online Therapy
Online therapy might have several advantages over traditional therapy. But it does have its downside.
Online therapy is not for patients that need extensive addiction treatment. Online therapy is so flexible that it can be tempting for the person to put it off.
Furthermore, your communication with your therapist depends on the stability of the internet connection. If the stability of interconnection fluctuates at the time of crisis, you won’t be able to hold a conversation.
To put it simply, online therapy is only for the individual who still has some sense left in them and understands the consequences of addiction can bring into their life.
Do Online Therapy Work?
Yes!
Multiple studies have shown that online therapy is as effective as ‘in-person’ counseling. Over the past decade, technology has changed for the better. Today, you can do the same thing and hold the same session online as you do offline. Now, it is upto the patients who are willing to change their life.
In fact, online therapy holds many advantages over traditional therapy counseling. It allows the patient to get in touch with the therapist any time of the day and get the answer they need.