Affordable TeleHealth Services for Everyone:
Men, Women, and Teens
To show you the benefits of virtual therapy, here’s an article by Konstantin Lukin Ph.D. on Psychology Today called “TeleHealth, Social Skills, and the Future of Psychotherapy.”
In the future, it’s likely that therapy appointments will happen with two people in different places, talking on the phone or through video.
This change is expected because younger people really like technology. Plus, it’s much easier to do therapy from home instead of going to an office. It’s like how apps for food delivery, such as GrubHub or Seamless, have become really popular. You don’t need to talk to anyone – just order through an app. Even though it might cost a bit more, many people prefer the convenience.
For TeleHealth to become really common, two things need to happen. The new generation needs to start using it for therapy. Also, therapists need to learn how to do therapy online. Because of these reasons, it might take a few years for TeleHealth to become something everyone uses.
The Pros of TeleHealth
TeleHealth offers a way to help lots of people without needing them to travel. You can do therapy sessions from home, which saves money on having an office. This could be a game-changer for folks who don’t have special services nearby or who are too busy.
But, not everyone is interested. Even though it’s convenient to do it from home, some people still say no.
Some of these folks might have busy schedules, so they might like the idea. But for most, they prefer talking in person. Maybe it’s because they didn’t grow up using a lot of technology when they were younger.
Downsides of TeleHealth
Linked to this, there’s a point to be made that meeting someone in person and shaking hands has a unique value that TeleHealth can’t quite capture.
As we keep moving into a world that relies a lot on technology, more people might find it hard to deal with things like social anxiety or not being great at socializing. For folks who struggle to leave their homes, talk on the phone, or show up for face-to-face therapy, TeleHealth might seem appealing. But because of that, they might also miss out on facing their fears of trying new in-person situations to build social connections.
Bringing Mental Health into the Mainstream
Right now in the U.S., it’s becoming more normal to talk about mental health and get help when needed. The rise of TeleHealth and Teletherapy could make this even more common. Taking care of our emotional well-being has many benefits, especially for those going through tough times. Using technology like this could make mental health support more available and popular.
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