Online therapy for kids in a pandemic-ravaged world
The COVID-19 pandemic has left children and teenagers largely susceptible to many mental health issues. The social isolation, monotony of continuous quarantine and severed connection from the outside world have fostered depression and anxiety in them. So, the necessity of paying special attention to their mental health has escalated by quite a few notches now. Here comes the relevance of counselling or psychotherapy. However, visiting a therapist’s chamber isn’t a very safe option yet. So, in the current scenario, resorting to online therapy is the best feasible option.
What is online therapy?
Online therapy, or e-therapy, or internet counselling, is a formal psychotherapy that is carried out online through video chatting, text message, mobile apps, email, or through registration to a specific website. It works quite similarly to traditional therapy, the only difference being that the interaction between the therapist and the patient is carried out virtually, not face-to-face.
How to get started?
You can ask for referrals from your family doctor and consider their opinion on whether online therapy is a good idea for your children and the nature of their issues. Discuss the matter with your child and keep her in the loop. There are many websites that get you in touch with counsellors who provide online sessions.
Benefits of online therapy
Studies have shown that online treatment can be just as effective as face-to-face sessions for mental health issues like depression and anxiety. It is not only cost-effective but also enables access to mental health professionals to those who live in remote locations where there are no therapists or counsellors. Especially for teens, online therapy has quite a few benefits:
- Teens are already familiar with online communication on a day-to-day basis. So online therapy is quite an easy affair to them. They feel comfortable talking about issues and interacting with mental health professionals over online platforms
- It is conducted in an environment that they are already familiar with. So opening up becomes a little easier. The familiarity and comfort of their rooms provides a safe environment for them to engage in these privately held sessions.
- Online therapy is much more convenient as it saves travel time and costs that teens can spend for other tasks. It also provides easier access and scheduling.
- Many teens prefer online therapy in order to discuss sensitive issues like sexuality. The barrier of a screen between them and the therapist helps them open up more easily.
- It is a much more comfortable way of treatment for patients who suffer from social anxiety as it has less of a stigma attached. The appointments are much more discreet as opposed to going to a therapist’s office.
Disadvantages of online therapy
While online therapy can be incredibly effective for many people, for some, it just isn’t a good idea. Here are some potential issues your teens may face:
- If the problem stems from some factors in the home environment they are exposed to, online therapy may not be able to create the safe space required for effective treatment.
- Internet connection problems can cause unwanted disturbances in sessions which can interrupt the effectiveness of the session. Such technical issues can complicate the progress.
- It can be tricky to double check if the therapist is a licensed medical professional or not.
- Since teens interact with their friends in pretty much the same manner online,
(texting and chatting for example), they might blur the lines and come to regard their therapist as a friend. This may dilute the impact and seriousness of the sessions.