Technology and Counseling: Working Hand-In-Hand
Counseling Solutions
History of Remote Therapy
So, while it may seem like a new thing, believe it or not, therapy and counseling services first "left the office" as far back as in 1972. That was the year the first experiments took place in creating a computer communication involving psychotherapy. In 1986, Dear Uncle Ezra was providing mental health advice in an online format, and in 1993 online depression groups were forming.
However, this experimental technology in counseling was perceived as ethically questionable for the ethical implications in some senses. Technology in counseling was hard for both parties to ensure they knew who was on the other side of the screen with the technology and these sites were lacking in key privacy components. Further, mental health chatbots and internet chat rooms were not generally run or monitored by professionals in those days.
Initial Skepticism
People were also skeptical as to how traditional counseling could transfer to the internet, at least until social media helped legitimize internet communication in our daily routine. Now, with online payments, photo sharing, and video conferencing for business, this technology for counseling makes more sense to people.
Both the counselor and patient or clients benefit from using online services for scheduling appointments with the ease of integrating technology.
If you can deposit a check in your bank's mobile app, why not have counseling in mental health apps as well? Especially since online sites such as BetterHelp have worked tirelessly to safeguard the privacy and verification of counselors.
All therapists on BetterHelp are required to be HIPAA compliant, and all counselors are thoroughly vetted and verified so you know you have access to quality mental health counseling when in the platform. Client data and the information of potential clients is kept securely under the patient privacy policy.
Types Of Online Counseling
Additionally, online counseling and online therapy is able to offer help to individuals, couples, and even family members through family therapy. Advancement in mental health technology has allowed clients and counselors a new way of interacting.
So, we are finding that not only can therapy and counseling work in today's technology, but this technology could quite possibly work better than traditional counseling because this technology allows more availability, flexibility, and affordability for clients.
Online Counseling's Advantages
Individuals living with depression, anxiety, and other disorders have a more convenient way with the help of technology to make each counseling session with no travel required (like in person therapy or counseling necessitates) and reduced stress. For someone who is depressed and is feeling fatigued and overwhelmed, just getting out of bed can be a strain, much less getting out of the house and making it on time to a scheduled counseling session via the internet or with some other technology or app.
For someone with social anxiety, it can be terrifying to think of going to a new office and sitting across from a stranger, and sharing their thoughts and feelings in face-to-face counseling or in person therapy or counseling and having that face to face interaction with counselors.
The Privacy Of Home
This is one area in which online counseling and online therapy is so helpful as an alternative to in person therapy. Technology in counseling has made it possible for counseling services with counselors to be done from the privacy of the client's home through technology options like video conferencing and they can set the schedule around their personal lives.
For someone living with depression as a mental illness, they can stay in bed if they are having a really bad day.
For the anxious person or anxious clients, they could choose to write to their counselor on their smart phones using mental health apps or in the website with the aid of mental health chatbots rather than schedule a live counseling session. Technology in counseling and mental health chatbots has allowed for this.
Benefits Of Discretion
Anonymity and full discretion are other major advantages of technology in counseling, especially since men claimed the social stigma associated with going to either a counselor or therapist and this social stigma is one reason why they avoided getting help for their mental illness.
The flexibility of schedule was another key point for this new technology, including that this technology allows the ability for clients to talk during stressful times, not just scheduled talk therapy with counselors or counseling sessions, as well as offer the clients the ability to write counselors when something upsetting or unusual happens and get feedback from counselors later that day rather waiting an entire week.
Individuals who choose online therapy may progress faster because of this feature.
Therapy's Future
Video conferencing and the "live" feature is the newest innovation in the online counseling practice, and it's quickly diffusing some of the criticisms related to online therapy or the online counseling practice. Doctors and private practice counselors have long complained that text chat, possibly with mental health chatbots, does not allow the social interaction the professional or counselors needs to notice with potential clients or current client's body language, the client's visual cues, or the client's stress or incongruity, which is extremely important in many cases. This takes things a step further than e mail therapy, of which e mail therapy or counseling lacks emotion and the ability to respond in real time. Younger generations will be able to reap the potential benefits of this new technology that allows for counselors and clients to interact over secure counseling services with counselors that uses technology.
Multiple Communication Options
It is also important for the client to have the ability to see counselors or professionals and hear their voice or vocal tone to develop rapport and trust in the counseling sessions. With the use of technology, clients or a client is able to connect with their therapist or counselors in a more comfortable, new way. The messaging feature similar to sending a text message or text messaging and live chat are great technology options for clients, but for some clients or a specfic person, the face-to-face interactions with counselors are needed and this technology provides those interactions for those clients with their counselors.
With BetterHelp, You Don't Have To Pick
And the good news is, when engaging in online counseling with counselors, the client or clients do not have to pick one or the other. With BetterHelp, clients can use the live sessions and the clients can send updates throughout the week to their counselors as things happen in real-time or when the clients are in especially difficult situations when it is frustrating to wait until the next session with their counselors.
This isn't usually available for clients in traditional office settings when you see a counselor with a private practice. Clients might be able to leave their counselor or counselors a message and have a quick conversation with their counselors if an urgent matter pops up in between sessions, but it is not a common practice for most face-to-face therapists or counselors who work in traditional settings to offer this in their services to their clients.
Research Evidence
Video sessions and the ethical implications of this technology were the major discussion in the Federation of State Medical Boards, and online therapy video conferencing was just part of the process of making the virtual technology business model go mainstream. Today, virtual and augmented reality are in all of our daily lives.
Now that counselors and doctors can see visual cues and hear a client's or patient's voice in video sessions, it may be easier to entice health insurance companies to work with online counselors. Another point for future study is in defining how doctors and therapists and counselors licensed in one state, can easily and quickly treat clients or patients in other states by adding legislation to help them.
Conclusion
If you are interested in online counseling for mental health, check out the technology at BetterHelp.com. Note that BetterHelp is not a replacement for crisis intervention. BetterHelp will give you all of these features listed above: messaging (which is like email therapy or counseling but done through the secure platform), live chat sessions, video sessions, and phone calls.
So, whether you would like time to write and respond to your mental health counselor through messaging, schedule video or phone sessions, or have a more discreet live chat about stressful things on your mind, BetterHelp has you covered.
Online counseling is not suitable for crisis intervention, but it is a good option to treat many mental health illnesses. The American Counseling Association supports the use of online therapy or online counseling for mental health.
Technology's Advances For Mental Health
If you have ever thought about going to counseling in the past but never tried because of expense or inconvenience, then online counseling with today's technology may be the perfect compromise that brings help directly to you, in your home.
BetterHelp Can Help You
BetterHelp has thousands of trained counselors who are ready to work hand-in-hand with you. You can request to be matched, or you can look in the directory, read reviews and pick a counselor you think will work best for you. If you decide that you and your counselor are not a good fit, you can change at any time. It is important to remember though, that just as in traditional counseling it takes more than one session to get a true feel for your counselor, the same is true for online.
Ask questions and be upfront with your needs and preferences and you will get the most out of your online counseling experience. You can get started anywhere you have an internet connection and you do not even have to have a computer: you can use your smartphone or tablet!
FAQs
What are the 3 types and categories of therapy?
Out of the numerous types of therapy services with counselors or counseling services with counselors available, three major types are:
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Behavioral therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy is developed from psychoanalysis. It involves taking a long-term approach to public health via mental health therapy through real-time online counseling sessions. Therapists that use this type of therapy use conversations to uncover subconscious patterns in thoughts or behavior that might be causing a decline in mental health with the subsequent development of a mental illness. They also encourage their clients to share details about their daily life, dreams, past, fantasies, and childhood. This strategy is a positive psychology method in which there is great potential for people experiencing substance abuse.
Technology and counseling makes it possible for the patient to undergo Psychodynamic therapy without being physically present in an office, thanks to real-time virtual sessions. Depending on the application, it can also be considered a form of public health therapy.
Psychodynamic therapy seeks to make a real-time connection between your unconscious mind, subconscious mind, and conscious thoughts and actions. Such inquiries make psychodynamic therapy a great choice of treatment in substance abuse. To do this, they make inquiries about your relationships, emotional response to certain people and situations and may even require you to journal your prominent thoughts.
This detailed inquiry is why psychodynamic therapy tends to last for a long time. During a pandemic where mobility is limited, people can use teletherapy to improve their mental health.
Psychodynamic therapy is executed so that even after treatment is complete, the person will be able to take charge of their healing and continue the process on their own. The therapist or counselors work with the clients to create a lifestyle of healing and progress and eliminate or subdue the roots of their mental health problems. Such sessions can either be real-time online counseling with clients or distance counseling with technology. The baseline is that it requires clear communication between the client and therapist, and good internet access can make this possible. The wholesome healing process for clients that follows psychodynamic therapy is beneficial to public health.
The application of various new technologies is now adopted in a wide range of psychodynamic strategies for public health. Take, for instance, a mental illness brought about by substance abuse. A therapist can use technology-assisted primary care to help this patient improve their mental health.
This type of therapy is useful in treating:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- eating disorders
- somatic symptoms
- substance abuse disorder etc.
Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapy is an action-focused type of mental health therapy.
The general idea is that the exhibited behaviors stem from things learned, whether consciously or unconsciously, in the past. Behavioral therapy aims to change the person's behavioral responses to things and a wide range of situations. This exploration of unconscious patterns makes this kind of therapy perfect for treating conditions related to substance abuse.
One of the benefits of real-time teletherapy is that it allows clients to communicate with their therapists whenever they find themselves in a distressing situation through real-time sessions and technology. This way, the necessary action can be taken when it's needed.
Unlike psychodynamic therapy, behavioral therapy does not involve much talking when treating mental illness. Neither does it probe too deeply in the unconscious patterns that cause conscious behavior. Instead, behavioral therapy seeks to educate the client in real-time sessions on how to change their behavioral patterns and emotional reactions to distressing situations.
Behavioral therapy has numerous subtypes. These include:
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Systematic desensitization:
Systematic desensitization uses gradual exposure and relaxation exercises to transform your behavioral reaction and emotional response to specific people, objects, or situations. This form of behavioral therapy has a proven positive impact in mental illness and public health.
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Aversion therapy:
Aversion therapy teaches you to connect undesirable behaviors with undesirable things; this way when your brain learns to identify unwanted behaviors as unhelpful and harmful. You will then be able to replace them with desirable behavior. The focus is on the use of association to subdue undesirable behavioral patterns or responses.
Take, for instance, a patient indulging in substance abuse can be taught to associate compulsive triggers with undesirable things. This way, the patient is less impulsive in such triggers as they aren’t as enticing as before. Ultimately this leads to a regression in their substance abuse behavior.
This is often considered to be identical to systematic desensitization. There is, however, an obvious difference between the two. While systematic desensitization takes a gradual approach to expose you to your fears, flooding requires you to face your fears directly from the start. If you have a fear of elevators and are using the flooding method, you will be taken to an elevator to confront your fears directly. However, because of its risk factor, you will rarely find a therapist using this. This type of therapy is usually less preferred in treating a substance abuse case.
Behavioral therapy is indicated in:
- Anxiety
- Phobias
- Substance Use Disorder
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Oppositional and Defiant Behaviors
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is very similar in many ways to behavioral therapy, except it is not solely action-based. Because of its short-paced style, you will often find a therapist using CBT. It also focuses on treating the root problem of damaging thought patterns and behavioral reactions stemming from the unconscious. Being a form of positive therapy, Cognitive behavioral therapy is being done using teletherapy at an increasing rate.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy seeks to address the beliefs and emotions a patient holds about themselves and others that may be causing distress and precipitating mental disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The belief is that these negative emotions and thoughts are contributing to any mental health decline you may be experiencing.
During real-time CBT sessions, your therapist will help you identify and understand the harmful patterns you might have adopted. You can also work together with your family members to create measures against these patterns and eventually replace them with practices that reinforce positive emotions. Just like distance counseling, this can be done with home-based therapy such as video conferencing or other forms of online technology therapy, rather than traditional face-to-face sessions.
CBT is typically used to treat:
- Mood Disorders
- Addiction
- ADHD
- Anxiety and Phobias
- Eating Disorders
- Bipolar Disorder
- Substance Use Disorders
- OCD
- Insomnia Etc.
Well-coordinated real-time sessions are a great way to begin a healthy therapeutic relationship.
Are clinical psychologists therapists?
This is a question that is commonly asked. There is a simple difference between a therapist and a psychologist. While both functions to improve the lives of individuals, they both approach this in different ways.
Psychologists usually have an advanced degree in psychology and do a lot of evidence-based research, and manage people living with anxiety and depression. They may or may not practice as a therapist but are qualified to carry out various therapies like anger management. They also help diagnose disorders in clients and patients and help select the right approach towards treatment like anger management strategies.
Psychologists usually work with therapists and help to make clinical diagnoses and observations to achieve positive psychology. On the other hand, ‘therapists’ are psychologists, psychiatrists, marriage counselors, life coaches, and social workers. They don't necessarily need to have a psychology degree, although it helps to practice positive psychology. This versatility is one of the benefits of teletherapy. Also, therapists are easier to access than psychologists, so it is not difficult to find a therapist.
What are the responsibilities of a clinical psychologist?
Clinical psychologists are responsible for helping clients identify the existing emotional, mental, and behavioral patterns that negatively affect them. A clinical psychologist is responsible for diagnosing any disorders that the client may have. Clinical psychologists are also responsible for selecting and executing an appropriate treatment plan and may also indulge in evidence-based research to further their career.
Clinical psychologists also conduct evidence-based research relevant to their field and publish valuable papers. Clinical psychologists may work in offices, from home, or a research center due to the availability of technology that supports online therapy and online counseling. A lot of clinical psychologists opt for traditional face-to-face therapy or distance counseling. This availability of options is one of the benefits of teletherapy.
What are the areas of clinical psychology?
Areas of clinical psychology include but are not limited to:
Forensic Psychology: which uses both forensics and psychology to help solve legal cases. This type of psychology should not be confused with occupational therapy.
Clinical Child Psychology: this focuses on providing mental health therapy to children and improving their overall quality of life via real-time virtual counseling sessions. New technology is also breaking ground in child psychology.
Health Psychology or Health Therapy: a health psychologist provides mental health support for individuals whose physical health problems are negatively affecting their mental health. They focus on helping people cope with poor health and maintain good mental health.
Clinical Neuropsychology: This involves an evidence-based pilot study of the relationship between the brain and behavior. And helping individuals with brain injuries achieve perfect mental health.
What is the main focus of clinical psychology?
Clinical psychology focuses on ensuring quality mental and behavioral health care for individuals and families. This is achieved through proper research, diagnosis, and treatment of various mental health issues across a lifespan. Clinical psychology works by integrating clinical knowledge with science and theories in patient management. Evidence-based research has shown that recent technological advancements permit the incorporation of virtual reality in patient management. An evidence-based pilot study has shown that technology-assisted therapy has great potential as current applications have only scratched the surface.
What is tech-based therapy?
Technology-based therapy is a therapy service that uses technological tools and platforms. Therapists use technology like social media to achieve their goals in providing quality healthcare. An excellent example of technology-based therapy is real-time online therapy using today's technology. Online therapy is any therapy practice that takes place with the assistance of an electronic device or form of technology.
Nowadays, technology tools like therapy software make long-distance therapy possible via real-time communication between the therapist and client. Because of this new technology's contribution to therapy, therapy software can be considered a form of technology-based therapy. Online technology tools can also help people dealing with declining mental health to find a therapist. Technology tools like Google can help you find a therapist or the best online therapy available. Real-time online therapy is also useful for individuals who don't have health insurance.
What therapy is talk therapy?
Talk therapy is a type of psychotherapy that involves real-time verbal interaction between the therapist and a patient. It is commonly a part of psychodynamic therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy and uses speech as a core part of its process. Talk therapy uses extensive conversations to help uncover the issues causing the client's distress. It is not to be mistaken for speech therapy. The use of technology-assisted strategies has also proven beneficial to talk therapy and talk therapy can take place via online therapy that we created with the advacement of technology.
Does tech affect behavior?
Yes, technology affects behavior in several ways; this is because the gadgets we use are more like extensions of ourselves rather than manual tools. In this day and age, however, technology is used not just to accomplish tasks but, more importantly, to achieve a desired position in the social hierarchy, in many new ways.
New technology has also enabled us to record moments we consider meaningful and communicate emotions such as affection, love, anger, disdain, and desire. Because of technology's social nature and the constant social interaction that it allows us to participate in, some of our behavior is often dictated by technology, in positive and negative ways.
The good thing is that, even though the emergence of new technology comes with a potentially destructive implication to public health, this technology also has great potential to impact primary care positively. People who live with conditions that society is yet to understand, such as addiction and ADHD, can use technology and counseling to locate mental health help.
This application of technology to primary care has a great potential to have a desirable effect on daily life.
