Frequently Asked Questions About Online Counseling Service

Experiencing depressive symptoms for an extended period can be defeating. It is as if an endless battle of feeling helpless. Often, you end up arguing with yourself about how pointless everything is.

Suffering from a chronic physical disease is one thing, but the struggle to fight your mind every single day for years can be extremely draining. It will not just affect you mentally but can also translate to your physical health.

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During the pandemic, many clinics offering therapies have experienced disruption in providing their mental health services. One of the new waves seen is the emergence of online counseling services. By proving to counsel on a digital platform, it is more convenient for patients to access their treatment in their homes’ comfort.

Online therapy services may present challenges in connecting to the patients, especially during the first therapy session when the client still feels new. One of the main difficulties includes distinguishing emotion through facial expressions. However, recent studies show participants who used video conferencing reported high levels of satisfaction in this method.

The effects of long-term depression can be grueling for individuals and it can manifest signs you need therapy. This is true to those who managed to reduce their feelings of anxiety, negative thoughts, and repetitive feelings of hopelessness. This condition may prevent your brain from developing its neurons.

Later on, it can give you problems in retrieving your memory. Nevertheless, online counseling has proven to provide both benefits for patients and therapists. 

Digital interventions can be more encouraging to attend. Moreover, it can effectively provide a positive experience for patients. If you are interested to know more about how online counseling works and what other benefits you can get in this service, we’ve listed some of the frequently asked questions below.

Is online counseling effective?

According to studies, online counseling is equally effective as traditional therapy. With the ongoing pandemic, online counseling has become a popular option for many patients.

Can I talk to a counselor online for free?

Several social media and website platforms are offering free teletherapy services. You can seek a counselor’s advice at no extra cost. However, there may only be limited available slots or sessions.

What are the disadvantages of counseling?

Some known disadvantages of counseling include finding comfort and building trust. Counseling requires mutual trust in both the therapist and the client. If it’s something that’s seems impossible to achieve, you need to know how to switch therapists asap.

However, building trust can take some time. All the more, it gets challenging to build trust in online counseling. Another disadvantage is the costs. Counseling may be expensive, as insurance often does not cover them.

Is BetterHelp counseling legit?

Yes, BetterHelp is legit. BetterHelp counseling provides mental health services through the internet. They have over 10,000 licensed and certified counselors or therapists that can help you. Sessions are usually done through chat messages, live videos, or phone calls. They also give financial aid and discounts.

Can an online therapist diagnose you?

Technology has made access to health services easily and readily available. An online therapist can diagnose any of your psychological concerns. They can also send you treatment plans to help manage your conditions. At the same time, online therapists can also provide you with prescriptions.

What is the best online counseling?

Talkspace is the leading provider of counseling on the internet. It offers mental health services, including treatment plans, medication prescriptions that cover various psychological disorders. They employ licensed therapists and counselors to deliver their services. They have economic rates and subscription plans too.

Online counseling is made easy through multiple channels such as text, audio, or video messaging.

How do I get advice online?

You can start by finding a site offering free advice online. Research suggests 7 Cups, FreeAdvices, and the subreddit r/advice are a few of the best places to get advice online. These sites cater to a broad range of topics.

Users can also choose to be anonymous. All you need to do is sign up on the sites with a pen name. With that, you can start posting. Other users will comment or reply to your post with their advice.

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Can I chat with a therapist online?

Yes, you can. Talking with a licensed mental health professional online is now possible. Therapists use different social media apps or messaging applications. Some of the platforms they use are Viber, WhatsApp, Skype, and Zoom. Through this, they can stay connected with their patients.

Is 7 cups therapy free?

The app 7 Cups provides free therapy for teens and adults alike. They have these so-called active listeners who undergo extensive training. These active listeners have the verification to listen to users or members.

7 Cups is an online counseling platform wherein the members are proactive at listening. The counseling under 7 Cups is entirely anonymous and undergoes monitoring for any privacy concerns.

Can counseling be harmful?

Counseling, like any other form of psychotherapy, has certain risks. If mishandled, it can be harmful to individuals. Some patients get worse with counseling instead of improving. Finding the right counselor for a person is an essential part of counseling. The quality of counseling service is critical in its success.

Who benefits from counseling?

Anyone can benefit from counseling. It is not only for people with mental health disorders. Counseling is also an excellent tool for those seeking work-related, financial, relationships, or general life advice.

How long does it take for counseling to work?

The number of sessions for counseling to work varies per individual. The type of mental disorder and the treatment approach are both key factors. But most counselors recommend committing to a minimum of six sessions, at least one hour per week.

Is BetterHelp or Talkspace better?

Both sites, BetterHelp and Talkspace, have their advantages and disadvantages. Depending on what you are looking for, a person can say one is better than the other. Both are affordable. But if you are looking for a video conference with your counselor, it is best to choose BetterHelp.

Is BetterHelp worth the money?

The simple answer is yes. Many users of BetterHelp have testified how life-changing it is to talk to a counselor on the site.

Can you cancel BetterHelp at any time?

Yes, you can cancel your subscription at any time. To do so, go to your account settings. There, you will find the “Quit Counseling” button. If you are decided to cancel, all you have to do is click on it.

However, if you cancel after your subscription period, you will still get charged for the next whole month. You can still use the service until then.

Conclusion

Seeking help is crucial in addressing your mental health needs and behavioral care. This pandemic has truly given us new challenges in accessing our basic and social necessities. Even more significant are the problems posed for people who have long-term depression.

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Battling long-term depression in a time of isolation is more challenging than ever. Untreated depression can make your mentality older and more impaired.

It may seem that this can be a never-ending, hopeless situation where you cannot have the right pill to cure this struggle. And you can always associate this suffering with traumatic events, your family history, and your mental health history. These long-term effects can significantly affect your everyday function.

Making sure to update your medication and the psychological approach of your therapy can help. Online counseling might be the answer to your problems in accessing your treatment.

When it comes to digital innovations, this technological advancement proves to treat various mental health disorders effectively. This treatment suits conditions like anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, and including some eating disorders. 

While online counseling services are not for everyone, some feel uncomfortable attending traditional approaches. Online counseling can fix this disadvantage. It could be a potential industry to grow if you have access to a reliable internet connection.  

Seeking assistance in your mental health care needs must begin with a consultation with your doctor. The most crucial step is to ask for help.

Online counseling might be the type of convenience service you’ll need in addressing the long-term effects of your depression. Be sure to consider a wide range of treatments before choosing a suitable option.