COVID-19 has changed our lives in just a matter of weeks. People are losing their jobs and being issued to stay in their homes unless it is absolutely crucial that they leave. With all of this change and uncertainty, anxiety levels are beginning to skyrocket. One of the best things that you can do to reduce anxiety would be to get enough exercise. Since the majority of gyms are closed down, it is getting kind of difficult to get in enough movement. Luckily, there are some exercises that you can do at home to reduce some of the anxiety that you may be experiencing with everything that is going on.
- Walking, Jogging, Or Biking: Getting out and enjoying the fresh air is one of the best things that you can do to aid your anxiety. Feeling the wind against your face and the sun against your skin will do wonders for you. Vitamin D comes from the sun. This vitamin can help to boost your mood and improve your overall health. If you aren’t getting enough Vitamin D, then your immune system will suffer. It is important now, more than ever, that you are doing everything that you can to boost your immune system.
- Yoga: If you live in a well-populated area and are not comfortable when it comes to heading outside, then there are still some activities that you can do inside. One of the best would be yoga. You won’t need anything extra, just space and time. There are plenty of free videos and tutorials that you can follow along online, especially right now. Yoga will allow you to focus on your breathing and it will help you to clear your mind. Both of these things are super important when it comes to helping during these anxiety-inducing times. You will also get the added benefit of stretching out your sore muscles. Since the majority of people are just sitting home, stretching is important to make sure you aren’t getting achy and stiff.
- Dancing: Dancing is another great form of exercise that doesn’t require any equipment. You can either freestyle your routine or you can find one online. The ones online will be more structured and will hit all of your muscle groups. Dancing is a great way to boost your mood and increase blood flow. It would be a great form of exercise to do in the morning or early in the day. That way you will be able to start your day off on the right foot, even if you are having to stay in all day.
- Weightlifting: If you have the equipment, weightlifting is a great way to ease anxiety. There are plenty of people that are starting to build their own home gym with everything that is going on. Weightlifting has been proven to promote endorphins, which is what everyone needs right now. If you don’t have any weights, there are plenty of ways that you can improvise with heavy books or you can just do more reps of body weight exercises.
There aren’t too many activities that can be done while the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing. Swimming is a great way to combat anxiety but a lot of people don’t have access to a swimming pool right now. So, the best thing that you can do would be to go on walks or bike rides in the outdoors. If you do go outdoors, it is important that you are still maintaining social distance. Also, during these outdoor activities, don’t spit. It is gross but it also one of the quickest ways to spread the disease.
If you aren’t comfortable going outside, even though that is the best thing that you can do for your mental health. Then, you should at least try to get some yoga or dancing exercises incorporated into your daily life. Yoga is a great way to unwind, while dancing is awesome if you are looking to burn off some of that pent up energy.
You should aim to get at least 30 minutes of exercise three days a week. Ideally, you should get 30 minutes of exercise each day, five days a week. While the workouts are important, so is the consistency and frequency that you exercise. Developing these habits will make it a lot easier to exercise when you would rather lay in bed all day.
Psychiatry and technology have become progressive partners in the health care industry. The term telepsychiatry is the familiar name for online mental health therapy. This new form of receiving counseling for mental disorders, behavioral problems, depression, and other issues provides a psychiatrist or a therapist a modern way of treating their patients. Hardware, software, and internet connections all play a part in the success of treating patients with telepsychiatry. Who are the patients who will benefit the most from online therapy? The answer to this question is identifying which groups of people have obstacles to receiving help for their mental health issues.
Beneficiaries of telepsychiatry
It is not easy for some people to seek help or treatment for their mental problems that are hindering their quality of life. Sometimes there is a reluctance to discuss personal or family failures, addictions,or even criminal acts to a stranger. Parents of children who have behavioral or destructive tendencies that cannot be managed by conventional methods must turn to therapists or doctors who have the knowledge to properly diagnose these children. With two working parents in a family, it can be very challenging to schedule regular trips to a doctor’s office. If these individuals or children, who need mental health care, live in rural areas, finding mental health care facilities can be difficult and discouraging. An online therapist or psychiatrist can give these patients the counseling they need. Another population of people who can benefit from online mental health therapy are prisoners. Telepsychiatry works well in a prison setting because of the secure and controlled environment. The cost and procedure of transporting prisoners to outside facilities is minimal and there are plenty of willing participants who will benefit from receiving therapy prior to their release from prison if they are eligible.
Preparation for an online psychiatry session
If a prospective patient or a mental health care professional is to have a successful online session, there are things that can be done to make the online therapy session productive for both the patient and the therapist.
The room where the session will take place should be quiet, free from indoor traffic, and off limits to distractions from people, pets, electronic devices, and visual objects.
The equipment that will be used should include a set of headphones that cancels outside noises. The headphones will help the sound of voices be more clear and will ensure privacy during the session.
The computer hardware that will be used during the session should be set up for both eye and body comfort and the internet connection should be strong enough to prevent buffering during the meeting. A private network should be protected by a strong password. Any open programs or applications should be closed prior to the beginning of the session.
The first session
A person’s initial meeting with a therapist or doctor will probably be apprehensive, but it is during the first session that a foundation of trust and rapport between the patient and the psychiatrist can be established. An online psychiatry session is typically conducted the same way as a traditional appointment. There will be a series of questions that the doctor will ask the patient so that a basis for dialogue and treatment can be established.
The questions may include physical or mental symptoms that the patient may be experiencing, medications that a patient is currently or may have taken, and the mental health history of any family members. A doctor may also find it important to request a patient to have blood tests done before any medication is prescribed. All the information that the therapist is gathering from the patient is necessary for the welfare and treatment of the person who needs mental health care.
The cooperation and input of patients are just as important as the questions that are asked by the therapist. It can put patients more at ease if they do some preparation on their end by making a list of questions or topics that they want to discuss with the doctor during the session.
Ongoing sessions
If a client decides to have additional sessions, an online mental health program will continue under the supervision of the doctor or therapist. These ongoing sessions can be in the form of life coaching, role-playing, meditation, or just soul searching conversation in a nonjudgmental environment. Telepsychiatry gives people the option to receive mental health care in a more relaxed atmosphere, reduces barriers such as childcare and transportation, and gives a patient the reassurance of privacy during their treatment. Treating children through online psychiatry requires special training and considerations for specific child behavior.
Child Telepsychiatry
Treating children through telepsychiatry requires a specific setting that is comfortable for children. Many times children are accompanied by their parents, guardians, or other interested adults who have a stake in the welfare of the child. Seating arrangements need to accompany children without overwhelming them with the videoconferencing equipment. A hyperactive or autistic child needs a room big enough to accomodate unpredictable movements or activity.
The mental health provider, who is conducting a session with a child, has to have the ability to maintain the patient’s attention by instilling trust and empathy. A child will respond better to how the words are spoken instead of what the spoken words are. Sometimes there is a difference in the language between the child and the parents or other family members. It may be necessary to include an interpreter during the session.
There may be racial, ethnic or cultural gaps between the mental health providers and the patients. Providers must be sensitive to which is the best way to convey counseling to the different groups of patients who are seeking help. Both verbal and nonverbal communication methods need to be tailored to different cultures and socioeconomic groups.
Is telepsychiatry suitable for everyone?
Even though online therapy reaches many people, who may have obstacles that prevent them from receiving the counseling they need, there are some patients who are not ideal candidates for telepsychiatry.
A telepsychiatry session does not work well with highly agitated patients or people who express a desire to harm themselves or others.
Since the equipment used during a telepsychiatry session involves both hearing and vision, patients with disabilities in these areas cannot be served well. Anyone who experiences delusions or hallucinations will also not benefit from online sessions.
Sometimes an online therapist or psychologist can evaluate a patient by subtle physical signs such as their affect or the rhythm or beat of their speech. Equipment used in telepsychiatry will not allow a physician or therapist to detect these signs, which can be very valuable in diagnosing a mental disorder.
Summary
Anyone who feels that online psychiatry sessions would be helpful to them should take advantage of this technology. Many people do not seek the help they need to overcome their mental problems because they may doubt the effectiveness of this type of therapy. Other prospective patients want the help but have parental responsibilities or economic disadvantages that keep them from having traditional therapy sessions. These drawbacks can be overcomed by participating in telepsychiatry. Many times mental health problems are not addressed by patients because of the stigma they feel about these conditions, but once they seek help they will begin to live more healthier and happier lives. Telepsychiatry can be the vehicle to make treatment possible.
ReThinkMyTherapy.com is a completely new way to make psychotherapy and psychiatric therapy easier and cheaper for you. The first feature of the ReThinkMyTherapy.com that sets it apart from other online psychotherapy or psychiatry services is that it provides a free round the clock online psychiatric psychotherapy service to help alleviate your mental health needs.
The rise of an online treatment center has coincided with the rise of the Internet as a therapy and diagnosis tool. When you are looking for mental health services, you should be careful which one you choose as you will be faced with a wide variety of potential health care providers.
To help you be sure you are making the right choice, it is important to do your homework first on any online treatment center or therapy provider. While there is no certain way to determine which treatment centers or therapists are best, there are several criteria you can use to make sure you are using a reputable provider and getting the services you need.
One important aspect of finding a good online provider for mental health services is a good reputation. You want to find someone that is reputable and reliable. Check to see if there are any complaints from other customers.
You should also look at the location of the mental health centers you are considering. If they are in the same city or even state as you, it could cost you more to use them. A smaller, independent provider is often better because they do not have the high overhead that many larger organizations do.
Another benefit is that the specialists who work on the team are professionals with many years of experience in the field. The team believes that by combining the skills of a specialist with those of a therapist, they can combine their skills in a way that helps patients, giving them more options for treatment.
An online therapist working with ReThinkMyTherapy.com works to help a client through a variety of symptoms including fear, low self esteem, anxiety, stress, depression, eating disorders, family and relationship problems and more. In the course of working with their client, the online specialist will also discuss the issues involved in treating various mental illnesses.
Another benefit is that each of the specialists will help identify the best type of treatment for you. The advantage of having several options will make it easier for you to make a decision about what kind of treatment you would like to pursue.
This is because you will have the opportunity to try different types of treatment for your mental health issues and determine what might work best for you. Of course, the greatest benefit is that you are able to get quality help without having to spend too much money on therapy sessions or medicine that you may not need.
It will allow you to know that your therapy sessions are personal, confidential and covered by your own insurance as well as a savings account for you to use for whatever you need or want to do. Although the cost of the therapist will be included in your monthly plan, you will have the option to either split the cost of each session with another user or pay out of your own pocket, depending on what you feel is right for you.
ReThinkMyTherapy.com Psychiatric Online Psychotherapy - Since there are several benefits of working with an online specialists, it is important that you take the time to consider all of your options. You may have questions and concerns or just want to learn more about the service that you are getting, this is how you will be able to find the answers that you need.
In order to start your search for the online health professional, you can ask your friends and family members about psychotherapists in your area or go online and do a general search for psychotherapists. Many psychotherapists in your area may work with an online psychiatrist, but you will want to make sure that you choose a service that you feel comfortable working with and has experience with your condition.
The best way to make sure that you find a service that you feel comfortable with is to ask the service for references or check with the national Association of Professional Psychotherapists (APT) to see if the practice is registered with them. Then it is your job to do further research to find out how long the practice has been providing services.
Once you find a legitimate practice, it is important that you investigate their credentials. Most reputable services will be registered with the Australian Federation of Professional Counsellors, which gives you confidence that they are qualified to help you with your specific needs.
The ultimate benefit of using the help of an online psychiatrist is that you will not have to travel to a clinic for treatments or have to meet an overly concerned stranger to speak to a counsellor, that can be extremely stressful and may seem impossible at times. However, with an online psychiatrist working for you, you can get the help that you need without worrying about anything else.
When you start looking at mental health online service providers, you will want to find someone who is very familiar with the psychology of the particular treatment you are seeking. Psychologists, therapists, and other health specialists work on different types of patients. For this reason, each therapist will specialize in a different type of patient.
This is another important factor to consider when choosing an online service for treatment. If you are dealing with a specific kind of disorder, you may want to consider a therapist who specializes in this type of issue.
One very important part of the online service for mental health services is the communication style of the counselor. If you feel like you are not comfortable speaking with your counselor or you do not feel your needs are being met, you may choose not to work with that provider.
One way to find out whether or not you feel comfortable talking to the therapist is to talk to your family or friends. The easiest way to know if the person you are speaking with is a good fit for you is to ask your friends what type of person they would like to seek treatment from.
The online mental health services should be as simple as possible to use. Remember, the process is a process; you need to get through it to know if you feel safe or not.
Make sure that you receive the support you need before you begin your therapy. As you go through this process, you will likely find that you have questions or that you need help. It is important to be able to get all of the help you need for each session.
Take the time to get support from family members, friends, and coworkers before you start a therapy process. Everyone can benefit from getting a mental health service so that everyone feels better about themselves.
There are many factors to consider when choosing an online therapist and other online mental health services. By working with a trained mental health professional, you can take a big step toward getting the assistance you need to reach the best outcome for your recovery.men
When it comes to mental illness, the thought alone can be a crippling one. Plus, being able to express one’s self when they need help can be a difficult task. Fortunately, there are many services available online that can treat mental illness, including therapy.
With online mental health therapy you won’t have to worry about being depressed or anxious in order to shower and go to an appointment in person. Not only that, but you can do it all right in front of your computer.
Advantages of Having Mental Health Therapy Online
There are many advantages to having mental health therapy online as opposed to attending an appointment in a therapist’s office.
The Client Can Stay Home
A big advantage is that you won’t have to leave the house to attend your appointment. This benefits the client because they won’t have to think about getting prepared which can be overwhelming all in itself.
Also, there are many cases where individuals live so far away from help that they usually don’t get the help that they require. Having a limitation physically can also prevent individuals from leaving their home. Having online mental health appointments allows you to schedule and attend your appointment via video. Your therapist will then join you at your scheduled time to go over your condition.
Not as Expensive as You Might Think
There is no doubt that it can cost a pretty penny to receive treatment from a mental health specialist. However, an online provider is able to charge a lot less because there is no need for an office space to add into the services rendered. For this reason it is very affordable than heading to a “brick and mortar” office.
Can An Online Therapist Prescribe Medication
Therapists and psychiatrists who provide treatment online are able to provide prescriptions for 90 days in accordance with DEA regulations.
Besides the initial 90 day supply, refills can also be provided on previous prescriptions except for any controlled medications.
How Does a Therapist Work Online?
Working online allows a psychiatrist to utilize non-conventional methods to provide mental health treatment. Methods involved include a tablet, smartphones, or a computer.
When a practice like this exists it is often referred to as tele psychiatry.
With tele psychiatry the online therapist is able to provide both counseling and mental support just by having an internet connection and is no different than what would be normally done in an office.
Types of Medications Online Psychiatrists Are and Are not Allowed to Prescribe:
Allowed
• Straterra and other medications for ADHD
• Zoloft, Cymbalta, Celexa, Lexapro, and other antidepressants
• And many others
Not Allowed
• Marijuana
• Vicodin, Oxycodone, Morphine, and other opiates
• Ambien, Xanax, and other medications that are controlled
• Controlled prescriptions of Adderall, Ritalin
• Zyprexa, Risperdal, Seroquel and other antipsychotics
Process for Obtaining Your Prescription
The process for receiving a prescription is the same as it would be if you sought treatment in person. An initial consultation would take place to properly make a diagnosis and then your psychiatrist would send your prescription to which ever pharmacy you plan to have it filled by.
The good thing is that many legitimate websites exist that provide excellent care that is very discreet and safe.
The majority of them also operates in all 50 states and has staff available 24/7 via video chat so you know you’ll get the best possible care and the most accurate diagnosis and best possible medication for your treatment.
When you seek help from a psychiatrist online, you are able to relax in your own home and have decreased anxiety because of it.
Once you are comfortable and have begun your initial greeting with your doctor, they will enquire about your medical and mental health history. You can also expect them to ask you what your main concern is at the moment.
When your appointment is over, an assessment will be made and may also provide recommendations for you to consider. Or, depending on the severity, you may be prescribed medications.
The internet has been great for a lot of different things. It has changed the way that we are able to communicate with one another, it has made getting ahold of doctors much easier and we can even make appointments online without ever having to call the office at all. However, the drawback with this advance in technology and the ease of being able to access medical doctors means that it is also easier than ever to go to "Dr. Google" and look up your symptoms. Looking up your symptoms on Google can be a helpful tool at times and can give you something to talk about with your trained medical doctor, but it can also be a very harmful tool if not used correctly.
Typing in all of your symptoms in a search engine can bring up hundreds of possible diagnoses that "could be wrong with you" which can cause paranoia to breed quickly. You can have a simple cold and Google can end up causing you to truly believe you have cancer and are going to die within a week. In fact, a study that was performed in 2015 said that using online tools to diagnose yourself should only be a tool and something with which to talk to your doctor about as it actually gives you faulty information more often than not. Ging online to diagnose yourself can cause you to experience bad side effects like online mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Thankfully, there are ways to avoid diagnosing yourself online and suffering from online mental health problems like depression and anxiety. Below are a few ways that will keep you from diagnosing yourself with things you read online while still using the online tools to write down all of your symptom descriptions so you and your doctor can have open and honest communication.
Know what your body feels like when you are perfectly healthy
For many years in the medical community, it has been widely accepted that a person's normal "non-fever" body temperature is between 97-98 degrees. This can cause people who run at 99 degrees to panic and think that they have a constant low-grade fever and are therefore incredibly sick all of the time. However, it has been widely proven recently that many people simply run hotter than others and it is completely normal. The point is, things from body temperature to hormone levels vary very differently from one person to another. You probably do not know your body's hormone levels or what is going on with your blood, but you do know what is normal for yourself.
It is important to know how you feel in general when you are in perfect health so that when something is off in your body, you are very aware of it and can proceed to talk to your doctor.
Knowing your baseline does not just mean being aware when you might have a cold or a stomach ache, this should include knowing your moods, being able to notice when your energy levels dip, how your sleep patterns are making you feel, etc. All of these are changes your body can experience when you are developing a sickness or a condition.
A lot of your factors can change a lot, so googling it can lead you to think that you are incredibly ill when in fact you may just be going through a more stressful patch in life than usual. Avoid diagnosing yourself with something serious by keeping a journal and logging how you feel and what is going on in your life when you experience a change so you can see how it directly correlates with one another.
Only research your symptoms in credible places
If you are experiencing some symptoms and are beginning to get concerned, but do not want to go to the doctor unless it is serious, make sure to really look at how credible the websites you are looking at are. Most medical websites such as WebMD will give you better quality answers than something like Wikipedia or a chat room where people without any medical training bounce ideas around.
Take notes, keep an open mind, write down what you learn, and then consult your findings with a doctor who can more accurately diagnose you.
Ask your doctor a lot of questions
Your doctor is a trained professional who is not only there to make you feel better physically but is there to put your mind at ease as well by answering all the questions you may have. Your doctor is probably going to gently tell you that your self-diagnosis is wrong, but they still want to listen to all of your symptoms and hear your true thoughts about what you believe is going on with your body. Do not go into your doctor's office expecting to be dismissed or get defensive because you are wrong, instead go in with an open mind and acknowledge that you do not know everything simply because you did some research on Google. Ask your doctor as many questions as you can think of and ask them if how they ruled out a particular disease you may think you have.
When we research our symptoms online, we often end up going into our doctor's office feeling very anxious and worried and instantly wanting answers. Medicine is often a lot of guess-work and can take time to find answers through tests and blood work. Instead of demanding answers from your doctor, ask them what you can do, what resources you can look at, what your next steps are, etc. This will help give you more information which can put your mind at ease and can put you on the path of feeling better much quicker.
Do not be determined that you have to leave with a particular diagnosis
When you consult "Dr. Google" too much, you can get fixated on a certain diagnosis and convince yourself that you have a particular disease or issue. When you finally get to your real doctor and they give you a different diagnosis you can end up being very put out and can even leave in disbelief because you are so convinced that you diagnosed yourself correctly. It is important to remember that your doctors are trained to consider a whole scope of issues and know what to look for, so they are better at diagnosing you than Google is. Of course, if you go to your doctor and you do not feel as though they listened to you or took their time to listen to your concerns, it is always wise to seek out a second opinion and find someone that can help put your thoughts at ease.
In the end, it is best to stay away from medically diagnosing yourself online as much as you can. It can really send you down a rabbit hole and mess with your mental health and cause a lot of anxiety. Instead, take note of your physical symptoms, remove yourself from the computer, and engage in something else. If symptoms persist, go see your medical doctor and speak openly and honestly with them so you can be diagnosed correctly and get on your way to feeling better than ever.
The internet and websites that tell us about our physical health can be amazing tools and can help lead us toward better health, but it does not replace what a trained medical professional can tell us. Use the internet as a tool, not as a definitive diagnosis.
People with mental health or stress issues are often fully aware of their own struggles. Many seek out therapy and other types of counseling directly, only to be faced with demands for payment before being seen and waitlists so long it almost seems more prudent to not bother at all.
Falling into this mentality is tempting but dangerous. As the world turns and the ice caps melt, it is far too easy to succumb to depression, anxiety, and other types of mental illness and despair that can be incredibly difficult to dig one's self out from. Mental healthcare is a struggling industry due to an incredibly huge and growing amount of demand and very little supply. Mental health reform is not going to get off the ground anytime soon unless modern adaptive changes are made.
As a response to the growing need for mental health reform, online therapy has been growing in popularity and prominence for years now. As the abilities of the internet grow and multiply, tech-savvy professionals are building ways to blend the growing digital world with the physical world's booming population and the difficulties in keeping up with the needs of humanity.
Online therapy has grown out of a need for accessible, affordable mental healthcare that does not demand a wait time of over a month and access to all financials. Rethink My Therapy is one of these online platforms dedicated to helping people through therapy.
Benefits of Online Therapy Through Rethink My Therapy and Others
The general benefits of using the internet to find psychiatric services have been briefly touched on above, but there are other significant benefits as well. These can include but are not limited to the following:
- Low cost
- No copays or extra costs
- Specialists in all 50 states
- Phone or video calls
- Transferable records
- Diagnostic screenings available to pinpoint issues
- Can stick with the same therapist or switch
- Quicker appointment availability
- Greater range of options
Cost is one of the most commonly referenced factors as to why many people avoid or delay seeking out therapy or psychiatric help. Even with insurance, copays for therapy visits can be up to hundreds of dollars per month, and when people in rural areas need help the cost is even higher due to travel expenses and childcare, if applicable. By the time the trip is made to the therapist's office, there may be even more stresses created from the journey to therapy.
The same person in this situation who has to travel so far and spend so much gas money to access help for their mental health could save hundreds of dollars per month by taking advantage of their internet connection and the growing availability of therapy available on the internet.
Another major concern related to the costs of traditional therapy is the diagnostic period. If you don't already have some sort of specific goal in mind as to what to talk to a professional about, it can take more than one session to fully pinpoint the problem and map out a course of action. With online programs like Rethink, however, it is common practice to have a flat monthly fee that covers all services available, or all services available in a certain type of package.
Specialists for psychiatric issues can be beyond difficult to see, especially for the aforementioned rural patients. With online services, however, access to specialists is much more available and even encouraged. Once you find a therapist, you can stick with the same one for every appointment if you want to continue working with them, or you can switch if you don't feel like it's a good fit.
Even if someone does not live in a rural area, they may want to take advantage of therapy over the internet due to issues they will then be able to improve on, such as social anxiety or agoraphobia. When and if these patients decide to go to a physical office, this type of therapy is a recognized type and so records can be sent to any primary care providers.
If the problem is the availability of appointments and the growing size of waitlists, these online options offer much shorter waiting times for appointments than traditional therapy. Where traditional therapy may require a wait time of a month or more, this kind of therapy is usually able to help people start finding relief within one or two weeks.
What Can the Rest of Us Do?
Even if you yourself don't struggle with mental health issues, the likelihood is high that someone you know or even someone you love does struggle with them.
Everyone can help with mental health reform. Regardless of your age, abilities, or income level, the most important part of the initial waves of change is conversation. Mental health has been stigmatized throughout the world for centuries and as a result, people who could have otherwise thrived have lived in pain or even harmed themselves or others.
So what can we do?
To break any stigma, we must let that which is stigmatized be allowed to live openly in our society. Mental illness is as much of a health crisis as any recent fast-spreading disease, but the difference is in how seriously the sufferer is taken in each of these individual situations. When someone breaks a leg, the sympathy comes in wave after wave. When someone has a mental breakdown, it is spoken of with insulting humor or in muted whispers.
There will be no reform without conversation, and so to be a part of reforming mental health we have to be willing to talk about it. Even the sad, even the scary, even the most uncomfortable of subjects must be spoken of as freely and as openly as we speak of the common cold. Only then will we have true reform.
Mental health is a topic that continues to get a lot of attention. If you are in need of a mental health specialist you are going to need to know about the options that are available. Much of this is going to start with doing research so that you can find out what is right for you.
Do Your Mental Health Research
Realizing that you need a therapist is a big first step. Doing the research is going to be the next step after you come to this realization. There are a ton of websites that can give you a better perspective on what you need help with. You need to look at the information that is presented and find out how you can make your first therapist visit a good one. You need to become familiar with local therapists that are in your city, but you also need to look at online resources if you are considering therapy
Consider Recommendations From Friends
One area where you can find the right therapy is with recommendations from your friends. There are also patients that have seen therapists that post reviews online. You want to consider all of this content when you are making plans to get a therapist.
It can be very helpful to have the information that others have provided. You can find yourself with a lot of valuable information from those that have already experienced what it is like to visit with a specific therapist.
The Type of Therapist You Need
When you are taking a look at the online therapist it is going to be important to look at the psychiatrist that is specializing in the areas that you need help in. It may be depression that you are trying to seek help for. Find someone that specializes in this area that you need help with.
Anxiety is also another realm where therapy can also be very helpful. Those that have found themselves dealing with social anxiety or general anxiety about their relationships and their careers may seek a therapist to help them get their lives on track.
There are therapists that have a generalized knowledge of different areas, but it works better to connect with someone that has a specialty. These are going to be the people that are able to help you with a specific type of need.
Online Therapy
For those that are not exactly comfortable with a traditional therapy sessions there are alternatives. The online route for people that need a psychiatrist will be a great way to engage in conversations about your needs and concerns. For people that are not interested in sitting on the therapy couch the online mental health option may work well.
With this people can reach out to an online therapist and get questions answered without going into an office. A person that has feelings about different things will not have to open up about every single aspect of their lives via text message. They can get started slowly as they talk about what they are going through.
Getting advice by way of your phone or computer may be the method that you are most comfortable with. It may also be one of the more cost-efficient methods for getting help.
Certification
There is also a need to look at certifications when you are picking a mental health specialist. It is good to consider someone that has earned certifications in the areas that you need help in. These are professionals that have proven that they have taken study courses and applied themselves to learning techniques that can be helpful to you. They follow the guidelines for helping patients, and they are much more likely to be covered by your insurance carrier.
When you are looking for licensed counselors you need to find out if the area that you need help in is the area that they have a license for. There are counselors that have licenses, but these license are in specified areas. Make sure that their specification meets your mental health needs.
Insurance
Most employees will have a network. Inside of this network there will be doctors that cover different procedures.
There will also be guidelines that provide information about the number of therapy sessions or the type of mental health specialists that are covered under the insurance plan. It makes sense to check the insurance before signing up to work with a mental health specialist on a regular basis. You are going to want to know what it is going to cost to engage in these regular sessions when you are in need of help.
If your insurance is not covering what you need it may be time to look at the possibilities of the online mental health specialist that can help you for a lot less. Even people that do not have insurance will be able to look at options for connecting with these types of online services.
How Often
Another thing that you should consider when you are looking at mental health specialists is the timeframe in which you will be attending the sessions. You need to ask about the game plan when it comes to the work that is going to be done. You need to know if this is something that can be done in a couple of short sessions or if it will be counseling that continues until there is no longer a need for treatment.
It is easy to assume that counseling works one way until you see that it works differently than the way that you thought. It is better to ask about the policy along with the time frame that the therapist will be available.
You have to know the length of the sessions that you are going to in order to schedule time from work if you have a job.
Family Counseling
At times you may initially only want to get counseling for yourself. You may have some problems that you want to sort out privately. It is good, however, to ask if the treatment can also be implemented with family sessions. There are some psychiatrists that are only going to work with individuals.
You need to know if you are with a mental health specialist that can help you work problems with your entire family if this is the method that you want to go down the line. Asking these types of questions will help you determine if the therapist is going to be able to meet your needs once you bring a family unit into the equation.
Medications
You should have a clear understanding when it comes to medications as well. You should look for a mental health specialist that can prescribe medications if you need meds. Everyone that is in the mental health field is not going to be able to prescribe medications because they may not be licensed. That is something that you may not think about when you are going into the initial counseling, but it is important information to have at your disposal.
Find Out About The techniques
For any mental health professional that you are considering there should be questions asked about the techniques that are being used. This is going to help you
gauge exactly how the treatment may be able to help you. You can find out if these are methods that are similar to a mental health specialists that you may have used in the past. You may want something that is different than what you have done before.
In a world fueled by technology, it should come as no surprise that many are now seeking to fulfill their mental health and/or psychiatrist needs online. Many services are offering online therapist or chats with a board certified psychologist. A major concern that has arisen from online mental health services is the security and privacy of managing mental health online.
The world is not perfect and even seeing a psychiatrist in person can have some security scares as human errors exist. Overall online mental health services are secure and safe.Both are confidential practices and noth could expose information if security is not up to par. When searching for an online therapist you will want to keep this in mind while you search.
One thing you will want to look out for is the security of their website and/or app. You will want to read up on what security measures they offer in this regard. ALso check to make sure the online mental health professional is certified or licensed, and therefore bound to keep your confidentiality unless you are threatening harm to yourself or another. Also keep in mind the website or messenger may have a tracker that records your IP Address in case of emergencies.
If they use a messaging system , make sure it is secure. This information will usually be readily available on the page somewhere. Usually it is a system similar to what they use on bank websites for protection.
Another issue that comes up in the search for an online therapist is anonymity. A lot of people are attracted to taking care of their mental health online because of the anonymous factor. It can be easier to speak with someone freely when you are not directly in their presence. When the option of online therapy was a newer concept, you may have been able to get that kind of service but now many want some information such as a proper phone number , name and location. It helps to build trust and they can also get a hold of you if anything were to happen that required medical intervention.
You will also want to verify the software used if you are given the option of doing video chats as therapy. ost software has built in protection but as therapy often involves private information being shared it doesn't hurt to take a look to make sure you are protected.
Some steps you can take on your end to help ensure privacy include not sending any kind of payment info unless it is via the websites secure form, verifying any phone or fax numbers before sending confidential information and just doing your due diligence to verify they are who they say they are before engaging in services with them.
It is important to remember that even thought he method of therapy is different, HITECH and HIPAA laws still apply so your privacy is ensured to a point. This is why verification of credentials is important. While online therapy os booming right now, it is key to remember that it isn't an entirely new concept. It has been in practice in some form for roughly twenty years.
It is important to remember that privacy risk will always exist. Before technology gave us online therapy, the risk in offices was that a conversation could be overheard or that an unauthorized person may read a chart or the wrong patient may be called. It isn't that more risks are there now, they have just changed to reflect the society that we currently live in and the advanced technology that is available to us.
So, you need somebody to talk too to figure out your issues and vent your feelings, but you feel uncomfortable seeing a therapist or psychiatrist. Then online therapy may be the option you are looking for! With online therapy, you can be at ease of having your sessions at the comfort of your own home, the security of a 100% privacy, and the choice of finding the online therapist or online psychiatrist that fits your needs.
What is Online Therapy?
You may have the frame of mind of traditional therapy of sitting on a couch telling the shrink all your problems or thinking of a group of people sitting around talking about their problems. Online therapy provides various ways to contact your therapist; for example, if you do not like to talk to people, you have the option of texting your therapist. Texting provides the client with quick responses from the therapist while having a beneficial conversation. However, if the preference is to speak, voicemail and facetime are available. In traditional therapy, you may wait a few weeks to tackle specific issues, not with online therapy, the client is in control of addressing any issue whenever they are ready. The client is in control of the way their therapy session is completed.
Successful Therapy
A way to make sure of successful therapy to have the right type of therapist is essential to meet your specific needs and goals to grow. Finding solutions to your issues or struggle of mental health is the purpose of therapy. Unlike traditional therapy, many only have a handful of therapists to choose from. Online therapy differentiation itself by allowing clients the option of choosing a therapist nationally or worldwide. Remember, you always have an option of changing therapists too if you feel like one of them is not giving you those needs that you need to help you meet your needs, do not hesitate to try a new one.
Pricing and Insurance
Unlike traditional therapy, online therapy can be a lot less expensive. Health insurance does not always cover traditional therapy or therapist. Leaving many individuals not getting the help they need, while many therapists do not take insurance of any kind, which can be challenging for customers. Then some insurance companies will only provide a therapist in a specific network with a limited amount of a therapist to choose from. Online therapy websites cost less; sometimes, it is cheaper for an entire month than a weekly co-pay of traditional therapy.
Confidential and Secure
You may be thinking that traditional therapy is more confidential than online therapy, but online therapy is completely confidential. Attending traditional therapy others may recognize you walking in the door or the therapist's office; this can lead to judging or gossip from others. Many refuse to seek help because of those reasons. On the other hand, online therapy websites offer you the option to perform therapy sessions under a nickname to provide a comfortable process. The purpose of online therapy is to make sure the client can feel comfortable to talk openly to their therapist. Online therapy websites are safe and secure; they have the highest security so their clients can have peace of mind of confidential communications with them, therapist. Those communications are completely encrypted even during an attack on the websites, they will not see conversations, instead of scrambled characters.
Online Mental Health
If you are interested in online mental health, please visit https://rethinkmytherapy.com/ Rethink My Therapy provides you with all the
tools discussed about online mental health; the website provides an online therapist or online psychiatrist for counseling for mental disorders to life’s tragedies. They supply a 14-day free trial for any of their three plans. There plans consist of a single, couple, and family with
24/7 access to their website. Feel free to ask more questions by clicking on the contact us link at the bottom of the homepage. We look forward to hearing from you!
Couples therapy and choosing a relationship or marriage counselor to help you navigate through trying times in your life as well as your partners life is a delicate process. You might be feeling a sense of failure or even depression resulting from the difficulties you are facing in your relationship with your significant other, however, this is when it is likely time to seek a professional to assist you in better communication and techniques. Bettering your situation is possible, whether you are using a psychiatrist, online therapist, online mental health services, or couples therapy in person, professional mental health solutions are out there for you.
It can be scary and even embarrassing when coming to terms with the necessity of speaking to a professional about something that is meant to be "perfect" at all times, like your relationship. These topics can be some of the most difficult to truly open up about but it is important to keep in mind that you are not alone. Situations like this arise in so many relationships, no relationship is perfect although some might present them to be. There is something really strong and brave about a couple that is willing to take a deep dive into the issues they are facing that they didn't know were there for a long time.
Often times these difficulties in relationships can arise later on because they were never dealt with to begin with. Other times, problems in a relationship can come to light after big events in life. The effects that different scenarios have on our mental well-being varies, and feeling ashamed of those feelings that are troubling you or your partner are worth looking into.
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing a Marriage Counselor
When searching for a marriage counselor for yourself and your partner, you will want to make sure that you ask or can easily find out if they are properly licensed. Conflict resolution within couples is something that a professional counselor should handle.
After researching a few different counselors that you think might be a good fit for you and your significant other, always ask them about if they have experience in working with other couples. Asking to speak to your potential counselor by phone could be a great way to determine whether their personality and their counseling style will work for you.
Having a good rapport with your potential counselor is important in feeling like their practice is going to feel like a safe space for your relationship. This might even mean trying one session with your top three favorites, and making your final decision from there.
What is a counselor and is this mental health specialist right for you?
A counselor is someone who has graduated with a four year degree, or bachelors degree, in counseling and has then moved on to train in the specialized field they are most interested in. These fields include but are not limited to addiction, recovery, school counselor, marriage counselor etc. However, keep in mind this is not typically someone who can offer you a diagnosis or coordinate a treatment plan for you and your partner. The main goal of a counselor is to guide you into whichever potential treatment you might need while providing your with advice and support at the beginning of your journey towards a better mental health space.
Do You Need an Online Therapist?
Whether you are leaning towards and online or in person therapist for your couples therapy, you will find that an online therapist or even licensed counselor have the same educational background and can offer you the same level of help. For example, both a therapist and licensed counselor will be able to offer you a diagnosis. Both of these mental health professionals require a four year degree in psychology as well as a two year masters degree course.
A psychiatrist on the other hand will be able to prescribe you medication depending on your diagnosis. This is often done when it is recommended that solo sessions should be taken by one or both individuals.
Online mental health services are now becoming more and more popular. If you and your partner feel you are in need of some guidance but feel too scared or nervous to meet a mental health professional in person, online options are becoming more widely accepted and available to anyone with an online internet connection.