Treating COVID-19 Related Depression and Anxiety through Online Therapy and Telephone Counseling

Given the protracted lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people around the world have become depressed and anxious about life.

Millions have lost their jobs, others have lost revenue sources due to shuttered businesses, some only manage to get by with half salaries, many are sick but are afraid of visiting hospitals for fear of being misdiagnosed as Coronavirus positive, many are starving with a large family to feed, and yet others are simply afraid and confused about when the pandemic situation will be totally over.

For millions of such people around the world – who are unable to come out for doctor visits or in-person counseling sessions because of the COVID-19 lockdown – this is the time to seek online therapy via telephone counseling.

For depressed and anxious people who are afraid of stepping out of their homes for fear of contracting Coronavirus, this link – http://www.betterhelp.com/advice/counseling/is-telephone-counseling-therapy-appropriate/ about online therapy at BetterHelp may be helpful. Online counseling remains a very reasonable option for obtaining much-needed help in absolute safety. It is easier and more efficient than sitting across the table with a therapist.

People suffering from non-severe mental health issues or substance abuse among others can also benefit greatly from telephone counseling.

Others who are nursing thoughts of suicide or involuntarily prone to crime may find help with crisis lines during the extended lockdown caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Public mental health experts agree that online therapy and telephone counseling is as effective as face-to-face therapies most times, except on few occasions when your situation may warrant meeting with a therapist in-person.

The communication advancement of digital technologies is rendering face-to-face talks unnecessary and old-fashioned. Anybody can obtain professional help by simply accessing hundreds of licensed and accredited online therapists on platforms such as BetterHelp via video conferencing, email conversations, text messages, phone calls, and a combination of other communication channels.

Every conversation and therapy accessed through the platform is private, confidential, highly secured, and equally effective therapeutically.

While some individuals may still prefer face-to-face counseling sessions because of their particular situation and the advantage of visual cues, it must be noted that observing body language may sometimes be secondary to what is being said and how it is expressed.

The point here is that while a therapist may gain better insights into what is ailing a patient via observed body language and emotional responses, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) dictates that online therapy is equally more beneficial where the patient can adequately express himself.

With over 800 professional online therapists on BetterHelp, people who are averse to speaking to strangers or suffering from some form of social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder will find it helpful to communicate with telephone counselors and internet therapists.

In terms of costs, it is cheaper to obtain psychological help from online therapists since the patient does not have to pay for transportation to the therapist’s office for every session, and it costs only between $40 to $75 per week to obtain online help instead of the $250 to $500 patients pay per hour to sit in an office with a therapist.

For any mental health issues and family difficulties brought on by COVID-19 pandemic and other pre-existing situations, telephone counseling and other online therapies may help in terms of costs and effectiveness if you are unable to leave your house.