Why Affordable Online Counseling is the Best Alternative to Traditional Counseling ?
Whenever we want to opt for counseling, a question arises in our mind. Should we go for a traditional counseling session or should we lookout for an affordable online counseling session? Online counseling is not trying to replace traditional counseling, but it is found to be its best alternative for millions of people. Also, unlike traditional counseling, you can access online counseling at your home without spending your precious time standing in a queue.
Online counseling, also called Tele counseling, is a conversation with a doctor that is experienced electronically via telecommunication services. If you have a mental health problem and it feels embarrassing to reach out to a therapist, then definitely you can opt for online counseling. Not only mental health but the behavior is also important. Many times it has been seen that people adopt negative behaviors. It leads to chaos and is a problem of concern. To rectify these behaviors and nullify their effect, you can have behavioral counseling. In behavioral counseling, the primary focus is the manipulation of the external environment and internal environment to cause behavioral change. You do not need to go to any traditional session for this. You just need an online behavioral therapist who can suggest to you some methods to change your behavior. Generally, youngsters and mid-aged adults get stressed out and develop offensive behaviors. This can be both addictive and expressive.
Whether through texting, voice calls, or video conferencing, this latest form of counseling has increasing popularity in these years. In 1995, Dr. David Sommers was the first to provide online counseling. It consisted of continual dialogue within a private therapeutic relationship. He utilized some real-time chats and emails to provide counseling to hundreds of clients in various countries at the same time.
So, how to decide which is best for you? Let us look out some points that support the fact that high-quality online counseling is a viable alternative to face-to-face traditional counseling, and in some cases could lead to better outcomes.
Saves your money
We all want to save our money. In fact, according to research by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly 60% of American adults with a mental illness did not receive mental health services when they needed it the most. The report shows that the reasons for this are cost and accessibility. Even with the health insurance coverage, traditional counseling costs an average of $75–150 per session which is usually for 45–60 minutes. On the other hand, online counseling is found to be much lower for a week and allows unlimited communications.
Affordable online counseling, as its name is, cost-effective, fairly affordable, and convenient in several ways. You do not have to eat the costs of traditional inpatient counseling services. You can skip the travel expense which includes gas expense. You can schedule it at a time that is more financially suitable for you. Online counseling services often offer affordable treatment options for those who do not have health insurance.
Convenient
Since you will be attending counseling sessions online in the comfort of your own home, you can often schedule your counseling sessions for times that are the most convenient for you. This is good and effective for the working population and individuals with physical limitations. Often, it happens, people living in large metropolitan areas take lots of time to get to a session, which may be longer than the session itself. Whatever the reason may be, you can rest assured that you will get the quality service you need right in your comfort. You can get affordable online counseling anywhere where you find peace and there is network availability. It is also convenient in the sense that it allows more frequent contact with a therapist. If you need emergency assistance, you can easily contact your behavioral therapist online. You just have to dial the number. This can be a great fit for those who suffer from mental trauma or depression and do not want to wait for a week to chat with their therapist.
Reduced stigma
Not everyone completely opens up with the therapist. Some patients are introverts and find it difficult to communicate properly. The thought of meeting someone in-person or seeing them face-to-face for the first time results in anxiety and nervousness. If you are among these kinds of people then, online counseling is for you. You can participate in counseling at home, where you feel more comfortable discussing your mental health concerns. You can get affordable online counseling, for which you do not need to meet the therapist or have eye contact as you speak about your sensitive issues.
Numerous ways of approach
Sometimes talking is not enough to express what you are thinking and feeling. Or sometimes stating sensitive issues can be embarrassing and make you feel nervous in real-time. Different people have different needs. Some people open up on texts, some on calls. Various issues have different solutions. By using certain forms of online counseling, you can write, talk with or without video, communicate in real-time, and even send pictures to your therapist. You can use any combination of these mediums at any time during your session. We believe that medium should not be the reason for you to stop getting any kind of mental help or counseling.
So which is better: Traditional or online counseling?
If you are nervous about counseling or do not have a lot of time on your hands, then online counseling is a great way to get your feet wet.
Also, if you are dealing with severe mental illness or need an uplift in your behavior and you respond better to intimate environments, then you can always go for affordable online counseling and talk to a behavioral specialist online. It all comes down to your personal preferences and specific circumstances.
Conclusion
When you are going through life-changing situations or dealing with mental health and behavioral issues, you should have someone to talk to. You should take the help of a therapist and process problems to add much value to your life. Thanks to modern technology, there is this alternative way to get the care you need. Affordable Online counseling is proven to be beneficial to people and provides easier access, reduced costs, flexibility, comfort, and more frequent care. Behaviour is something that cannot be forced on a person. It is developed and further incorporated during upbringing. Hence consulting a behavioral therapist online is not a bad approach. It can be more helpful for a change in a person’s behaviors. Negative thoughts and feelings reduce as the person communicates. It is better to take worthy steps before it is too late.