Lorena González: "Women are going through a difficult time".

We interviewed psychologist Lorena González, founder of Serena Psicología Online.

Online therapy is becoming increasingly popular and normalized; if before the coronavirus pandemic it was already gaining visibility year after year, now a large number of professionals have adapted to this new format of patient support.

Partly due to this consolidation of online psychotherapy, it has been able to specialize and diversify. That is why there are proposals such as Serena Psicología, an online therapy center aimed primarily at women.. Today we talk to its founder, Lorena González.

Interview with Lorena González: psychology by videoconference.

Lorena González is a psychologist and founder of Serena Psicología.an online therapy center by video call that has the particularity of being focused on women who need professional psychological assistance. In this interview we will talk about their proposal of remote psychological care.

What is the main idea behind the opening of Serena Psicología Online clinic?

Serena's objective is to bring psychology closer to women in order to accompany them in the difficulties they may encounter on a daily basis.

We wanted to create a space where they can get to know us and can benefit from psychology guidelines in those moments when they may need it through different online formats, from general content to psychology sessions.

Why did you set your goal to focus your work specifically on women?

Women today carry an extra burden in our daily lives that makes us experience more stress and anxiety than men, (we speak in general, of course there are men who also have a hard time and we also have male patients). But women experience exclusive stages in women, such as pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, the burden of parenting ... where professional guidance comes in handy. And we are also looking for more spaces where we can express our emotions.

Women are going through a difficult time because we have to take on both masculine and feminine roles, and the hours of the day do not allow us to take a space where we can connect with ourselves. This space is what Serena wants to offer to all women who need it.

Considering that there is still social pressure to keep women from giving up household chores even if they have professional careers, is this a factor of psychological burnout and lack of time that makes them benefit more from online therapy?

Absolutely. We are making a lot of progress in equality but we are at a critical moment where we are making a niche for ourselves in the working world but still with the burden of home and parenting.

Let's say that women have gone out of the home to work but few men have entered the home to share the tasks. It is true that men perform more visual tasks, i.e., that are seen a lot, such as cooking or panchar. But the coordination of the household, that everything is in order, the mental weight, is still carried by women.

And that work is the least recognized and the one that causes the most mental load. So we have less time, and saving on transportation or being able to connect with your psychologist from the car or work at a moment's notice is a big advantage for us.

Beyond the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, have you noticed if online psychology has rapidly gained popularity among the population in the last few years?

Yes. Serena Psychology has recently reinvented itself, we started ten years ago providing sessions by videoconference. In these ten years videoconferencing has increased a lot, there are thousands of studies that certify the effectiveness of online therapy (always by videoconference), when we started people doubted the effectiveness. Now we all know that it is the same as face-to-face therapy. Better, because you can meet your psychologist beforehand and you have easier access to therapy.

The pandemic, of course, has made it clear that a lot of work can be done online, and many people have been forced to familiarize themselves with new technologies, so we know how much time we can save by connecting with our psychologist from wherever we are.

Has online psychology contributed to the normalization of "going to the psychologist" by making these services more accessible?

Of course it has. And the good thing about online therapy is that you no longer have to go to a cold door without knowing who you are going to meet...for example, in Serena Psicologia all patients can meet their future psychologist beforehand, reading her articles, seeing her photos, listening to her podcasts. It is fundamental for psychology that the person feels comfortable with her therapist.

Having the therapy so close and easily accessible, people are more encouraged to try it. In addition, the first session is free, which makes it easier for people to start.

Also, little by little, the idea that people who go to a psychologist are going because they are in a very bad way is being lost. People also come because they are looking for a guide, an accompaniment in day-to-day issues, advice on what to do with their children at a particular stage. They already see us as a companion who orients and guides, not only as a professional who only treats serious cases. We have come a long way in this respect.

What are the next professional challenges that you have set for yourselves and towards which you will orient Serena Psicología Online?

We have many ideas to bring psychology closer. We are open to any possible demand or proposal that may arise. We have just opened a youtube channel, a podcast, we want to do online courses, and women's group sessions. We have many ideas.

We want people to experience what it is like to have therapy, what changes your life, and also as a society we want to raise awareness of the importance of psychology in everyday life.

We are living through complicated times, and we are all, to a greater or lesser extent, being affected emotionally. That is why I believe that psychologists have a great task to do so that this stage does not mark us too much for the future.