Telepsychology in the time of the coronavirus

These are the characteristics that make telepsychology a useful tool in the face of the pandemic.

At this time of quarantine, it is easy for psychological disturbances due to anxiety to appear, in addition to other severe difficulties related to stress. And no wonder, because the current situation is absolutely extraordinary and has managed to destabilize the entire current political, economic and social landscape, as well as its members.

In addition, a new circumstance appears in this unexpected crisis. Psychologists have to work from their homes to assist people who need it.Their work is now more necessary than ever due to all the psychological disorders that are being exponentially unleashed.

On the other hand, doctors, who always collaborate with the psychologist in the management of stress in people, are putting out the biggest fire in history and can hardly attend to the psychosomatic crisis consequent to COVID-19, that of psychological-psychiatric problems, which is now no longer the problem of a few, but encompasses a large sector of the population that is receiving the impact of a multitude of consequences in relation to this forced stop.

Thanks to technological advances, psychotherapy is expanding

Here's the good news: technology allows everything in psychology continues to develop with some normality even if you have few resources and digital skills.

With a cell phone you can access as a client or patient to many psychologists, thus being able to obtain all the benefits of a psychotherapy as if you were attending the face-to-face consultation of a professional.

Now more than ever, the person is encouraged to be able to choose a professional regardless of the distance. choose a professional regardless of the physical distance and can opt for a much more related expert regardless of the country in which he or she is located.

What exactly is online therapy?

Online therapy is psychological intervention at a distance through videoconferencing with the support of any other technological resources that facilitates communication and allows the work of the psychologist to help the patient-client in the resolution of conflicts and/or dysfunctional emotions.

The reasons why a person chose online psychology, until recently, were mainly because they did not have a specialist in their area, because they traveled frequently, because they had inflexible schedules or because they wanted the privacy and discretion of their home.

Nowadays, the only possibility is online psychology to deal with psychological problems, avoiding the risk of contagion and avoiding the risk of contagion. avoiding the risk of contagion and respecting governmental indications..

In addition, psychological disorders have skyrocketed, currently registering a record incidence of anxiety crises, post-traumatic stress disorders, phobias and hypochondria, as the main diagnoses.

Differential characteristics to be taken into account

Many people nowadays choose online therapy and especially in this quarantine season, where it is the only option.

The benefits of online psychology are many, since you can meet with a psychologist from almost anywhere in the world, from your own home or work environment, and with greater privacy and discretion.from your own home or work environment, and with greater intimacy and discretion.

It is true that it is still a modality that generates a lot of distrust or certain doubts due to the physical distance of the professional, the quality of the relationship to be established, the myth that physical proximity is necessary to help, and the distrust of some people in digital methods.

In any case, telepsychology has become a good option to receive psychological care; these weeks represent a new and powerful rebirth of this modality that already began its boom in 2000.

Is it as effective as face-to-face therapy?

The most frequent doubt that appears in people who need psychological care is about the level of effectiveness and validity of this modality and whether online psychology is equivalent to face-to-face psychotherapy.

The answer is yes, it has the same validity and the same quality, since the only difference between them is the communication channel. Moreover, the American Psychiatric Association concludes that both types of interventions are equivalent.

Another common doubt that we find is whether using digital tools can interfere in the therapeutic alliance between patient and psychologist. The answer is no, the communication channel is the only change in the relationship between the two people who form this collaboration and the work that the psychologist develops is the only change in the relationship. the work that the psychologist develops is exactly the same..

According to the most recent meta-analysis studies that make comparisons between the results of one modality and the other, the scientific validity of online treatments is equivalent to face-to-face treatments, both in terms of results and in the strength of the establishment of the therapeutic alliance.

The variables that guarantee the results have to do with the same factors that appear in face-to-face psychology and one of the most relevant ones has to do with the professional preparation of the psychologist specializing in psychotherapy, his or her experience and skills in telepsychology, i.e., in the online modality that has some additional feature to take into account.In other words, the online modality has some additional characteristics to take into account, such as the care of the communication channel.

What is needed to conduct an online session?

The client or patient needs some simple conditions to access an online consultation and they are the following; connection to a stable Internet network, a device with camera and microphone that can be a smartphone, tablet or laptop or desktop computer and email to receive appointment reminders and if there is a need to exchange documentation, reports or invoices.

The psychologist or psychology center should also have certain conditions, such as a secure platform that protects the confidentiality of the client and guarantees the protection of their data, as well as have training in this treatment modality that allows them to be more effective..

The only drawback that appears is for people who are not familiar with the Internet. It must be said that this difficulty is perfectly solvable, since it is simply a matter of becoming familiar with the new situation.

Online psychotherapy also offers the following benefits the clear reduction of costs in transportation and time of each person who performs the therapy..

Online psychotherapies are ideal for adults who carry out individual sessions, and in couple therapy they are recommended in combination with face-to-face sessions; they are not especially indicated for children or adolescents under 16 years of age, although in the current case where there is no other option, this is configured as better than no treatment at all. However, it is always possible to ask for the collaboration of the parents or a relative to carry out the consultation with the child or young person.

In cases of severe pathology it is not the recommended first choice therapy, but in adverse circumstances where there is no alternative it is still much better than no treatment.

It is important to underline that online psychology is the first choice therapy for people with some specific phobias, especially those suffering from agitation.especially those who suffer from agoraphobia and have a fear of leaving their homes and walking or staying in open spaces. It is also very useful for people who suffer from depression or are diagnosed with eating disorders, as well as for any type of addictions, and for all those who have a chronic illness and cannot travel.

Professional intrusion is a problem to be taken into account.

With the current need for psychological services, people are appearing who identify themselves as psychologists or clinical psychologists and who do not have the aforementioned qualifications. This has made the colleges of psychologists alert to identify these possible infringements and thus ensure the safety of people in vulnerable situations who need the help of a qualified professional.

It is possible to prevent these situations by selecting a psychologist from a recognized network of health professionals that offers guarantees or by making sure that the selected psychologist has all his or her accreditations so as not to be exposed to the above described, thus being necessary that the person hiring has all the guarantees and requirements to practice their profession.

Are you interested in starting with online therapy?

If you are looking for professional support in these confining times, I invite you to contact me.

I'm a psychologist with more than 25 years of experience and I attend both face-to-face and online via video call. You can see more information about my background, as well as my contact details, by clicking here.