According to the World Health Organization, about 10-20% of teenagers experience mental health conditions. While most teenagers have good mental health, physical, emotional, and social changes such as abuse, violence, or exposure to poverty can make them vulnerable to mental health problems.
Some teenagers are also at a higher risk of mental health conditions due to stigma, discrimination, lack of access to quality services, or their living condition. Most of the teenagers with mental disorders may seek online therapy.
Online therapy, also known as e-therapy, has been around for quite some time thanks to the development of technology. Mental health patients can now talk to a therapist or get a prescription from a therapist in the comfort of their homes. For many teenagers, sitting in a therapist's office, discussing their feelings and experiences may be quite overwhelming. But, talking to a therapist online might not be a bad idea.
There are many reasons, including some of the following, why teenagers should consider online therapy.
1. Easily accessible
Online therapy is easily accessible. It can be accessed even by teenagers who reside in rural or remote areas where there are no counseling services. Teenagers who are physically disabled or unable to leave their homes can also access online therapy with little inconvenience. Moreover, even those who have visual or hearing impairments can benefit from online therapy.
2. Convenience
Online therapy is convenient. It saves time because you don't have to drive to the therapist's office. For teenagers who live in rural or remote areas or lack transportation, online therapy can be the best option.
3. Cost-effective
Online therapy has been proven to be cost-effective. It costs less than the insurance co-pay for a weekly session of face-to-face therapy. Moreover, traditional therapy sessions are about 45-60 minutes per session, or twice per week. If you contact outside these sessions, it might not be possible, or there will be additional costs to your treatment.
4. There is less stigma attached to it
Many teenagers feel embarrassed about seeing a therapist face-to-face, and they are afraid of their peers finding out about their treatment. Online therapy is very effective in eliminating the social stigma that's associated with receiving therapy. It allows teenagers to access therapy in private without having to visit a therapist's office.
Disadvantages of online therapy for teenagers
Even though online therapy has incredible benefits, it has some drawbacks that parents should consider before enrolling a teenager in them.
1. The absence of face-to-face contact may hinder treatment
Therapists learn a lot of information by watching a patient's body language. If the teenager is communicating via email, the therapist won't have the ability to read their body language or listen to the inflection in their voice.
2. The teenager may lack written expressions
Online therapy requires the teenager to read and retain information from the therapist. The teen should also express himself/herself effectively in text. Online therapy is not good for teenagers who struggle with written communication.
3. Technology issues may affect the process
If the internet goes down, the teenager won't be able to contact the therapist. Specialized software programs that keep your information confidential might also get compromised.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that online therapy has helped several people to get therapy. People in remote areas who thought they could never contact a therapist can now get in touch with a therapist easily. However, for teenagers, they should first check with both an in-office therapist and their parents to see if online therapy would be the best option for them.
