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Do You Need an Online Counselor or Therapist?

Online Counselor

December 13, 2020

When trying to decide if e-therapy is right for you, the bigger question comes first: is it time to seek out the help of a professional counselor of any kind? While almost anyone could stand to benefit from the growth promoted by a course of therapy, many situations can be readily improved by talk therapy. It may be time to seek the help of a therapist if:

  • Symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other problems are beginning to interfere with your quality of life or ability to carry out day-to-day activities. For example, therapy might be a great place to start for someone who has found their work performance slipping due to anxiety that is no longer simply manageable with exercise or another go-to coping skill.
  • There was a serious trauma like a sexual assault, natural disaster, or sudden death of a loved one. Therapy can help with both single-event traumas like a bad car accident along longer-term situations, like childhood abuse or domestic violence.
  • You’re experiencing either chronic relationship problems (for example, codependence, trouble parenting), or a relationship crisis (infidelity, the possibility of divorce, etc). Therapy can also be helpful for people who struggle in other interpersonal situations with things like holding boundaries or asserting oneself.
  • A big life change is either on the horizon or already happening. This could range from deciding to lose significant weight, experiencing being fired or other professional difficulties, or even getting a major medical diagnosis.
  • It’s time to tackle substance abuse or other addictive behaviors. While therapy isn’t a substitute for detox or an inpatient rehabilitation program, it can be very helpful over the long term. There are specific kinds of therapists who can help support people in recovery, including those with a dual diagnosis. E-therapy in this arena can be particularly useful for those who are trying to recover from addiction but need another option besides the local Alcoholics Anonymous group.
  • Any other situation requiring an adjustment, change in thinking/outlook, or a need for support beyond that which is available from family or friends.

Working with a professional through problems and painful emotions while learning new skills is a great way to begin improving your overall quality of life, along with relationships and even career. For anyone interested in starting this process with the help of a professional, e-therapy should be considered. Besides being a great way to find the precise kind of therapist needed regardless of location and schedule, online therapy gets nearly identical results as traditional therapy and has other upsides, too. Convenience, greater access to the therapist via text messaging, and privacy—all for what is often a lower cost than brick-and-mortar therapy, are valid reasons to consider using an E-therapist.

If you have been experiencing depression please start a FREE trial of online counseling and get help today.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

Advantages of Online Counseling

December 10, 2020

Accessing therapy online has myriad benefits, starting with convenience. Getting therapy from the comfort of home eliminates the hassle of having to travel to appointments and sit in a waiting room, which can be a tremendous boon to busy students, professionals, and parents alike. E-therapy also brings an unprecedented number of options for counseling services to everyone equally, no matter where they are located. For people in rural areas, those with limited mobility, and those without access to reliable transportation, e-therapy may mean it’s finally possible to get quality treatment for the first time. Considering that rural areas in America have higher-than-average rates of depression, substance abuse, and even suicide, online therapy could finally help bridge this gap.

The convenience factor also takes away some of the excuses that may prevent people who need help from seeking it, like not having time, not being able to find the right kind of counselor, or having to travel too far. Being able to easily connect with a specific kind of therapist (eg, one who specializes in phobias, speaks a certain language, or uses a particular method like DBT) over the internet can also help potential clients find the best match possible for their individual position. This can result in a far more personalized and satisfying course of therapy, now that it’s no longer necessary to rely on the literal luck of the geographic draw when it comes to brick-and-mortar practices.

Another significant advantage of online counseling is cost-related. Not having to maintain a physical office can help therapists save money and the savings are often passed along to clients. Additionally, most practices offer a higher level of access (such as unlimited text messaging) to the therapist for the amount of money being paid. Finally, when gas or transportation money and time savings are also factored in, e-therapy may make sense for a whole subset of people who didn’t think that counseling was in the realm of affordability.

Ultimately, the advent of online counseling has made it much easier to access services for a wider variety of people. The benefits of counseling to improve home life, work productivity, and general satisfaction are no longer restricted only to people who happen to have a therapist that’s a good fit located near their home. Even for clients who live within range of good providers, e-therapy may also be a better choice simply because it takes less time, is often more affordable, and in general has more flexible scheduling.

 

If you need online counseling please start a FREE trial of and get help today.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

Can Genetics be a Major Cause of Depression?

Cause of Depression

December 08, 2020

In the past generation, no disease or disorder has gained as much traction and recognition as depression. Depression is officially one of the most widely recognized mental disorders in the world and is the most common mental disorder in the world as everyone between the ages of 18 to 30 experiences it at least once in their life.

Although depression is one of the most infamous mental disorders currently known to man, scientists have yet to find a specific cause for depression. Yet they have found that there are a multitude of factors that can affect depression. While factors like traumatic incidents or chemical composition in the brain are two of the most obvious factors that cause depression, one that people do not usually consider is genetics.

Depression resembles other diseases in many ways, there are certain triggers for the illness or disorder, then there are symptoms of the illness, after which begins the diagnosis and then treatment. Since scientists observed that depression, in many ways, is like any common illness, they saw the possibility that depression can be a genetically transferable disease. To their surprise depression is very capable of spreading from parents onto the children or can run through the family.

A review by Jonathan Flint and Kenneth S. Kendler sought out the scientific evidence as to whether depression can be linked to genetics. The scientists found that most studies completed in the early 2000s saw that the heritability of depression lay somewhere in 37 – 45%. All of the studies that both these scientists reviewed were the result of twin studies.

The review performed by Jonathan Flint and Kenneth S. Kendler proved that there is a possibility that children may inherit depression from their parents. Their review also showed that women are more susceptible to inheriting depression from their parents rather than men.

The results of the tests performed in the study that the scientists reviewed showed that women were nearly 40% more likely to inherit depression as opposed to men who are only 30% likely to inherit depressive symptoms.

Thanks to the review performed by scientists Jonathan Flint and Kenneth S. Kendler, not only does the theory of genetic transfer of depression seem to be true, we now know that inheritability also differs between different sexes. Genetics is a very viable cause for depression and you can also be a victim of depression if it happens to run in your family.

 

If you have been experiencing depression please start a FREE trial of online counseling and get help today.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

How to deal with Acute Stress Disorder

Acute Stress Disorder - Learn how to identify a panic attack.

Acute Stress Disorder

April 15, 2018

Acute stress disorder (ASD) is an anxiety disorder, and more specifically a trauma and stress or related disorder, where the person has suffered a trauma, or witnessed a trauma, and certain symptoms follow. The disorder may sound very similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD), and some argue that ASD is a precursor to PTSD, as they are very similar. The differences include ASD having solely anxiety and fear-based symptoms, while PTSD has some symptoms that are not normally associated with anxiety. For an ASD diagnosis, the symptoms must occur anywhere from three days after the traumatic event, to one month later.

Acute stress disorder symptoms can include:

  • A subjective sense of numbing, detachment, or absence of emotional responsiveness
  • A reduction in awareness of his or her surroundings (i.e., “being in a daze”)
  • Derealization
  • Depersonalization
  • Dissociative amnesia (i.e., inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma)

While it is easy to see what causes acute stress disorder, it is harder to determine who will develop this anxiety disorder. The stressful event is obvious, but many people are able to cope with trauma without developing ongoing symptoms. What is known is that people with other mental health conditions seem to be more vulnerable to developing ASD. Also, having had a history of trauma and stress, and an avoidant coping style are shown to be connected to developing ASD and PTSD. An avoidant coping style means that a person attempts to bury their problems rather than address them.

One thing that is known to help people cope with trauma and stress is a psychological debriefing, following the stressful event. A psychological debriefing is often very helpful in preventing the development of any further mental health problems after a trauma. A debriefing is a structured group session, where everyone involved in the trauma talk about what they saw and experienced, their reactions, and receive some basic education on what is normal coping and what is potential problematic coping. Preventative interventions are frequently seen as the intervention of choice after a traumatic event.

There is also treatment available for people who have already been diagnosed with ASD. Cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness interventions have been shown to help treat anxiety disorders. Medication is available to help treat some of the symptoms of the disorder, and education of appropriate, and helpful ways to cope with an anxiety disorder.

Being a part of a life-threatening trauma can be hard enough, but sometimes it’s the after effects that are most painful. If this sounds like you or someone you care about, please reach out for help. The sooner you get the help you deserve, the easier it will be to overcome the symptoms.

 

If you have been experiencing acute stress disorder please start a FREE trial of online counseling and get help today.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

Online Psychotherapy: A Modern Approach to Mental Health

online therapy - therapy over the internet

Whether a client is new to online therapy or just therapy in particular, it’s natural to wonder how the process works over the Internet. Just like with any other clinical practice, therapists who work over the Internet are fully licensed and trained to respect client confidentiality at all times. Any reputable online therapist will also take extra steps to ensure the client’s information is protected since the sessions are happening over the Internet. This will ideally include using a specialized app or otherwise secure communication gateway to protect sensitive information from being exposed to third parties.

As for the psychotherapy itself, the only difference is the method of delivery. The e-therapist is required by law to have the same type of licensure as a “traditional” face-to-face therapist. Just like with office therapy, over-the-internet sessions will be tailored by the clinician to best fit the particular needs of the client. This can include the type of psychotherapy involved, such as Cognitive-Behavioral, Dialectical-Behavioral, psychodynamic methodologies, etc.

In some cases, the therapist may decide to incorporate various styles of teaching methods to help clients build the knowledge necessary to use new tools or coping skills. Regardless of how it is delivered and what type of psychotherapy is used in particular, the basic therapeutic process and goals are the same: to help clients identify unhealthy patterns of thinking and communication, cope with painful events, and discover new, constructive ways to deal with life’s challenges.

One advantage psychotherapy over the Internet has is greater flexibility regarding convenience, scheduling, and overall time required per session. While the time with the therapist will be the same as during a traditional office visit, e-therapy has the added advantage of saving clients the physical commute to the therapist’s practice. This can also make couples counseling easier in particular, since there is less coordination required for both parties. In the case of families, this can also help parents avoid having to find childcare during sessions, since they are happening from the comfort of home—something that can be helpful financially, too.

Eliminating these kinds of barriers can also eliminate some of the excuses people may use to not seek help. At the end of the day, the convenience offered by therapy over the Internet can be a game-changer, especially for potential clients who are undecided about psychotherapy as a whole. If online therapy over the Internet is faster, simpler to use, and cost-effective, then why not give it a try?

 

If you would like to try psychotherapy over the internet please start a FREE trial of online counseling and get help today.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.