More than 50 million Americans live with mental illness, but less than half of them seek treatment. For many untreated individuals, getting to a mental health professional is inconvenient or too costly. For others, the idea of sitting in a strange room, talking face-to-face with someone about their mental health concerns, might feel unbearable.
The good news is that we live in a virtual age. Video conferencing connects us with coworkers, doctors, fitness instructors and teachers. Why should therapy be any different?
Online therapy, or teletherapy, provides the mental health support you may need, in the comfort of your home. Researchers looked at more than 60 studies and found that seeing a therapist virtually is just as effective as face-to-face sessions for most people with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD). Another 40 studies showed online therapy for treating depression to be more effective than not receiving therapy in any form.