Online Psychological Intervention: A Feasible Measure to Reduce Treatment Barriers

Internet-based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy has been used successfully to treat some of the relatively minor symptoms of anxiety, depression and social phobias. Advantages of computer and internet based therapies include easy availability, anonymity, accessibility, flexibility in self-direction and pacing, reduced travel time and costs.

Social anxiety is something I have always had although I did not always know what it was. I thought it was only something that those living under a rock and had never seen people had. I now know that anyone can have it. When I was a little kid, people would tell me what beautiful features I have and I would be so shy and self-conscious that I would hide behind my parents. My parents thought I was just shy but that was only part of it. I have failed many times and wasted many opportunities to expose myself to my anxiety and maybe even overcome it. Although I have always had social anxiety it only escalates the older I get. There was a time where I did not want to face my fears. I was told by not only my mom but many others that I would become agoraphobic. I never tried to get better. Ignoring “the monster” as I call

There have been numerous studies conducted to see how effective online mental health services are. By using the technology, we have available today to benefit patients provide improved access to services, flexibility, increased patient self-disclosure, and even reduced costs (Richards & Simpson., 2015). Employment for mental health counselors is expected to rise twenty-nine percent within six years. Mentally ill people in the United States can now afford the mental health care that they need, which is why there is going to be such an increase in employment (Employment Outlook., n.d.)

This paper will discuss conduct and discuss three different online therapy sites. It will discuss the contact of each website, the professional involved, how the actual online interaction occurs. It will address how professional associations and state boards view online therapy.

Online Therapy is a service that helps people to obtain therapeutic services through an online database that is ran by a therapist or a group of therapists, who are in charge of the website. Therapeutic websites are very helpful for someone who isn’t able to get to an office setting to have face-to-face sessions. They are extremely convenient because one can have counseling sessions in the privacy of their own home with strict confidentiality and assertiveness.

As mentioned above, therapeutic interventions may be delivered by numerous routes, including email, web text-chat, and video chat. Some programs are utilized as self-help or as adjuncts to professionally administered therapy. These resources include online support forums for specific concerns, support chat rooms, psychoeducational resources, and structured programs that are based on therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT in this context). Such distinctions may have very important implications for the acceptability of the program in question as well as for efficacy and user adherence. The efficacy of online psychotherapy services is an important topic. Different studies report varying results, likely as a result of the broad variability of web-based interventions that are being studied. Some researchers in this area have attempted to tackle the problems that this variability presents by proposing a system of categorization for different types of programs. Barack et al (2009) suggested that implementing a four-category system that distinguishes among web-based interventions, online counseling/therapy, Internet operated psychotherapeutic software, and other online programs considered

Social Phobia, also called social anxiety disorder (SAD), is one of the most common, but misconstrued mental health problems in society. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), over 15 million adults suffer from the disorder. First appearing in the DSM-III as Social Phobia, and later in the DSM-IV as Social Anxiety Disorder, this newly established disorder denotes afflicting stress and anxiety associated with social situations (Zakri 677). According to James W. Jefferson, two forms of Social phobia exist: specific and generalized. Specific social phobia indicates anxiety limited to few performance situations, while generalized indicates anxiety in all social situations (Jefferson). Many people often interchangeably link this disorder to shyness––a personality trait. However, although they have striking similarities, the two are divergent. To begin with, SAD has an extensive etiology ranging from multiple factors. Furthermore, symptoms of various aspects accompany SAD. Moreover, SAD has detrimental impacts affecting quality of life. Lastly, SAD has numerous methods of treatment. Social Phobia is prevalent in both women and men beginning at the onset of puberty (ADAA).

In today’s society, there are many different ways to communicate electronically in providing services. This paper identifies how telepsychology can help increase the patient or client’s access to the psychological services they may need without being face-to-face with the actual doctor. Patients who are limited by their geographic location, medical condition, and psychiatric state can benefit from utilizing the electronic service methods in order to gain access to higher quality medical or mental assistance (Maheu, McMenamin, Posen, & Pulier, 2012). New methods such as online psychoeducation and videoconferencing therapy are not only convenient to the patient but it can also ease the mental state of the patient by having them participate in a session in the comfort of their own home. In a diverse and multicultural society, the option to use telepsychology can be very beneficial for special populations such as LGBT, children and older adults. This allows the opportunity to increase access to the psychological services that are needed.

Therapy may be considered a client's maximum force in obtaining control of their problems they face during their lives. In current years therapy has evolved into a higher-level of treatment and can be taken online. Online therapy is cost effective, convenient, and helps with

Therapy can be seen as a way for a client to work through an issue in their life. A client may find that they don't feel comfortable sitting in an office with a therapist discussing their issues or concerns but that they would rather obtain therapy by accessing the Internet and utilizing online therapy. With modern technology it makes it much easier to access different forms of online therapy. Online therapy has increased in recent years. Many individuals are looking for assistance from a therapist and have found that with online therapy they can do it from the convenience of their own home. A client takes into consideration the

Online therapy has emerged as a viable new option in the helping profession. Online therapy or e-therapy occurs when a therapist provides therapy and support over the Internet. E-mail, chat, video, or smart phone are all ways individuals can communicate through online therapy. Online therapy websites are abounding on the Internet, any individual seeking online therapy will surely find what they are looking for. This paper will evaluate and explain the content from

Individual therapy carried out over the Internet can include asynchronous methods, such as e-mail, synchronous methods, such as web-based messaging (instant messaging), chat, videoconferencing or voice-over IP (Internet phone). Virtual reality therapy and online video game therapy are two additional emerging online modalities. Online counseling may be provided as the primary treatment modality or as an adjunct to more traditional forms of mental health treatment. There are many advantages of online counseling. First of all, it provides accessibility to individuals who are disabled or housebound. Then, it is also always affordable and convenient. Internet makes mental health information more accessible. Later, people also feel comfortable while talking to friends and family about their health care issues, but may not feel the same discussing mental health

     Social anxiety disorder or social phobia is a much more common problem then psychologists originally thought. Millions of people al over the world

Access to mental health care for underprivileged patients is the primary benefit of Tele-psychiatry. Tele-psychiatry provides mental health care to rural or remote areas. Patients get easy access to their consultants without having to leave their homes. Scarcity of consultants in a specific area can be overcome by Tele-psychiatry. (1)The elderly, people with disabilities, inmates of a prison or a detention centre, homeless people and the military can access mental health care through videoconferencing. Stigma, shame and cultural issues are some of the reasons why people never seek treatment for mental health at later stages of their disease. Tele-psychiatry removes this barrier, allowing mental health care providers to connect with their patients. (2) Use of Tele-psychiatry reduces waiting times and travel expenses for the patient, the family and the care provider. Videoconferencing helps two or more consultants or health care providers to connect with the patient and/or his family. (3) A consultant can guide a physician in remote areas. According to research, Tele-psychiatry has been as effective as face-to-face interactions. Teaching and research is another important benefit of Tele-psychiatry. (4)

Online support groups can help someone gain a sense of control or empowerment and reduce their levels of stress, depression, or anxiety by promoting open, honest sharing of personal feelings, mutual emotional support, comfort, “virtual” hugging, sharing of practical treatment information, coping strategies, personal experiences, and “success stories” by way of e-mails and Internet group discussion boards (Wessel, K, 1996).