Advances in new technology have made it possible for psychologists to reach their patients more and more without losing the quality of information and the confidence to produce therapeutic benefits. Today, thanks to the use of the Internet, it is possible to reach more people, regardless of the distance between them from the comfort of a home with the same effectiveness as face therapy.
One of the preferred options by many psychologists and patients to perform the therapy online is Skype.
How Skype therapy works
Many patients, either to facilitate the implementation of treatment times from home or to the inability to go to the therapeutic centre, prefer remote psychotherapy. For less than a decade, some psychologists and even major psychological centres offer the therapy service via Skype.
The idea of this type of therapy is that a person who requires psychological help with professional psychology should have approached with the aim that the latter will provide tools to restore well-being and improve the quality of life. Thanks to recent technological advances, virtually everyone has access to this software, which is easy to install, configure and therefore start using.
Skype treatments are carried out through video calls, so it is necessary to have a number of requirements:
- Computer or tablet
- Webcam or microphone and speakers
- Skype software installed
- Performing Skype treatment is relatively simple, usually just meeting these requirements and following a few simple instructions from online psychologists, to begin with online therapy sessions.
Scientific studies support the benefits of online therapy
There are more and more psychological centres using this modality, as scientific studies have shown its effectiveness on several occasions. At some point in our lives, we have all ever felt that we are not at our best, and thanks to Skype therapy can access the online psychologist anytime and anywhere.
A famous study, published in the Journal of Technology in Human Services in the year 2008, showed that Online therapy helps many people overcome their difficulties or mental problems, especially those related to anxiety and stress.
To conduct the survey, they had data on 9,764 subjects with various problems. After the treatment, more than 50% of the patients found that they had recovered and their quality of life and well-being increased markedly, so the researchers assured that online treatment gives similar face-to-face results.
Later, a team of researchers were observed in a study involving more than half of people with insomnia and depression. The people who were analyzed experienced an improvement within a few weeks after treatment.
Recently, another study, this time conducted by the University of Lancaster (UK), confirmed the improvement of 100 patients with bipolar disorder who received online psychotherapy sessions using Skype.
What are the benefits of Skype treatment?
Psychotherapy, either online or in-person, provides many benefits to patients: helping them feel better, recognizing and modifying their dysfunctional beliefs, increasing their emotional health and making them feel better facilitates these tools so they can better deal with everyday problems, interpersonal relationships and conflicts that can arise throughout their lives and in general give them the opportunity to face life so that they can live in harmony with themselves and with the environment.
Now good, Online therapy also provides other benefits that facial treatment does not offer. They are as follows:
- Access from anywhere
New technology allows access from anywhere in the world and anytime, either from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
- Anonymity
Because the patient does not have to go to the therapeutic centre, he has greater anonymity.
Greater time flexibility
Skype treatment facilitates time and better suits the patient’s needs.
- Comfort
The patient doesn’t have to drive or spend time in a waiting room with this therapeutic modality.
- Lower cost
The cost of this type of therapy is less than the cost of traditional therapy. In the same way, the patient saves costs arising from displacement.
- Intimacy
When the patient is performed from the patient’s own home, the patient may feel more comfortable perceiving that the situation is less threatening and therefore may open up more and increase confidence in their relationship with the psychologist.
- Continuous monitoring
The patients who want to Stay in touch with your trusted psychologist even though you have to change cities, they can do so thanks to new technology and the use of Skype software.