Can You Solve Mental Health Problems With the App?
If you’re struggling with a problem like anxiety or depression, making an appointment with a professional may be the last thing you need to do. Apps and online services promise that help is just a few touches away, and in some cases they might be the right choice for you.
Some applications use real therapists, but they are not the same as face-to-face therapy
If you can’t meet a professional face to face, your best bet is to speak to them over the phone. Some services offer video and voice calling, while others focus on text messaging. It’s not just nervousness that can make you distance yourself from technology between yourself and your therapist: you may find that you can’t get an appointment with a real person without months of waiting. And even though your plan should cover mental health services in the same way they cover the rest of your care, it can still involve significant out-of-pocket costs.
One solution is a video visit with a psychiatrist through a telemedicine service like Teladoc or Amwell . Amwell estimates his first visit at $ 200 and subsequent visits at $ 90, but notes that meeting in person can cost twice as much. The cheaper price and the convenience of online access can make it easier for you to take the first step to therapy, so it’s still a plus.
Talkspace , on the other hand, focuses on text messaging rather than video. For a flat fee of about $ 150 a month, you can talk to your GP anytime you want. Betterhelp offers both approaches. Some practicing therapists also offer their services online, so if you’ve worked with one in the past, consider asking if it has an app to help you reach you more easily next time.
However, according to clinical psychologist Sean Well, these services may not provide the intimate bond with the person that you would get from traditional therapy. “Fear can be dealt with in some way by having the other accepting sitting across from you,” he says. But if someone is avoiding therapy because they are not ready to meet the person, or if they are scheduled for an appointment in a few months but need help right now , online therapy can fill that gap.
The American Psychiatric Association states that video therapy is “a proven and effective medical practice that enhances access to care,” as long as it is in the best interest of the patient and complies with APA’s policies on medical ethics and privacy.
Unfortunately, this may not be the case for all of these services. The Verge says Talkspace maintains your anonymity so securely that therapists cannot comply with state laws regarding reporting child abuse or receive emergency assistance for those prone to suicide. For some services, your provider may not be licensed in the same state where you are located, which creates a gray area when it comes to state laws.
You can do CBT on yourself (within limits)
If it is too expensive or intimidating to talk to a real therapist, the other end of the spectrum is a self-help service that is completely human-free. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can work in this way, and research consistently shows that online CBT works the same way as one-to-one therapy for a variety of common problems, including anxiety and depression.
I myself used an online CBT program last year when I was working on a book in addition to my usual deadlines and ended up feeling so stressed that sometimes I couldn’t concentrate or calm down. I found a free e-couch program from the Australian National University that starts with lessons that educate you about anxiety (if you are running an anxiety program). Based on a survey I did there, I found that my symptoms were less severe than those of people with generalized anxiety disorder , but I’ll probably still benefit from the program.
Working with the program involved many navigating a clumsy website, reading about anxiety, and sometimes answering questions by putting my thoughts into a form that no one but me would ever read. The program encouraged me to try meditation, which definitely helped me learn how to calm down when I felt increasing stress. Ultimately, the program was based on a set of problem-solving steps like those shown in this flowchart . I wrote about my concern, assessed if the solutions were realistic, brainstormed, chose one, and then returned to the website the next day to write down if the solution helped or not.
It was not therapy in the same sense as talking to a person, although personal therapy can also be a way of teaching CBT techniques. It was more like retraining my brain to think about problems differently, to solve them, rather than worry about them.
Erin Steyr, director of clinical research CCBT Limited , a company that develops a similar program, said that they are best suited for self-motivated people. Better yet, a coach can support you and help you stick to the program. This is the approach Joyable takes to social anxiety by providing a CBT program and trainer for $ 99 a month.
Since these programs are not medical practices, they are not necessarily subject to the same privacy laws. Dr. Steer says her company has taken steps to protect customer data from hackers, but they are not required to comply with laws such as HIPAA that govern how companies can process medical records.
Volunteer trainers can connect with people
There is a sweet spot between the two: talking to someone who is not a licensed professional therapist. 7 Cups of Tea works in this way by connecting paying customers with non-professional listeners. Blah Therapy offers chat sessions with professionals for a fee or with volunteers for free.
Dr. Vele also recalls observing a patient talking to an experimental chatbot. The bot told the patient that people sometimes like to find another person to talk to. The session ended with the patient logging out and deciding to discuss his problems with his sister.
The biggest risk of seeking help from any of the apps or services we’ve mentioned is if you want real, quality therapy and you end up not getting it. If your situation is serious or life-threatening (for example, if you have suicidal thoughts), the app may not be in your best interest.
You may be disappointed with even small problems if you try one of these services and find that it is not right for you. “If [online therapy] doesn’t work, it doesn’t mean that you cannot be helped,” emphasizes Dr. Vele. Perhaps you just need to try a different approach.
Ultimately, where you go for help depends on your problem. If you are unsure, it may be best to seek the help of a professional to assess your situation and then choose the path that best suits your needs. If you are in a difficult situation and need to make this decision now, you can call the hotline for various crisis situations .