Internet-Based Psychotherapy — a form of therapy that takes place over the internet usually over a video conference system or on a mobile phone application — is an increasingly popular intervention for psychiatric disorders. This type of treatment is especially useful for those who can’t make it to a therapist’s office because of work schedules, transportation constraints, lack of access or cost. Additionally, this type of therapy may be better for those who want to keep their treatment private due to stigma or fear of being seen by others.
The most effective psychological treatments used in Internet-Based Psychotherapy are cognitive behavioural therapies CBT and group therapy. CBT has been shown to be effective in a variety of different disorders including depression, anxiety, bulimia and anorexia nervosa and posttraumatic stress disorder resulting from war or disaster. Group therapy has also been shown to be effective in a number of conditions. Specifically, group-delivered acceptance commitment therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for PTSD and chronic medical conditions such as diabetes with comorbid mental health issues such as depression.
While many studies show that the use of e-therapy is effective in reducing symptoms, it’s important to remember that the effectiveness of Internet-Based Psychotherapy Ontario depends on how the treatment is administered. Most research indicates that guided internet-based psychological interventions are more effective than unguided ones. Typically, guided Internet-based psychological interventions consist of book length text materials, audio files and/or video clips along with the possibility for a therapist to provide feedback on completed homework assignments.
It’s also important to note that the therapist/client relationship is still just as important in on-line treatment as it would be face-to-face. When considering e-therapy, the client should make sure that their therapist subscribes to a professional code of ethics and that they agree to keep all conversations, instant messages or e-mails with the therapist confidential and not share this information with third parties. Additionally, the client should be aware that any communication via the internet will have to go through a server and that this server is not protected by security features as they would be in an in-person session.
Another disadvantage to internet-based psychotherapy is that it can be difficult for a therapist to respond quickly to an emergency situation that requires immediate attention such as when a client is having suicidal thoughts or has suffered a personal tragedy. For this reason, it’s not recommended to seek e-therapy for severe or urgent situations. For those in need of immediate help, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or 911 for assistance. For more helpful resources, check out our National Helpline Database. Hopefully, as the technology advances and becomes more available, telepsychiatry practices will continue to improve and become more integrated into mainstream healthcare. This will allow for greater flexibility in the delivery of psychological treatments for those who struggle to attend traditional in-person sessions. This will benefit those who are not able to receive treatment for a variety of reasons, including: lack of accessibility to services, limited mobility, financial and geographic restrictions and concerns about stigma.