Many people at some point in their lives consider therapy to help them in some way. Whether you are under a lot of stress, are concerned about personal growth, are dealing with a particular situation, or are suffering from mental illness, therapy can be a good place to start to get mentally and emotionally healthy.
However, one of the biggest blocks to using therapy for personal and mental health improvement is finances. The average brick and mortar therapist charges $75 to $300 per session. While the health legislation passed by Congress in 2012 requires health insurance companies to cover mental health services, not every doctor or therapist accepts insurance.
In fact, about 80 percent of the therapists nationwide do not work with any insurance companies at all. Because of this, many people cannot afford to pay the high rates for therapy sessions. This is a major obstacle to getting the help that is needed.
Enter Telehealth
Telehealth therapy services like Better Help, among others, are changing this for thousands of people. With telehealth services, you can often get a therapist at a much cheaper rate. In addition, you have complete control over the duration and frequency of your sessions, so you can only get the therapy that you can reasonably afford with your budget.
Telehealth is just like traditional therapy, except it is conducted online through text or video chat sessions. Most of the common treatment methods that are used in therapy can be exercised in these telehealth sessions. Those methods that cannot be done easily through telehealth can often be adapted and given to the patient as homework.
Additional Cost Savings
There are additional costs to therapy besides the session fee that are eliminated with telehealth. If you live in a rural area or small community, you may have to drive some way to be able to get counseling services. However, with telehealth, you don’t have to drive anywhere, which saves you money on fuel.
In fact, you can participate in therapy sessions from literally anywhere with telehealth. Most people have a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or all three. If you have just one of these devices, data or internet connection, you can participate in online therapy.
Additionally, some people have to miss work to attend therapy sessions during regular business hours. This loss of time at work usually results in loss of income, and you may not be able to afford it. There are also the intangible costs of missing work, such as using the sick time you may need in the future or being reprimanded for missing work hours.
Telehealth eliminates these costs because it is available in the early mornings, evenings, and weekends so that you can schedule sessions around your busy work schedule. You can also schedule around other obligations such as children’s activities, school, or community involvement. Having so much flexibility in when you participate in therapy is one of the main benefits of telehealth. For more information or to start your own online therapy, click here.
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
