Betterhelp Vs In-Person Therapy Services
By
OptimistMinds
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Author bio
The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
This article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both online services provided by the company Betterhelp in comparison to the in person services provided by physical clinics when it comes to mental health. The article will also describe the characteristics of each medium of service to achieve a better understanding of the said topic.
Betterhelp Vs In Person Counseling Services: Which Is Better?
Whether it is Betterhelp’s online services or in-person therapy provided by a clinic in town, each type of service provider has its own pros and cons; it would be needless to say that there are certain factors (relative) that actually determine which type of service provider is most suitable for you at the moment!
There are a number of factors that determine whether a service is good or bad. Let us consider a few.
- Affordability
- Effectiveness
- Convenience
- Quality of Service
- Personal Requirements
These may include it’s affordability, convenience and the extent to which it meets your needs or not – in simple words, is it effective or not? It is possible a service is pretty good and up to the mark however it does not entertain your problems or needs hence in your eyes it will not be good, appropriate or useful. Perception and situation matter.
It is typical that services which do not require a physical but virtual space have less fixed costs hence they do not have to charge as much as physical companies in order to cover costs and reach the break even point! In this case, online services have the edge of being more affordable when it comes to providing services. However that is not the final verdict and there are many things to consider that affect the final costs and the quality of service of course!
Similarly, online services are more accessible by people compared to services being provided in person but do they offer that human element which is experienced when you meet a counselor face to face?
As you can see, it is not so easy to determine which service is better, Betterhelp or in person therapy services. Before we delve into the discussion of which type of service is better, we will examine both types of services when it comes to mental health.
What Is Betterhelp?
Betterhelp is one of the largest online platforms that provides multiple services for all types of people who are suffering from mental health problems and require counseling. What is great about this service is that it is online hence it is available anywhere and every time. You do not have to go to the doctor’s office to get an appointment or wait in line for your turn. This is great if you feel pretty down and getting out of bed is a challenge for you!
With around 1700 licensed professionals onboard, more than 900,000 clients and having conducted at least 70 million sessions online, it would be insufficient to say it is just one of those online platforms that provide mental health services! The best thing about Betterhelp is that it is available to all people regardless of their background and ensures people can choose the medium of communication that is most appropriate for them such as chatting, calls or video sessions with their counselors.
What Is An In Person Therapy Service?
It is a fancy term for the services you receive at a clinic that exists in the physical and not the virtual online world. Here, clients will go meet their counselor or therapist face to face for a session relevant to counseling or therapy.
These sessions provide a holistic picture to the therapist as they do not only talk to the client but also observe them in person; they can read their body language, sense how they feel and identify abnormalities in the way they talk, behave or even exist within a certain space. Furthermore, the client is able to communicate openly and develop a relationship with their therapists; this helps the therapy process which leads to better results and quick progress.
The Pros & Cons of Betterhelp – An Online Therapy Service
Here are the pros and cons of availing online services from Betterhelp:
- Accessible
- Effective
- Affordable
- Reduces Barriers to Therapy
- Increased Privacy
- No Face to Face Interaction
- Not Sufficient Information for Therapist
Accessible
The best thing about Betterhelp is that it can be accessed at any time from anywhere around the world; the company has a diverse set of working professionals on their panel who are available around the clock. Regardless of your time zone and location, you will be paired with a counselor.
Effective
Betterhelp is a company that is diverse and promotes inclusivity so no matter who you are, what age group you belong to or what minority you represent, at Betterhelp your issues will always be entertained. Furthermore, as the client does not meet the counselor face to face or can keep their identity hidden, there is a lesser chance of experiencing an unpleasant situation such as discrimination; also, the people on the panel are aware that they will be working with diverse individuals so they are usually up for the job!
Affordable
Keeping other factors at bay, the costs of running a company online are way less than those of a brick and mortar one. However, if you are running an online business that incorporates recruitment practices from across the globe, costs will vary if not increase always. Nonetheless, online services like Betterhelp are cheaper compared to most in person therapy services.
Reduces Barriers to Therapy
Many people are uncomfortable going to therapy, especially the younger generation. So taking it online may actually reduce the barriers of having a physical session; over time the person may become comfortable with the idea of availing therapy and eventually accept the idea of meeting one in person especially if their mental health demands it.
Increased Privacy
Betterhelp provides the option of chatting sessions as well as call sessions; if the client is comfortable enough they can also go for video sessions. However, in person therapy is always face to face hence people may avoid that because they do not want to reveal their identity especially if they have a lot of history they want to delete.
No Face to Face Interaction
Online services are not for everyone especially those who need to be physically in a room with someone to open up; in fact it can be difficult to open up if you are not with the person on the other side of the screen.
Not Sufficient Information for Therapist
This can be a problem; the therapist needs to have enough information to guide the counselee in a better manner. The quality of service may reduce if online sessions are conducted. Furthermore, online sessions may prevent the counselor from identifying dangerous situations such as individuals who are suicidal especially if the session only involves chatting.
The Pros & Cons of In Person Therapy
We do understand that compared to online therapy sessions, in person therapy can be more expensive and not accessible to all. Also, some people may not be comfortable in revealing their identity by showing up at a clinic especially in a place where a lot of stigma is attached. However apart from these cons, the in person therapy does have pros:
- Increased Effectiveness
- Better Diagnosis
- More Opportunities to Improve
Increased Effectiveness
The in person therapy session may suit some people more because they need to be in a physical setting in order to open up. Also, their mental health may require that they go for physical sessions rather than online ones. Maybe they need more attention, have to be observed more closely or they need human interaction which they have been lacking over time.
Better Diagnosis
In these cases, the therapist is in a better position to not only guide the counselee but diagnose them with a condition if it is required or allowed as part of the session. To be diagnosed is something complex; chatting is not enough and you need to physically see the person and also observe how they behave in order to get to the true issue.
More Opportunities to Improve.
Counseling is not all about talking. Psychological health is complex and requires cognitive and behavioral efforts – sometimes clients need to be present in person and take part in activities. The tests that are conducted on them require them to be present in person. Furthermore, if they are present physically, they can engage in healthy activities as part of the session that will be more effective as compared to trying to do them online.
Conclusion
The article above discussed which type of services are better when it comes to mental health and its associated problems; online services such as Betterhelp or in person therapy. The article not only discussed the pros and cons of each service but also introduced them to the reader!
References
https://www.cnet.com/health/online-vs-in-person-therapy-cost-confidentiality-accessibility-and-more/
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