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A new revolution in mental health! Why are more and more people choosing online therapy to overcome PTSD?
In the current mental health field, the use of online therapy to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has become a trend. With changes in lifestyle, more and more people are unable to seek psychological treatment in person for various reasons, making online intervention an ideal choice for them. This article will explore why online therapy can provide new hope and solutions for people facing PTSD.
Online therapy can eliminate geographical restrictions and give more people the opportunity to receive treatment.
Many patients may face various barriers when seeking psychological treatment, including a lack of resources and living in remote areas or small towns. For these patients, access to treatment is often limited, which not only affects their likelihood of receiving professional counseling but may also expose them to greater social stigma. Online therapy can increase the chances of people with PTSD getting help by removing these barriers.
At this stage, most of the online interventions being studied adopt the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and may be combined with cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and exposure therapy. According to different levels of support, online interventions can be roughly divided into two categories: one is "therapist-assisted" intervention, and the other is self-directed intervention. The former provides immediate access to a therapist, while the latter provides support only in emergencies.
No matter which form of online intervention is chosen, patients can learn valuable coping skills in the process.
In a therapist-assisted intervention, the patient communicates with the therapist via video conferencing, instant messaging, or telephone, and the therapist provides feedback and guides the patient's work. However, in self-directed interventions, patients typically do not have direct interaction with the therapist except in emergencies.
A number of current online interventions have shown the potential to be effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD, whether caused by combat trauma or other life events. A randomized controlled trial found that more structured interventions were generally more effective than those that only provided psychoeducation or motivation.
Therapist-assisted online intervention
High level of therapist involvement
For example, the Interapy project from the University of Amsterdam is a high-participation online intervention program. In this program, therapists provide patients with two 45-minute writing sessions per week in which they express their traumatic experiences in detail. The therapist tailors it appropriately to each participant's needs and provides feedback on the patient's writing assignments.
Interapy's ability to put trauma descriptions into words enables patients to better face and process their experiences.
Moderate level of therapist involvement
PTSD Online is another online intervention experiment involving moderate-level therapists. The program includes ten weeks of interactive training that provides step-by-step guidance on trauma and coping tools. Despite less therapist involvement, the program showed positive treatment effects at a follow-up assessment 3 months later.
Low level of therapist involvement
Another intervention program from Sweden was designed as a weekly module structure and required only a small number of therapists to participate, mainly providing necessary encouragement and support. Likewise, this regimen showed significant positive treatment effects at one-year follow-up.
Self-directed network intervention
For example, the "Coming Home and Moving Forward" program in development specifically targets veterans returning home from deployment and focuses on physical health issues that may be of greater interest to them. This program uses CBT tools to manage their mental health and provides solutions to challenge trauma-related distorted perceptions.
Many veterans believe such interventions can reduce the stigma around mental health and make them more willing to seek help.
However, this intervention program is not without flaws. Some participants said privacy concerns about sharing personal information remained a concern, which could also affect their honesty. Will this situation inhibit more people from seeking mental health support?
The rise of online therapy now provides new possibilities for individuals troubled by PTSD. In this way, they may be able to overcome difficulties and rebuild their lives more easily. What is your opinion in the face of such changes? Does this mean that more mental health resources will flow online in the future?