Being broke is pretty bad. Being ashamed or embarrassed of who you are is even worse. And when these two things happen at the same time, it can be very difficult to feel good about yourself or get the most out of your life.
Unfortunately, these two things happen together a lot more often than you might think – namely when mental health is involved. A lot of people are unwilling to seek mental health treatment for a number of reasons – either because they’re unable to afford it or because they’re embarrassed about the stigma that is so often associated with mental health problems.
In this article, we’re going to talk about one of the most promising alternatives for people who find themselves in this situation: online counseling. Online counseling is a (relatively) new venture that allows people to connect with counselors and therapists from the comfort of their own homes.
Understanding the benefits of this unique form of counseling can be a great help for anyone who is struggling with the stigma against therapy or worried about the financial cost of actually seeking help.
What Is Online Counseling?
Online counseling is a form of counseling that is available over the internet. It has been cited time and again as a legitimate alternative for people who can’t afford therapy.
Various groups provide counseling platforms where registered and qualified therapists can sign up to provide services to clients. Clients also join the platform, where they are usually provided with a list of therapists who can help them with the issues that they have. Sometimes these sites will match you with a therapist by having you fill out a short questionnaire based on your experience.
The majority of online counseling is done through the use of video calling, but it’s also possible to connect with a therapist in other ways. Some platforms offer simply voice calling, and others allow you to communicate with therapists on-the-go via text message and email.
As you can imagine, this provides an impressive level of convenience that one wouldn’t normally find at a regular counselor’s office. It is known to be just as effective as traditional counseling while providing extra opportunities that one can’t get from a traditional therapist.
How Online Counseling Can Help the Broke & Embarrassed
If you’re too broke to afford conventional counseling, or if you’re embarrassed to be seen going to a counselor’s office, then online counseling can probably provide you with the alternatives that you need.
There are quite a few benefits to online counseling:
- It is often more affordable. Sessions are generally paid for beforehand, and most platforms offer bulk deals meaning that if you arrange for several sessions, they will end up being significantly cheaper.
- Some of these companies also accept insurance. This is an important factor, because it’s often quite difficult to find a therapist that accepts insurance – especially if you live in a rural area. Therapists are the least likely health professionals to accept insurance, which is a huge barrier for people who are not financially stable.
- It allows you to connect with therapists through the comfort of your smartphone or computer, meaning that you can actually get therapy from your home. You won’t need to be seen going into any therapist’s offices, and if you choose not to tell anyone, then nobody will even know that you’re seeking therapy.
- It can help people who are embarrassed about other issues, such as physical disabilities, that may make them uncomfortable to go out in public or meet with a therapist in person.
These are just a few of the key reasons why online counseling has been at the forefront of the mental health battle. There are many, many other reasons for it as well.
Conclusion
Countless people don’t seek therapy because they can’t afford it or because they’re afraid of the potential embarrassment it will bring. Online counseling provides a number of solutions to these problems, and should be strongly considered by anyone who is looking for therapy.
