Online Psychological Therapy and Coronavirus: A Safe Way to Access Treatment
Online Psychological Therapy and Coronavirus: A Safe Way to Access Treatment
What are the potential benefits of Online Psychological Therapy for receiving treatment safely during the COVID-19 health emergency? Who were the users of Online Psychological Therapy before the pandemic began? How effective is Online Psychological Therapy, and how can it help contain the psychological emergency?
A lot has changed in recent months. The social restrictions imposed by the Government after the decree of March 9—introducing urgent measures to contain and manage the COVID-19 epidemic—have altered not only Italians’ habits, as people gradually saw their personal freedom reduced while required to remain in precautionary home quarantine, but also the way psychological care is accessed.
Although the psychological profession was not formally restricted from seeing clients in private offices, many professionals and clients chose to continue therapy safely by switching to online psychological therapy. Among them, some clients with little familiarity with technology decided to interrupt therapy out of fear that the online method would create a physical distance that made the therapeutic approach feel too “cold.” Others—particularly those working remotely or generally more flexible in the face of change—adapted very well to online psychological therapy, finding it both valid and even advantageous during this period of significant limitations.
Online Psychological Therapy Existed Before Coronavirus: Who Used It Before the Pandemic?
Many might assume that online psychological therapy developed and spread solely for safety reasons during the COVID-19 emergency, as if it had not previously had a meaningful place among psychological services. It’s certainly true that demand for online therapy increased exponentially during the crisis—just like many other web-based services. Yet few people realize that, after a slow start, the demand for online therapy had already been steadily growing in recent years.
Online psychological therapy is widely used by specific segments of the Italian population who have particular needs and find it more convenient to begin therapy from home, without the stress of commuting—including traveling to a psychologist’s office.
Who used online psychological therapy before Coronavirus?
- People who work long hours or travel for work: These groups often struggle to attend sessions in a therapist’s office. A meaningful course of therapy requires consistency and the ability to set aside personal time without fearing you won’t be able to follow through. Online therapy is the right choice for those who want to work on personal goals without the stress of interrupting treatment due to work issues.
- Those who, due to shyness, inhibition, or fear of being judged by family, find it difficult to go to a professional’s office: Online methods tear down barriers and can include people who are naturally shy, inhibited, or worried about judgment. Today, thanks to social networks, chats, and videoconferencing, many people manage to socialize without fear of being judged. The initial hurdle is taking that first step to work on a personality that may be hypersensitive or overly focused on others’ opinions—choosing an online psychologist can mark the start of a personal-growth journey.
- People with chronic illnesses: Chronic illness can periodically make free movement difficult or impossible. For these individuals, following therapy in an office is challenging because they cannot always predict or guarantee continuity. Online therapy gives them the opportunity to continue treatment, easing anxiety-depressive symptoms that accompany flare-ups and helping improve overall health.
- People with severe anxiety or depression who are unable to travel: These individuals rarely would have gone to an office, since symptoms can be so disabling that leaving home is not feasible. Online therapy allows them to improve their symptoms and learn to manage them—because sessions can be attended from home.
- People with reduced mobility: Those who have physical difficulties accessing public health facilities and daily commuting find online therapy helpful for reconnecting with themselves and working on resources and potential without giving up on feeling better.
- People who like to try new methods: Finally, some people are simply curious and want to understand the difference between traditional and online methods. Often they have already followed therapy in person—interrupted or completed—and want to see whether online therapy suits them. This category also includes many younger clients who, even without prior in-person therapy, prefer online therapy because it better fits their schedules and habits.
Effectiveness of Online Psychological Therapy and the Psychological Emergency During Coronavirus
I have already written about the effectiveness of online psychological therapy in my blog article “Online Therapy: 10 Myths About Psychologists on the Web” (see my website: www.jessicazecchini.it). Comparing research studies, I show that online psychological therapy has the same validity and effectiveness as face-to-face therapy, provided certain adjustments are made to suit the technological medium.
What I wish to highlight here is that this health emergency has made visible the large number of people affected by psychological difficulties—an area where online therapy can be a vital resource, doing its part to support the Italian population. Forced isolation and quarantine have exacerbated anxiety symptoms, panic, health anxiety, and obsessive thoughts related to pandemic stress—impacting one in three Italians, according to recent data from the National Council of the Order of Psychologists (CNOP).
Requests for help are rising for reactive anxiety-depressive symptoms linked to isolation, loneliness, lack of social relationships, job loss, and difficulty processing grief. Added to this are family and relationship problems due to enforced cohabitation, and in some cases increases in domestic violence. In such situations, immediate intervention in the family context is essential to protect victims and prevent tragic outcomes.
In a psychological emergency that erupted suddenly following the spread of COVID-19—and considering the practical difficulties of welcoming clients into offices for safety reasons—online psychological therapy offers a prompt, safe, and effective channel for care. As psychologists, we have a duty to help contain the risks of this psychological emergency, so that when this is over, the population can emerge stronger, more aware, and more united.
