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Online therapy - an...
 

Online therapy - any experience?

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I’ve been looking into Betterhelp mainly to keep my CBT topped up for anxiety, and wondered if anyone has experience of this or other platforms?  Any pitfalls / good points?    At face value I’m thinking it’s a slightly cheaper & more convenient version of a once a month IRL appointment.

Thanks


 
Posted : 05/10/2024 12:02 pm
 beej
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No experience, but they have a slightly dodgy reputation. Other online services are available.

https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2023/03/ftc-says-online-counseling-service-betterhelp-pushed-people-handing-over-health-information-broke


 
Posted : 05/10/2024 12:09 pm
 Drac
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I used online during covid, worked Ok but find face to face much better. Also it was weekly as monthly is too far apart to be effective.


 
Posted : 05/10/2024 12:10 pm
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The NHS are apparently rolling out online services now. Depends on your local trust. I’ve been meaning to look into it, I think it might suit me. Would need GP referral.


 
Posted : 05/10/2024 12:28 pm
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Good friend of mine used Betterhelp. It was pretty transformative.

My brother in law is quite a senior counselling psychologist, and said a lot of the negative press about them was as a result of quite an aggressive recruitment strategy and the subsequent employment conditions. It wasn't a reflection on the quality of the therapy. (Whether or not this sort of therapy is best for a person is a different subject)


 
Posted : 05/10/2024 12:40 pm
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Online therapies are fine. The biggest issue is that you "connect" with the counsellor rather than who they work for


 
Posted : 05/10/2024 12:54 pm
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I did an NHS online course through my gp. Thought it was pretty good for what I wanted. You get out what you put in, so I think you need to be disciplined to make the most of it.

Some of it I just didn't understand the exercises, but on the whole it was very worthwhile and I learned a lot.

The therapist input was very low key, more that it encouraged you to keep going with it. They did help with specific issues though


 
Posted : 05/10/2024 2:18 pm