Online Therapy or Should I Tell My Best Friend?
We are living in times of change and uncertainty, and only those of us who are more adaptable and flexible will be able to get on board. In life, we have all experienced complex situations, and that is precisely where psychology takes its place. It is a thing of the past to think that therapy was only for a select few or in very serious situations. It has been proven that we all need therapy, regardless of our race, economic status, or social situation.
Seeking therapeutic support can help us discover our purpose in life, improve our perceptions of people and things, and work through past issues that have caused us harm, among other things. Sometimes, it's necessary for a third person to guide us in uncovering what's holding us back or impeding our progress in life.
Advantages of taking Online Therapy
In the age of communications, technology has allowed us to connect in significant ways that were previously simply inconceivable. It has allowed for a simpler, cheaper, and more accessible process than face-to-face contact, in addition to saving time and money by not having to travel from one place to another.
Online therapy allows patients to open up more by allowing sessions to take place in a familiar, comfortable space that allows them to relax at a distance and behind a screen. This is a great way to protect each person's privacy.
It's been proven that, in many cases, it's easier to start a conversation with someone you don't know, especially when it comes to a specialist whose goal is to accompany you and help you resolve the issues that are causing you discomfort.
It's a great way to speak with a psychology specialist in a very close, friendly way, but with the difference that in this case, you'll receive a response from an expert in the field.
There is a deep intimacy and privacy, and everything you discuss with the specialist remains anonymous, allowing complete openness for those who feel uncomfortable with the mere idea of attending someone's office.
Dare, you have nothing to lose!
With online sessions, we can unpack everything we carry and think, as well as the discomfort it causes us. You'll feel a greater sense of well-being, tranquility, and the confidence that you're placing your privacy in the hands of a professional. You'll feel the peace of mind knowing you've taken the first big step in any therapeutic support: asking for help.
A psychologist knows the right path to follow and will guide you on the path to improving your emotional health, with proven, long-lasting results that will improve your quality of life.
Online Therapy or Should I Tell My Best Friend?
We ask ourselves this question all the time. We've mistakenly believed that social media can function as a therapeutic space, unaware that it has the exact opposite effect. Misuse of social media can affect our self-esteem, our perceptions, and our mood.
Today, communication has become easier. There are countless apps that allow us to stay in touch with family and friends instantly, and it becomes a very useful tool when it comes to expressing how we feel or what we think. What is very important is to differentiate between the help of a close person and that of a professional who can help us solve a problem correctly.
In an Online Therapy session, we can address a myriad of issues, and with the experience of a professional, these are addressed in an objective and structured manner with the goal of improving your mental and emotional health.
If you're one of those people who thinks you don't need a psychologist because your friends give the best advice, here are a few reasons why you might want to understand the difference.
- Our friends do not have psychology studies
Our friends love us, they know us, and we've spent a good part of our lives with them. Advice from friends is quick, impartial, and somewhat superficial. These are certainly valuable words, but they don't offer a long-term solution.
On the other hand, a psychologist helps you find a solution from the root, conducting a series of sessions that help you feel better, understand the problem, and transform the initial situation into a clearer and more manageable path for you.
It will help you differentiate between battles, conflicts, or the feelings that plague you, and it will also teach you techniques to manage them whenever they arise and eventually extinguish them. In other words, proper management of your emotions.
- A friend's advice is loaded with subjectivity
Our friends will usually give us advice based on what we've experienced with them or our own history. Objectivity will be lost because there will be a clear inclination to agree with us; because fundamentally, what they're looking for is to make us feel better, quickly. It's not for nothing that we love them so much.
A professional will present all the information needed by the parties involved and help you identify the source of the disagreement. They will offer you an objective view of the situation with a thorough and accurate diagnosis, understanding the root of the problem.
When you see a professional, you begin to take responsibility and control of your emotions. A psychologist will delve into the core of a situation with the goal of clarifying, discussing, evaluating, and ultimately improving it.
It's natural for us to receive help from our friends, but we always have to recognize that there's a big difference between receiving advice from a friend and being accompanied by an emotional professional.
- We all have issues to resolve, including our friends.
A friend will always be there for you. The point is, we all have our own problems, and it's common for our friends to have theirs. We shouldn't overwhelm those close to us with our own issues, because their advice may be loaded with subjective elements that could be counterproductive. On the other hand, a psychologist is prepared to receive a wealth of information and will always maintain an objective approach with the goal of improving your emotional health.
Let's share good times, joys, and of course sadness, with our friends, but without placing our mental and emotional health at their mercy.
- Psychologists should not treat their friends
Part of a psychologist's professional ethics is to avoid treating their close circle, whether family or friends. If there is prior acquaintance and affection, the psychologist's primary function, which is to facilitate the improvement of people's mental and emotional health with profound objectivity, is likely to be hindered. This is a clear example of why it is also not advisable for friends to act as psychologists.
If you want to improve your well-being, we at Psycolocity can help. Contact us and BE your best self.