Mental Health and Wellbeing Copywriter
If you’ve found it tricky accessing mental health support in the UK, you’re not alone. A rise in referrals, paired with a lack of available professionals, has meant those needing support are often left waiting extended periods to get the help they need. Due to this blockage, people have begun to look at alternatives to traditional NHS or private mental health support. One such option is teletherapy; giving patients access to qualified counselling and therapy services via telephone or video at their convenience. In our latest guide, we take a look at how teletherapy is making mental health support easier to access, while offering a cheaper and more accessible option to in-person therapy.
As effective as in-person therapy is, certain factors, including cost and transportation, make it inaccessible for some users. Teletherapy addresses this balance, allowing users to access treatment or counselling services via phone, video, instant messaging and several other digital mediums.
Today, teletherapy brands like Betterhelp or Talkspace are mainstream, often sponsoring popular radio shows and podcasts. However, they weren’t always as visible as they are today.
Teletherapy’s roots are said to have sprouted from an online advice column at Cornell University, which allowed students to seek guidance for various life challenges. The real first step, however, came in the 1990s, when Dr. David Sommers created a basic online therapy service, which went on to help 300 patients worldwide.
Fast forward to the millennium, and as more households began using personal computers, people could access more sophisticated versions of Dr. Sommers' model. Along with PCs came wider internet usage, allowing studies to measure the positive impacts of online therapy.
Over 30 years since its inception, teletherapy in 2024 is available via several different digital channels and offers support tailored to the needs of the individual user. By using a variety of mediums, users can choose the method of delivery that they are most comfortable with.
Like many services delivering bespoke support to customers, teletherapy uses modern technologies to make life easier. Whether that’s better access, or more choice when it comes to how sessions are conducted; it allows users to feel more in control, in turn making those accessing therapy for the first time, more open to different forms of support.
In-person therapy offers exactly that: a face-to-face conversation with no real wiggle room. Of course, it’s still a hugely popular avenue with a wide net of people. What it doesn’t offer, though, is options to accommodate the unexpected, like if you can’t leave home due to work or you have transport issues.
Teletherapy picks up this slack, offering several digital communication channels, three of which we’ll look at below.
Video conferencing is the closest to in-person therapy of the three and is also the most popular. It allows therapists to observe body language and other nuances that indicate and will enable them to respond to a patient's mental or physical condition. Video calls can also help build a rapport between callers, giving patients a sense of connection that may make them more open or responsive to treatment.
While video calls can be great for building the therapist-patient relationship, some people simply aren’t fond of communicating this way. They may feel pressured around how to act or intimidated by the visual element, it can even act as a roadblock in seeking the care they need. But a phone call? Most people have made a phone call in their lives, making it a familiar and comfortable mode of communication for most patients.
It also offers a similar real-time conversational element to video conferencing, but by removing the visual element, patients may feel more relaxed and less vulnerable.
While limited in scope compared to phone or video therapy, IM-based services are still convenient tools for those seeking consistent wellbeing support. They work well for those with limited time or who prefer to access therapy ‘as and when’.
They also function as a supplementary service for those who are using phone or video teletherapy but require guidance outside of their live sessions. They’re also useful if a therapist wants to check in on patients or monitor their progress.
In recent years, specifically during the 2020 pandemic and its aftermath, teletherapy has been a lifeline for those unable to access the wellbeing support they need. While pandemic isolation may have lessened, teletherapy continues to be a popular method of support due to its many benefits.
Here’s a scenario: You’ve discussed some concerns with a friend, and they suggested therapy might be a good option. You feel good about this and decide to book an appointment, but wait…you work 9-5, and so does your therapist, making it impossible to access support.
Teletherapy removes this blocker, often offering flexible time slots, including weekends and evening sessions. This is great news for people who need care but can’t access it due to working hour conflicts, childcare issues, or any number of other reasons.
Brands like BetterHelp also allow you to choose your therapist, meaning if you don’t feel comfortable with the one assigned to you, you can switch easily without feeling stressed or awkward.
Let’s talk location, geography, and where we live. Take rural areas, for example; while picturesque, they can often prevent people who lack transport, are elderly or have a disability from accessing the mental health support they need. Teletherapy cuts out the need to travel, requiring only an internet connection and either a phone or PC to access.
It also means that you can access care from anywhere in the world, whenever you need it. This ties into the consistent care teletherapy offers, meaning you won’t need to skip essential sessions, due to unforeseen circumstances.
A big reason people don’t seek help is fear of what others might think. Teletherapy gives users a safe space, free from judgement and opinion, where patients can work through challenges at a pace that suits them. Better yet, when people experience positive results from their teletherapy, it helps remove barriers for others around them to seek help for their wellbeing.
Teletherapy options often offer substantial savings. This is reflected twofold: the first is the price of the packages and subscriptions, which are less expensive due to therapists and counsellors having fewer overheads to cover (office, staffing, and transport costs). The second is the associated costs for patients, meaning they don’t need to pay to travel or take time off work to make their therapy appointments.
Long wait times are a significant blocker when it comes to accessing mental health support. It both prevents people from receiving initial support, while also blocking consistent care for those who have already received diagnoses.
Teletherapy allows users to be consistent with the care they receive. This includes using it for recovery and condition management, allowing access to support during crises, and fitting it into daily routines, such as keeping on track with their treatment plans. Those recovering from depression have also benefitted from teletherapy, likely a result of consistent guidance towards their wellbeing goals.
As convenient as teletherapy may sound, it’s important to consider whether it’s a suitable option for your needs. That isn’t to say teletherapy has any glaring issues per say, but here are a few things to review if you’re considering signing up.
We’ve all experienced technology outages, whether that’s a power cut or social media servers going down. The good news though, is that most online therapy sites are pretty stable, with most technical issues sitting with the users.
To ensure you can access your teletherapy services, check that you have a stable and strong internet connection that can handle video and audio calls. This will help reduce any interference or issues during virtual calls. You can also review your device's specifications to ensure it is capable of hosting online meetings. If you’re unsure how to do this, contact your device supplier for support.
With a litany of online threats designed to steal and corrupt our personal data, it’s important when using any third-party platform to protect yourself.
Of course, it’s the duty of any therapist to ensure your personal data is not shared unless they feel you’re in danger, but while you can rest assured that your teletherapy service values security, it’s worth ensuring your device is protected from unexpected online attacks.
You can do this first by checking your device security to ensure it is up to date, whether that’s antivirus, malware, or similar protection. It’s also worth enquiring how your teletherapy service manages its security, most use end-to-end encryption to ensure data is kept between the user, platform, and appointed therapist.
As a form of mental health support, your teletherapy provider must follow the same rules and regulations as an in-person therapist to ensure they use your data correctly. These regulations exist to protect patient's personal data and to ensure they receive the best care possible.
Most teletherapy providers use therapists and counsellors who also practice privately. This means they should be aware of why these regulations exist, and will have received training on how to comply with them. You can learn more about these guidelines on the website of the governing body for these regulations, Care Quality Commission (CQC).
You wouldn’t want an unqualified doctor performing surgery on you, so why should therapy be any different? Luckily, there are certain checks and balances that need to be ticked off before any therapist can treat patients either in person or virtually.
These include meeting the requirements of governing bodies like the HCPC, showing relevant qualifications, and adhering to a strict code of ethics. While most of the leading teletherapy platforms do this, it’s worth checking their licensing policies to ensure you receive the best support possible.
It’s important to understand that no single option is better than the other. They both serve different purposes, and individuals can benefit from both depending on what they’d like to gain from therapy.
That said, studies have shown that teletherapy can be as effective as in-person therapy for treating anxiety, depression and PTSD. This is likely due to the convenience teletherapy offers to its users. The freedom to attend sessions from anywhere, book sessions around your schedule, and choose your method of communication; all of these benefits allow patients to feel in control of their therapy experience, leading to positive outcomes as a result.
The short answer is yes. Many healthcare providers have acknowledged the benefits of teletherapy, often introducing it as a personal service or as part of Employee Assistance Programs for businesses.
Due to overwhelming demand for mental health support, insurers like Bupa have included teletherapy in their plans - allowing policyholders to access wellbeing support without the cost of private care.
If you have or are part of a health insurance plan and need mental health support, check with your provider or policy administrator to see if teletherapy is available. It could save you a significant amount in private therapy costs.
When it comes to fixing a broken system, the solution often comes incrementally, with baby steps. And while demand for mental health support increases, we can look to services like teletherapy, not as the answer, but as a step towards more accessible and flexible wellbeing support in the UK.
With teletherapy, patients can access mental health support at their convenience; choosing the time, place and method of communication. So if you’re struggling to find mental health support, either privately or on the NHS, it’s worth investigating as a practical, effective and cost-efficient alternative to in-person therapy.
Disclaimer: This information is general and what is best for you will depend on your personal circumstances. Please speak with a financial adviser or do your own research before making a decision.
Dan is a mental health and wellbeing writer. He works with professionals and organisations; helping them spend more time supporting their clients. Previously, Dan worked as literature manager for one of the UK’s largest insurers, before spending time writing e-course material.
