Text based recovery options might be a solid supplemental option for addiction recovery.
“Terence…understands the many variables of addiction and applies them to his feedback,” writes A.N. “He’s been an invaluable part of my recovery process.”
While this type of therapist review may not be unusual, this one is unique because it comes from a user of the text-based online therapy provider, BetterHelp.
Along with Talkspace, BetterHelp and other online therapy providers are growing in popularity, with each service boasting thousands of subscribers. The services offer unlimited text-based messaging through their online/app-based platform. Users have an open “room” with a trained mental health practitioner who responds to messages regularly. Video, audio and live chat sessions are available for additional costs. All providers on both services are vetted licensed mental health practitioners.
Individual therapy can be crucial for many people in recovery, especially following intensive care. So how useful are these modern day therapy tools for addiction support and aftercare?
The most distinctive feature of text messaging therapy is the regular access it affords. A user’s personal chat room is open 24/7. This means clients can write as many messages to their therapist as needed. Though therapists typically only reply to messages once or twice daily, there’s still significantly less waiting time between interactions as opposed to traditional weekly in-person sessions.
“You can write a message at any time and counselors will typically respond within 24 to 48 hours if not sooner,” says Sonya Bruner, BetterHelp’s clinical director and a BetterHelp therapist. “When you’re at a moment where you’re struggling, you can reach out right then instead of having to hold it all until your weekly session.”
For more information on how text-based treatment and recovery options might be an effective option, head over to the full article From the Digital Couch—Online Therapy for Addiction Recovery at The Fix.
from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2017/05/19/technology-for-addiction-treatment-and-recovery/
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