Life is busy. Adding one more thing to your already packed routine, especially if it involves a commute and time spent in a waiting room, can be especially taxing on your patience when too many other things vie for your time.
And while this is true, it’s a not-so-great mentality to maintain. You have to get your oil changed, you need check-ups at the dentist, you have to get your hair cut regularly. Some activities might be less enjoyable than others (it’s much more fun to sport a new hair style than sit through a teeth cleaning), but at the end of the day, it’s for your own good, it’s important to your health and it can help make your life that much better.
That being said, having numerous appointments can still be exhausting, so thanks to new efforts in eating disorder online counseling, what used to take up a handful of hours in a day now only uses the time it takes to log into a video conferencing call and talk with your therapist right in your own home.
Online counseling
Certain situations can inhibit people from routinely making office visits while receiving eating disorder treatment. Transportation issues, long commutes or lack of time play a major role in whether or not someone is able to receive treatment. Yet these inconveniences should not determine whether or not an individual can receive the healthcare they need. For this reason, online counseling can offer an effective alternative method to treatment.
While online counseling differs from traditional in-person counseling by its nature, the counseling process and results are nearly the same. You still get to meet with your counselor, talk about what’s going on in your life and receive professional and personalized help. The crucial difference is that treatment is conducted over a video call, which can be more convenient, especially if you really don’t want to change out of your sweatpants.
Online counseling and eating disorders
One of the potential benefits of online counseling is increased availability. This can be especially helpful during increased times of difficulty, such as before or during mealtimes. By being able to reach out to your counselor with a brief text message, you can receive the support you need when you need it most.
Other benefits to online counseling can include:
- Increased privacy
- Treatment anywhere at any time
- Options for one-on-one or group sessions
- Eliminated waiting periods
Even virtually, your therapist will be able to assist with other aspects of treatment, including medication management. During your virtual call, the two of you will be able to create a strategy just as effectively as if you were in the same room together.
Does online counseling for eating disorders work?
As its popularity has grown, especially due to the complications of the pandemic alone, online counseling has been questioned in its effectiveness. However, several studies have shown that online counseling is just as effective in treating mental illnesses as in-person counseling. Of course, this in part relies on the client’s willingness to remain dedicated to treatment, but by continuing to meet regularly and work through the tasks and “homework” assigned by one’s therapist, recovery can be successfully achieved.
When further treatment is needed
With eating disorders, online counseling is a good option for clients who have journeyed through the intensive early stages of eating disorder treatment. An online counselor offers support and can be helpful in checking up on a client’s progress and staying up to date on their client’s recovery journey.
However, there are certain times when online counseling for eating disorders alone is not enough. For clients who require more frequent monitoring or intense care, it would be much more beneficial to their health to consider whether a partial hospitalization program is the important next step in their journey.
For those in need of an intensive outpatient group, however, these can be (and are!) conducted through BlueJeans, the HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platform utilized at Seeds of Hope.
Reach out today
No matter where in your journey you find yourself, Seeds of Hope remains dedicated as ever to your personal journey. By focusing on the whole person – body, mind and spirit – no matter if it’s online or in-person, you can receive personalized, gentle and intentional eating disorder treatment at Seeds of Hope.
To speak with someone who can help today, contact Seeds of Hope at (610) 644-6464.
