This increase in demand is a reflection on the growth of reported mental health symptoms experienced during the pandemic. According to a recent study conducted by consulting firm McKinsey & Company, use of telehealth services was 38 times higher in July 2021 now than in February 2020. But it wasn’t until COVID hit that telemedicine became somewhat mainstream. Since then, it has been mainly used to treat patients in remote areas that have limited access to healthcare. In the late 1950s it was used to conduct video consultations at hospitals, then later for NASA scientists monitoring the health of astronauts in outer space. “Online therapy ended up opening many doors for me as a single work-from-home mom, thanks to its awesome flexibility,” Bennett tells us over email. Since the platform allows for text-based therapy as well as video sessions, Bennett was able to communicate around the clock if she was in need of additional support, and simply type if she wasn’t able to speak out loud. According to its website, the organization has over 20,000 licensed mental health practitioners who have conducted over 147 million psychotherapy sessions. Like other online therapy platforms, BetterHelp connects people with licensed providers, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers. “Therapy and medication have been my saving graces.” “Working on my mental health was the best possible thing I could do for ,” Bennett tells us over email. She ended up turning to online therapy platform, BetterHelp, one of the largest companies in the teletherapy space. One of her biggest worries was that she would never be a good enough mother to her twins due to her mental health-and therapy was one way she could ensure that she could show up as her best self. Although medication helped her get her bipolar disorder under control, she knew she still needed therapy to work on herself. Working all day while looking after her young twins, Bennett needed help: She was seeking support for her Bipolar 2 diagnosis, as well as increased anxiety and depression post-divorce. Mental health advocate and mom blogger Lynneah Bennett began looking for online therapy options after the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020. This modern day therapy enables licensed and certified therapists to work remotely with patients through online therapy sessions, and can often result in patients feeling more relaxed in their home setting. Teletherapy refers to mental health services that are delivered through technology, like phone calls or video conferences. With the stress of a global pandemic and suspension of in-person services, teletherapy has been a total game changer for those seeking mental health assistance in the age of COVID-19, but don’t just take it from me. Maybe three on bad WiFi days.Īs a mental health advocate and writer who specializes in mental health and wellness, I am a firm believer in getting help when you need it. All I need to do is open up my MacBook and log into my therapist’s HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant virtual office. Now, my commute to treatment is non-existent.
It used to be that it took an hour and a half train ride-and a small chunk of my sanity-to get to therapy each week.
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