Is Online Therapy an effective treatment?
Overall, yes. Telepsychology has showed levels of effectiveness that are similar to those of in-person therapy for most psychological disorders of mild and moderate severity, including depression and anxiety, to name the most common.
However, its effectiveness with serious problems may be lower (psychosis, severe eating disorders, among others).
Is online therapy a good option for me?
You may find these reflections from the American Psychological Association (APA) helpful:
What are the advantages of online therapy?
- It avoids the journey or commuting (you save the effort, time and money invested in getting to the clinic)
- It is more accessible for people with permanent or temporary mobility difficulties
- It allows access to specialized services that are not available in some cities or towns
- It provides access to psychological treatment in your mother tongue when it is a minority language where you live (you can access a psychologist online in German, French, Polish, Hebrew, Chinese, Arabic, Dutch, Slovak, Romanian…)
- It takes care of the environment by significantly reducing CO2 emissions of travelling by car
Who is online therapy NOT recommended for?
In general, we do not recommend online therapy for severe cases with high functional impact (people who are not able to lead a normal life in any area of their life). Nor for children under 9 years of age or elderly people with sensory difficulties that prevent correct understanding and emission of language
There are patients for whom telepsychology does not work in the same way as face-to-face therapy and this depends not only on their digital skills but also on personal preferences, communication styles and personality traits.
Can online and in-person therapy be combined?
A recent study with the Spanish population showed how this mixed modality is very frequent and appreciated by patients:
Can a psychiatrist prescribe me medication with an online consultation?
Yes, if you live in Spain, there is an authorized online prescription platform accessible to all pharmacies in the country. The doctor will ask you for the necessary information to register: full name and surname, identification number (DNI, NIE or passport) and date of birth. Once your online consultation is finished, the psychiatrist will send you a prescription by email. This prescription will be sent to you from a platform called REMPE. You do not need to install anything or print it. Simply use the email on your mobile phone to go to any pharmacy and show the prescription QR code on your mobile phone. The pharmacist will scan the code and can give it to you. Of course, remember to bring your DNI, NIE or passport to identify yourself!
Can a SINEWS psychiatrist from Spain prescribe me medication if I live in another country in the European Union?
However, some medications are not available in other countries, so if you have any doubts about whether the drug you need is available or not, you can consult us before paying for the consultation by writing an email to info@sinews.es