Teletherapy: It's Role In Improving Employees Wellness

With the rising concern for health and wellness today, mental health awareness is growing, especially after the covid-19. The advancement and accessibility to healthcare technology have allowed individuals to look closely into the matter.

One of them is teletherapy, a remote therapy that uses technology to help the therapist and client communicate. Teletherapy requires no physical contact or laboratory tests, replicating most therapy experiences virtually, especially with video chat.

Understanding Teletherapy

Teletherapy is a form of telehealth that uses technology to connect patients and health professionals remotely.

Teletherapy sessions are not much different from traditional face-to-face therapies. A licensed therapist will connect with the client via text, email, or video conferencing and get to know them and the range of issues troubling them. Following that, the therapist will share the treatment goals, suggest behavioral changes, prescribe medicines, etc.

The whole process happens virtually which is the best part as it saves a lot of time.

Things That You Need To Know About Teletherapy

Emerging research advises that teletherapy treats issues for which scientists have tested it. Also, an analysis suggests that distance-based cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques is as effective as in-person treatment. Some examples of teletherapy include:

1. Therapy sessions over the phone
2. Group chat for group therapy
3. Videoconferencing options for individuals, couples, or a group
4. Treatments through email or instant messenger
5. Apps that associate clients with therapists and offer sessions within the app

Teletherapy For Employees

The pressure at work seems unending as the around-the-clock work culture reduces the work and home life balance. Teletherapy can, therefore, help with a wide range of conditions and issues, including depression, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma, and chronic stress.

According to WHO, an estimated 3.8% of the population is affected by depression, including 5.0% among adults and 5.7% among adults older than 60 years. The above factors can hamper an employee's work-life making them more stressed out, unhealthy, and unhappy, and losing focus and productivity.

Mental health is still considered taboo, so visiting the doctor in person becomes quite a task. Moreover, remote employees might not even have the option of booking themselves a session. So, the question arises: What are you, as an empathetic and thinking employer, going to do about it?

Teletherapy is the answer. Providing teletherapy can help employees access mental and behavioral healthcare services. If organizations provide teletherapy services to their employees, it will result in the overall well-being and success of the organization. Besides, it is a cost-effective initiative that tends to promote a positive organizational culture.

Steps that can be taken at the workplace for employees wellness

• Effective leadership and management of mental health issues.
• Promote mindfulness meditation and holistic wellness solutions.
• Provide integrated health counseling, services and workshops.
• Spread awareness and take prevention measure.
• Implementation of corporate wellness programs like Vantage Fit.
  (Vantage fit is a comprehensive corporate employee health and wellness platform that provides overall well-being solutions)

Benefits of Teletherapy

If you are still not sure about the effectiveness of teletherapy, worry not. Here are a few benefits of this new-age integration of health and technology that will surely blow your mind.

1. Easily Accessible

Health care is now just a few clicks away. All your employees will ever need is an internet connection and tada! They can connect with a therapist or doctor over the web and fix themselves a session according to their convenience.

Such ease in access is a blessing for employees working remotely and who do not have the privilege of getting mental health care in their area due to stigma or unavailability. Moreover, teletherapy is a saving grace for employees with disabilities or chronic conditions, who might sometimes need urgent attention in emergencies.

2. Low Cost

Teletherapy is exceptionally pocket-friendly. Connecting to a therapist online is usually less expensive than in-person therapy. It saves you the energy and money you would otherwise spend on personally visiting a therapist.

Moreover, it saves you time, and time is money.

3. Offers Privacy

One of the absolute wonders of teletherapy services is that it offers clients and patients the privacy they need and deserve.

Mental health issues are still stigmatized in the united states and around the world. Many people avoid seeking help from a professional therapist because they do not want to feel alienated and judged.

With teletherapy, people can seek help and treatment from the privacy of their space. No more worrying about regressive judgments!

Read: 56 Morning Meditation Quotes To Help You Start A Wonderful Day At Work

Bottom Line

The United States healthcare is one of the costliest in the world. So it goes without saying that the company health insurance is expensive as well.

The cost of health coverage has outpaced wage growth, which has gone up by 26% in the last decade.

Thus, it is in your best interest as an employer to make informed and smart decisions for your employees. Your employees’ health should be a top priority for your company.

This article is written by Priyakshi Sharma who is a content marketer at Vantage Circle. In her free time, she is found writing about cinema, life, and everything in between. For any related queries, contact editor@vantagecircle.com