Skype therapy: what are its benefits?

April 20, 2024

The advancement of new technologies has allowed psychologists to get closer and closer to their patients without losing the quality of information and the confidence necessary for therapeutic benefits to occur. Nowadays, thanks to the use of the Internet, it is possible to reach more people, regardless of the distance that separates them and from the comfort of home, with the same effectiveness as face-to-face therapy.

One of the preferred options by many psychologists and patients to carry out the therapy online is Skype . In this article we will discuss the characteristics and benefits of this form of therapy.

Related article: "Types of psychological therapies"

How Skype therapy works

Many patients, either for the convenience of conducting therapy sessions from home or for the impossibility of going to the therapeutic center, prefer remote psychotherapy. For less than a decade, some psychologists and even large psychology centers offer the therapy service via Skype .

The idea of this type of therapy is the approach of a person who requires psychological help with a professional of Psychology, with the purpose that the latter will provide tools to restore well-being and improve their quality of life. Thanks to the technological advances of recent times, practically anyone has access to this software , which is easy to install, configure and, therefore, to start using.

Skype therapy sessions are conducted through video call, so it is necessary to have a series of requirements:

Computer or tablet
Webcam or microphone and speakers
Skype program installed

Performing Skype therapy is relatively simple, usually only have to meet these requirements and attend to some simple instructions by online psychologists to start with online therapy sessions.

Maybe you're interested: "The 8 benefits of going to psychological therapy"

Scientific studies support the benefits of online therapy

There are more and more psychological centers that use this modality, since scientific studies have proven their effectiveness on multiple occasions. At some point in our existence, we have all felt that we are not at our best, and thanks to Skype therapy it is possible to access the online psychologist at any time and from anywhere.

A famous study, which was published in the Journal of Technology in Human Services in the year in 2008, showed that Online therapy helps many people overcome their difficulties or psychological problems , especially those related to anxiety and stress. To carry out the investigation, they had data of 9,764 subjects with different problems. After receiving the treatment, more than 50% of the patients said they had recovered and their quality of life and well-being increased significantly, so the researchers assured that the online treatment provides similar results to face-to-face treatment.

Later, a team of researchers from the University of Virginia, who published their results in the medical journal JAMA Psychiatry, observed in a study that more than half of people with insomnia and depression. The people who were analyzed experienced an improvement within a few weeks of receiving treatment .

Recently, another investigation, this time carried out by the University of Lancaster (United Kingdom), confirmed the improvement of 100 patients with bipolar disorder who received online psychotherapy sessions with Skype.

What are the benefits of Skype therapy?

Psychotherapy, either online or face-to-face, brings many benefits for patients : helps them to know themselves better, to recognize and modify their dysfunctional beliefs, to increase their emotional health and to make them feel better; facilitates these tools so that they can better handle everyday problems, interpersonal relationships and conflicts that may arise throughout their lives and, in general, empowers them in front of life, so that they can live in harmony with themselves and with the environment.

However, Online therapy also provides other benefits that face therapy does not offer . They are the following:

1. Access from anywhere

New technologies allow access from anywhere in the world and at any time, either from the computer, the tablet or the smartphone .

2. Anonymity

Since the patient does not have to go to the therapeutic center, he enjoys greater anonymity.

3. Greater time flexibility

Skype therapy facilitates time flexibility and is better suited to the needs of the patient.

4. Comfort

With this therapeutic modality, the patient does not have to travel Nor lose time in a waiting room.

5. Lower cost

The cost of this form of therapy is less than the cost of traditional therapy. Likewise, the patient saves costs derived from displacement.

6. Intimacy

When performed from the patient's own home, the patient may feel more comfortable perceiving that the situation is less threatening and, therefore, can open up more and increase confidence in their relationship with the psychologist.

7. Continuous monitoring

Those patients who want keep having contact with your trusted psychologist despite having to change city , they can do it thanks to new technologies and the use of Skype software.

Are you looking for trusted online psychologists?

Finding an online therapist is the first step in receiving online therapy. From Psychology and Mind we recommend the team of the Mensalus Institute of Barcelona, considered as the best Psychology Center in Spain.

Mensalus Institute: the best online psychologists

Few clinics in Spain have the recognition and professional career of the Mensalus Institute, since their more than 30 years offering quality psychological assistance both in person (in Barcelona) and online guarantee it. In addition, this center offers personal growth workshops and post-graduate courses for psychologists, in collaboration with the most important university institutions in our country, which makes it a highly prestigious Psychology center.

The Mensalus Institute has an interdisciplinary team formed by psychologists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, psychopedagogues and speech therapists, all of them professionals of the highest level; and offers psychological therapy, brief therapy, personal coaching and specific consultations for adults, couples, families, adolescents and children. Thanks to online therapy, it contributes to improving the quality of life and well-being of people not only in the Barcelona area, but also around the globe.

Regarding online therapy, the first informative session is free, and it contains information about the patient's problems, conditions of service are explained and subsequent sessions are scheduled . This center guarantees effective, personalized and confidential care, and applies the most appropriate techniques to treat different problems (depression, anxiety, stress, couples and sexual therapy, etc.).