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E-Therapy as a Potential Avenue for Mental Health Treatment

Though individualized mental health therapy is an essential treatment method for people with mental and/or developmental disabilities, direct in-person care is not always feasible. A number of barriers to access can prevent individuals from seeking patient-provider therapy, including stigma, time constraints, geographical distance, and financial restrictions.[1] With the rise of online mental health interventions such as e-Therapy in recent years, those who were previously unable to receive treatment of any kind now have the opportunity to directly access care, while those already receiving care have the opportunity to supplement their treatment.

The field of e-Therapy encompasses the range of psychological and behavioral therapies that are delivered through the use of technology, including computers, internet, facilitated therapeutic chat rooms, and other technologies.[2] E-Therapy has been used to treat a number of mental illnesses, including anxiety and depression. Given that stigma is often deeply entwined with the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression, e-Therapy may be particularly advantageous in offering users the benefit of anonymity. According to Reynolds et al. (2011), people who experience anxiety and depression "are particularly likely to seek information online, even more so than people with stigmatised physical conditions".[3] In controlled trials of the online cognitive behavioral therapy program MoodGYM, Christensen et al. (2002) indicate that users of the site exhibited reduced anxiety and depression[4]; however, there is insufficient research available on e-Therapy programs to establish reliable, evidence-based conclusions concerning online mental health interventions. More research is necessary to determine the impact, if any, of e-Therapy on specific disorders and conditions.

It is important to recognize the lack of standardization that comes with the innovation of online interventions, which in turn suggests issues surrounding program effectiveness, suitability, and quality control. Possible shortcomings of e-Therapy include concerns around online therapies possibly delaying appropriate in-person care or even causing individuals harm.[5] In addition, computer use among individuals with mental illness has been criticized as possibly being a contributing factor to the very mental health problems e-Therapy aims to treat.[6] Both consumers and clinicians must be cautious about the potential negative effects of mental health e-Therapy when choosing to pursue it as a method of treatment.

Although e-Therapy may never replace the need for human care, this pioneering form of treatment may be a possible avenue for bringing mental health therapy to those who have limited access to care and can serve as an additional tool for individuals with mental illness. With the continuous evolution of the digital age, the role of e-Therapy in health care is ever expanding.

PWDF Profile

Who We Are

People With Disabilities Foundation is an operating 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California, which focuses on the rights of the mentally and developmentally disabled.

Services

Advocacy: PWDF advocates for Social Security claimant's disability benefits in eight Bay Area counties. We also provide services in disability rights, on issues regarding returning to work, and in ADA consultations, including areas of employment, health care, and education, among others. There is representation before all levels of federal court and Administrative Law Judges. No one is declined due to their inability to pay, and we offer a sliding scale for attorney's fees.

Education/Public Awareness: To help eliminate the stigma against people with mental disabilities in society, PWDF's educational program organizes workshops and public seminars, provides guest speakers with backgrounds in mental health, and produces educational materials such as videos.

Continuing Education Provider: State Bar of California MCLE, California Board of Behavioral Sciences Continuing Education, and Commission of Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.