You’ve tried traditional therapy for your depression and it was sort of working. But it was difficult to just make it to the therapist’s office on time. And then, life threw you some big curveball that you weren’t expecting.
You know therapy is important for treating your depression. So, what do you do now?
Perhaps online therapy for depression sounds intimidating because it’s difficult for you to connect via a computer. But what about phone therapy for depression as an alternative?
Research has shown the effectiveness of teletherapy, and this includes distance counseling via the phone. It could be the answer you’re looking for.
Reasons Why You Experience Depression
First, let’s take a moment to consider why you might have depression. There are two general categories to look at.
These include:
- Biological/Hereditary – Understanding whether or not depression runs in your family tree. If you had a blood relative that experienced depression that is something to factor in when considering your own risk.
- Lived Experience – Another factor is the role of your lived experiences. Starting from birth, there could be events in your life that make you more prone to depression. These can include abuse, directly experiencing or witnessing violence or a disaster.
The coronavirus is an example of such a lived experience that could trigger depression. This could occur whether you directly were infected, knew someone who was ill, or simply witnessing the ever-evolving news cycle. It fuels a feeling of not being in control and because that’s scary, it certainly can cause depression.
The Advantages of Phone Therapy for Depression Treatment
Because of the COVID-19 crisis, many therapists and clients have had to adapt to the new reality of adapting the method for treatment. Before, most counseling sessions were conducted in a therapist’s office. Now, providers are taking advantage of remote tools, including phone therapy.
Some advantages of phone therapy for depression include:
- Staying connected with your therapist regardless of where you are
- Not feeling alone and isolated
- It’s easier to make your appointment (no commuting!)
- Having more personal space so that you don’t feel you have to “present” in a certain way to the therapist
- Not needing an internet connection or having to deal with a computer
You might be thinking that these are all well and good. However, does phone therapy for depression really help?
Research into Phone Therapy and Depression
Researchers at Northwestern University conducted a review of 12 studies assessing treatment for depression over the phone. What they found was that more than 90% of the participants stuck with telephone therapy, as compared to meeting in-person with a therapist.
In fact, 50% of people who start seeing a therapist in-person don’t continue with the service. And only 20% of those who are referred to a counselor even make it to their first appointment. That means the rest, a whopping 80%, don’t go at all!
Additionally, both face-to-face therapy and phone therapy have proven to be effective for treating depression.
How to Start
The best way to get started with phone therapy to help you cope with your depression is to reach out to a therapist today.
You can schedule an initial appointment over the phone where both you and the therapist get to know each other. They can learn what your needs are and what you are struggling with. And you will get a better understanding of who your therapist is and how they interact with you.
By the end of that initial meeting, you should know whether or not this will be a good fit and whether phone therapy will work for you.
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Phone therapy for depression is an opportunity, even during these stressful times, to stay connected to a therapist and receive treatment. The advantage of teletherapy is that it removes some of the barriers that might have prevented you from getting started with or sticking with counseling. Plus, if you’re not “tech-savvy,” it’s easier to talk to someone over the phone than try to figure out how to engage in therapy for depression online.
If you’re interested in knowing more about depression treatment via the phone, please reach out to me.
