| The idea of online counseling may still come | | | | comfortable with speaking to someone in |
| as a surprise to many, especially older | | | | person; this could also be due to any number |
| people who are not as familiar with the | | | | of different reasons. Online therapy is an |
| internet as younger people, but it is fast | | | | option that is yet another way for depressed |
| becoming the way for most people to get the | | | | people to find help. Online therapy and |
| help, therapy and counseling that they need. | | | | counseling is just like the regular therapy, |
| The availability of online therapy or | | | | but it is more confidential, because there is |
| counseling has been successful in tearing | | | | less of a chance that others will see the |
| down the barriers that have kept many people | | | | patient going to see the therapist, and it |
| from getting the help that they need. The | | | | gives the patient the chance to speak to |
| barrier was the discomfort, mixed emotions | | | | someone in their own comfort zone. |
| and inability to physically go down to the | | | | |
| therapist's office and speak with them in | | | | The online therapists that people would go to |
| person; these three reasons are what has | | | | for help for their depression are fully |
| prevented many people from seeking help for | | | | trained professionals who can help people |
| their depression, which has left many | | | | find their way out of the depression they are |
| individuals suffering in silence. | | | | experiencing. By the therapist exchanging |
| | | | messages with their patient online, they can |
| Depression is a curious mental health problem | | | | work with the patient to first find out what |
| that too many people are suffering. What | | | | the cause of their depression might be. Once |
| makes it so curious is that depression is | | | | a possible cause is found, the therapist can |
| caused by different variables in different | | | | then help the patient learn to deal with |
| people. Some people suffer depression as a | | | | these issues and help them get out of the |
| result of certain genes they have inherited | | | | resulting depression. Many people are still a |
| from one or both of their parents, a poor | | | | little skeptical of online depression, but it |
| social life or chemical imbalance in the | | | | has been around for a while, been proven to |
| brain; just to name a few. Study and research | | | | work just as well as regular therapy and is |
| is still being done on the causes of | | | | something that will probably be around for a |
| depression as well as how to better treat it, | | | | very long time. More and more people are |
| but this does not mean that there isn't help | | | | seeking help for their depression through |
| for people who are already suffering from | | | | online therapy because they feel more |
| some form of depression. Many people are | | | | comfortable messaging someone in the privacy |
| unaware that they have depression, others are | | | | and comfort of their own home. Many people |
| aware that there is something wrong but are | | | | have been successfully treated for their |
| unable to ask for help for any number of | | | | depression through online therapy; people who |
| reasons and there are still others who know | | | | would not have normally sought help if online |
| they are depressed and want help, but are not | | | | therapy was not an option for them. |