How an Online Mental Health Chat Platform Can Help

This post was developed via a partnership with BetterHelp.

Online mental health chat platforms are becoming more popular now than ever before, as more people are working from home, staying home to take care of their children, or trying to stay safe from various illnesses.

Here are several ways an online mental health chat platform can improve your mental health from the comfort of your own home.

Flexibility

Online mental health chat platforms are very flexible. You can schedule with a provider who is available within your time zone and who is open to working with you when you need. You may even be able to meet at night or early in the morning, depending on where your provider lives.

Some chat platforms offer 24/7 support over messaging, and others provide the chance for you to choose which day or time you come in for help.

Comfort

Seeing a mental health provider online through a chat platform is more comfortable for many people since you do not have to get dressed, change your appearance, or make an effort to leave home. For someone who lives in a busy city, this can be an excellent advantage. If you don’t have to drive through heavy traffic on a hot day, this can increase your comfort immensely.

Access to Specialists From Other Areas of the Country

If you live in a small town or remote area, providers may not be available where you live. If you are looking for something specific, like a trauma-specific type of therapy, or someone who specializes in OCD, you may need to look across state lines.

With online therapy, you don’t have to see someone in your own state. You can find someone who works elsewhere in the country and get the same top level of support that someone in a big city might get. It’s a great way to branch out and learn from someone new.

If you want to learn more about how chat can benefit any person, check out BetterHelp’s online support column today here: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/chat/.

A Cheaper Alternative

Online therapy is often much cheaper than in-person therapy. At times, in-person therapy can go over $300, especially if you live in a big city with a high living cost. Therapy can be too expensive for someone whose insurance does not cover it or for anyone with high co-pays.

Online therapy can go as low as 45 dollars per week. There are also many peer-led online chat sites that provide (non-professional) mental health help for free. It’s up to you which to use!

Multiple Options of Support

With online chat support from a mental health professional, there are usually other forms of support available. For example, you may be able to meet with your provider over video chat or phone call as well. If you like to have the flexibility of choosing how you speak to your therapist, an online chat platform might be the perfect choice for you.

Self-Led

Finally, online therapy is very self-led. You can talk about whatever you’d like to, and you can let your therapist know if you don’t think it’s a good fit. Oftentimes, there are hundreds of other therapists available to try out. If you’re not sure, you can test an online chat platform today!


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