For those who have considered seeking counseling in Michigan, but struggle to find the time to fit it in to already full schedules, there is a possible solution that might work for you. There is a growing demand for telehealth services. First and foremost, what is telehealth? In terms of therapy, telehealth means using electronic information and telecommunication technologies to facilitate long-distance counseling sessions. In other words, it would be like seeing your therapist on a video conferencing platform similar to Skype or Zoom but with added digital protections to keep you and your information absolutely safe, private, and HIPPA compliant.

Many individuals go untreated each year as a result of a variety of barriers to treatment. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health sponsored by SAMHSA, “an annual average of 1.5 million young adults aged 18 to 25 felt they needed mental health services but did not receive any services in the past year” (1). It is my passion to make therapy sessions more accessible and convenience in an effort to reach more people.

What Are The Benefits of Teletherapy?

Research seems to indicate that teletherapy can be just as effective as face-to-face counseling. Studies have shown that video counseling therapy can lower the cost of sessions and improve client outcomes. It has also been found to reduce the burden and cost of transportation. With the aid of computer and video, you can meet with your counselor-all without your physical presence in their office.

So why would you want to see a therapist online, when you could go see him or her locally? Let’s take a closer look at some of the possible benefits of seeing a counselor online instead of face-to-face. If you work full time and have children, your mental health can seem like an afterthought. There is a lot to consider and work out when leaving home for an appointment. Will I have to take time off work? Also, the time and cost off childcare can a daunting roadblock to following through with therapy.

Telehealth can be more convenient. For those who live in remote areas or are housebound for a variety of reasons telehealth counseling can be an appealing alternative. If your busy work schedule is prohibitive to scheduling sessions, virtual counseling may allow you to squeeze in a session during a break at work. All too often, seeking mental health services is either postponed or pushed to the wayside because of the inconvenience of getting to and from appointments. Teletherapy allows some clients to see their counselor from the comfort of home.

Online counseling in Michigan decreases absences due to poor weather conditions or sickness, allowing clients to participate in therapy on a regular basis. Unfortunately, in our society, there can be a social stigma associated with seeking mental health services for anxiety or mood disorders. This can be alleviated by meeting with your therapist in the privacy of one’s home while eliminating time spent in a waiting room with other clients filling out paperwork.

Teletherapy services are an alternative option for many clients.  It is convenient, flexible, and eliminates travel time. According to the American Telemedicine Association, “Consumers want telemedicine. Over the past 15 years, study after study has documented patient satisfaction and support for telemedical services.” (2)

If you are interested in discussing teletherapy as an alternative to face-to-face counseling, please feel free to contact us. We are here to help!

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. The CBHSQ Report, May 20, 2015. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_1975/Spotlight-1975.pdf

American Telemedicine Association (n.d.). Telemedicine Benefits. Retrieved from http://www.americantelemed.org/main/about/about-telemedicine/telemedicine-benefits

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Setting goals can be a very empowering endeavor! They give you the control to guide your life in whatever direction desired. It is a great feeling to know that your success does not have to depend on anyone else. You can take command of your life by following a plan and taking action one step at a time.

You need to know what you want, organize your thoughts, make a plan, and follow through with your action steps. Here are some tips to consider that can help you achieve your goals:

Develop specific goals. Goals that are well defined tend to be obtained because they have a clear direction. You have to truly believe that your goals are attainable and that you have the means to make them happen. If your goals are specific, you will be more apt to follow through and maintain motivation.

Set goals that motivate you. Goals that are not inspiring to you collect dust and go nowhere. The goals that you identify for yourself need to have personal value. Success in reaching goals depends on commitment. For this reason, the goal must relate to your life priorities. You need to have an “I must get this done” attitude which drives the pursuit of your ambitions. Motivation is essential to achieving goals.

What do you want to achieve? Without an end result in mind, it is difficult to start a goal when the final destination is not clear. By knowing why you are working towards a specific goal, motivation can build throughout the process as you begin to see your dreams becoming a distinct reality. Think of goals as a process rather than a final result! Each short-term step accomplished boosts your motivation as you work towards completing your vision.

Create a plan of action and stay committed. A goal without action steps goes nowhere! Working towards a goal without a plan of attack is like trying to build a model without directions. You will get frustrated, lose motivation, and lose confidence in future attempts at goal setting. Make it a daily routine to review and focus on your goals. This will help them become easier to achieve.

Hold yourself accountable. One of the best ways to keep your goal in motion and stay motivated is to share your goals with another person. It can be useful to have someone available who can offer you words of encouragement and provide feedback when needed. Write your goals down. By doing it just makes them more official and helps you keep them in the forefront of your mind.

The benefits of creating meaningful and well-defined goals are many. They provide direction and purpose in our lives. Goals can help us lift ourselves out of a state of hopelessness.  They help us focus and makes the task of day to day decisions less burdensome. You have the means to control your future! Accomplishing goals builds motivation and fuels the personal satisfaction we get out of life. Start now! No time is like the present. When you have reached what you have worked so hard to accomplish, don’t forget to celebrate!

The post A Goal Achieved Is Something To Celebrate! appeared first on Landmark Therapy.