Is Online Therapy an effective treatment?
Overall, yes. Telepsychology has showed levels of effectiveness that are similar to those of in-person therapy for most psychological disorders of mild and moderate severity, including depression and anxiety, to name the most common.
However, its effectiveness with serious problems may be lower (psychosis, severe eating disorders, among others).
Is online therapy a good option for me?
If you are someone who is used to using electronic devices and has average computer skills, then probably yes. But it will also depend on your need for a more direct emotional connection and your communication style. For some, online therapy can feel like an easier time for opening up and sharing their problems because they feel less of a «presence» from the therapist. For other people, face-to-face interaction is essential to feeling the interpersonal connection.
You may find these reflections from the American Psychological Association (APA) helpful:
You may find these reflections from the American Psychological Association (APA) helpful:
What are the advantages of online therapy?
Many, but the main ones are:
- It avoids the journey or commuting (you save the effort, time and money invested in getting to the clinic)
- It is more accessible for people with permanent or temporary mobility difficulties
- It allows access to specialized services that are not available in some cities or towns
- It provides access to psychological treatment in your mother tongue when it is a minority language where you live (you can access a psychologist online in German, French, Polish, Hebrew, Chinese, Arabic, Dutch, Slovak, Romanian…)
- It takes care of the environment by significantly reducing CO2 emissions of travelling by car
Who is online therapy NOT recommended for?
In general, we do not recommend online therapy for severe cases with high functional impact (people who are not able to lead a normal life in any area of their life). Nor for children under 9 years of age or elderly people with sensory difficulties that prevent correct understanding and emission of language
There are patients for whom telepsychology does not work in the same way as face-to-face therapy and this depends not only on their digital skills but also on personal preferences, communication styles and personality traits.
Can online and in-person therapy be combined?
Absolutely yes. At SINEWS, a high percentage of our clients combined both in the last year. Although the majority prefer in-person therapy, they highly value doing an online session from time to time: when they travel abroad, if they are sick or simply if they do not have time to travel to the clinic that day. The flexibility of alternating online sessions allows them to increase the continuity of the treatment and improve its comfort.
A recent study with the Spanish population showed how this mixed modality is very frequent and appreciated by patients:
A recent study with the Spanish population showed how this mixed modality is very frequent and appreciated by patients:
Ussage patterns of Telepsychology and Face to face Psychotherapy: Client’s profiles and perceptions. Frontiers in Psychology. Armayones, Manuel 2022
Can a psychiatrist prescribe me medication with an online consultation?
Yes, if you live in Spain, there is an authorized online prescription platform accessible to all pharmacies in the country. The doctor will ask you for the necessary information to register: full name and surname, identification number (DNI, NIE or passport) and date of birth. Once your online consultation is finished, the psychiatrist will send you a prescription by email. This prescription will be sent to you from a platform called REMPE. You do not need to install anything or print it. Simply use the email on your mobile phone to go to any pharmacy and show the prescription QR code on your mobile phone. The pharmacist will scan the code and can give it to you. Of course, remember to bring your DNI, NIE or passport to identify yourself!
Can a SINEWS psychiatrist from Spain prescribe me medication if I live in another country in the European Union?
Yes, PDF prescriptions are valid in all EU countries. They must include the name of the active ingredient and relevant information in English and the patient needs to print it out and take it to the pharmacy on paper as at the momento there is no valid online prescription platform for the Union. Our psychiatrists at SINEWS are very familiar with the prescription process for other European countries. It is something we do almost every day.
However, some medications are not available in other countries, so if you have any doubts about whether the drug you need is available or not, you can consult us before paying for the consultation by writing an email to info@sinews.es
However, some medications are not available in other countries, so if you have any doubts about whether the drug you need is available or not, you can consult us before paying for the consultation by writing an email to info@sinews.es
We recommend going to a pharmacy that is used to prescribing to foreigners, such as those in tourist city centres or where there is a larger international community. But be sure to try with your trusted pharmacist as well. If there are any doubts about the validity of the prescription, the pharmacist can be advised to consult the European regulations: