Phone-Based Therapies Proving Effective; Good news for life coaches and would-be clients

A National Institute of Mental Health funded-study has shown that phone-based therapy is effective in easing depression. While the study focused on one specific condition (depression) and involved drug treatments, it adds to a growing body of anecdotal evidence and the real-life experiences of psychologists, life coaches, and others who have been increasingly and successfully treating clients over the phone.

Few of the patients who received phone-based therapy — even fewer than those who did not receive it — sought in-person therapy. "This suggests the phone-based therapy met their needs, without whetting their appetite for more. Phone-based therapy is more convenient and acceptable to patients than in-person psychotherapy," said Evette J. Ludman, PhD.

If you are having issues from midlife crisis to career challenges to things even more serious, the ability to interact with therapists and coaches over the phone dramatically increases the pool of choices available to you. If you live in a small community or would like to tap a specific expertise instead of that of a generalist, the phone opens up a whole new world.

Please remember that talking to a professional (no matter how experienced) over the phone does not substitute the need for an in-person medical evaluation. Furthermore checking credentials of phone-based therapists and coaches is even more important than their in-person counterparts.

Source: Group Health

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