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