Trends Of Online Therapy In Pakistan

Online counseling is a form of professional mental health counseling that is generally performed through the internet. Computer aided technologies are used by the trained professional counsellors and individuals seeking counselling services to communicate rather than conventional face-to-face interactions. Online counselling is also referred to as teletherapy, e-therapy, cyber therapy, or web counselling Services are typically offered via email, real-time chat, and video conferencing. Some clients use online counseling in conjunction with traditional psychotherapy, or nutritional counseling. An increasing number of clients are using online counseling as a replacement for office visits. Research has shown that 70% of people do not have access to traditional, in-office therapy. Luckily, the growing online therapy industry has made it easier (and often more affordable) to get mental health care, even if you work nonstandard hours, have a busy family, live in a rural area, or lack insurance.

If you’re looking for online therapy Pakistan, you’ll find very limited options within the country. Even if you look for a therapist to see in person, there’s a serious dearth of psychologists and other mental health professionals in Pakistan. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are just 0.19 therapists per 10,000 residents of Pakistan. Overall, there are 24 million people suffering from mental health issues. This is an alarming state and a warning that the country is facing a mental healthcare crisis. Online therapy may just be the beacon of hope it needs to get through this and online platform can be the best way to find the right therapist you need. One can only imagine the state of mental healthcare in a country that criminalizes suicide. Rather than getting the right help to the person on the cusp of ending life, the law of the country is to imprison such an individual. Overall, there’s a serious need for a mental healthcare overhaul in the country. Some estimates put the percentage of the Pakistani population facing mental health issues at 36 percent, but the real number could be even higher.

Hence, in countries like ours, online counselling guarantees a sense of safety, autonomy and anonymity for clients that identify with vulnerable and minority groups. Furthermore, online counselling is a common preference for overseas Pakistanis facing economic difficulties. In such a scenario, mental health practitioners from Pakistan provide quality service with a cultural understanding at affordable rates.

Mental healthcare institutes in the country are mostly run by non-profit institutes, as the government has little to no part in the provision of such services. There are some private facilities as well in major cities, but those are usually expensive for an average citizen of the country.

Numbers of institute like Psych is now working on it at advance level. Psych Thru is Pakistan’s first online mental health platform which strives to make sure that you get therapy from professionals who are licensed, experienced and credible. You can meet a number of therapists on this platform who are experts in different modalities like behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, rational emotive therapy, and couple counselling. You can choose according to your need or let us help you find the most compatible and competent therapist. 

How Can Online Therapy Help People in Pakistan?

Online counseling fills an unmet need for clients located in areas traditionally under-served by traditional counselors. Rural residents, people with disabilities and expatriates, along with under-served minorities, often have an easier time finding a suitable therapist online than in their local communities. It also makes counseling accessible to clients who face difficulties in keeping appointments during normal business hours, while decreasing the number of missed appointments for in-person therapy. Along with accessibility of therapists, online counseling also enables accessibility of information to the clients. In face-to-face counseling, information is stored only with the therapists. In online counseling, the transcripts of communications between the therapist and clients may be available to therapists as well as clients. This allows people seeking therapy to monitor changes in their own conditions.

More importantly, it can make it a bit more comfortable for people to seek therapy in their privacy, as often people avoid going to therapy because of the stigma attached to mental illnesses. Since online therapy can be done from anywhere with just a computer or mobile with an internet connection, it makes it easier for people to get therapy. In many cases, online therapists can help diagnose people with serious mental health issues in early-stage and refer them to psychiatrists. Early intervention can prove highly beneficial for mental conditions like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

Finding a therapist online in Pakistan is not so easy because there’s no national database of online psychologist Pakistan. Moreover, there aren’t any local therapy platforms delivering therapy online. However, it’s still very much possible to find a therapist you match with well and can comfortably speak to about any issues you’re facing. The international website Therapy Route also lists therapists from Pakistan, which you can filter by location. However, some may not be providing online therapy, so make sure to ascertain before whether they do provide telehealth services.

It is imperative that we equip Pakistani mental health professionals and young therapists with the tools needed to address the blind spots associated with online mental health therapy. We must also help them acquire better skill sets in order to tackle this growing frontier. It’s clear that Pakistan has a lot of work to do on mental health issues on so many levels. Increasing awareness about mental illnesses and therapy can play a crucial role in this journey to better mental health of the masses.