Online talk therapy removes obstacles to consistent treatment for depression and substance abuse. eTherapi is available across the United States.
San Francisco, California (PRWEB) December 20, 2014
More than 50,000 therapists have joined eTherapi, the nation’s largest online therapy service, and are preparing to treat the increase in depression, dysphoria and substance abuse that occurs during the holidays. One in four adults, or approximately 65 million Americans, will experience mental illness in any given year*. The belief that suicides increase at this time of year is a myth; they are actually at their lowest rate of the year during December. The increase in suicides occurs after the holidays, with a significant uptick of 40%, according to some studies.
Depression increases during the holidays for many reasons, including lack of access to one’s regular therapist. Therapists find that therapy can remain more consistent when their patients have access to them online. eTherapi allows patients to have remote therapy sessions through a secure, HIPAA compliant video connection, and therapists can expand their practice beyond a limited geographic area.
eTherapi was created by a team of Stanford-trained psychiatrists and entrepreneurs and it is designed to improve access to talk therapy--an essential component of treating many mental health problems.
“By making therapists readily accessible, eTherapi can make it easier for people to receive the care they need and when they need it,” says Dr. Elias Aboujaoude, eTherapi’s Chief Medical Officer, Clinical Professor of psychiatry at Stanford University. Dr. Aboujaoude says, “The holidays exacerbate many root causes of depression and substance abuse. Now there is a way to ensure that these people do not suffer because they cannot access therapy. eTherapi can help correct that by making more therapists available and easier to access.”
Using eTherapi is easy. A prospective patient searches eTherapi’s extensive network of state-licensed therapists, reviews their profiles and practice approach, then schedules a session with the therapist of their choice. When the appointment time arrives, the patient and the selected therapist join the therapy session which is conducted online via high quality, fast videoconferencing technology.
eTherapi ensures all of the therapists in its national network are state-licensed, credentialed and experts in their field. eTherapi is fully compliant with the HIPAA privacy guidelines, using powerful data encryption and firewall technologies. Its platform integrates with 95% of US health insurance payers and customers can verify health insurance coverage in just seconds, before booking a session.
eTherapi is easily accessible from a mobile device or laptop. Unlike current therapist directories that allow searches by zip code or therapist name, eTherapi allows you to search using any keyword or sentence, rapidly scanning through thousands of therapist profiles. Pricing is clearly posted and there are no hidden fees. Patients pay only what the therapist charges for each online session.
eTherapi offers therapists the opportunity to expand their practice online, and allows them to help patients who live outside of their immediate geographic location. eTherapi also offers practice management options such as streamlined scheduling and appointment reminders, billing, and therapy notes.
For more information, visit http://www.etherapi.com, email us at support(at)etherapi(dot)com or call 1 (800) 611-0821.
*National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)