We are living in the age of the Internet. I hate to say it is the golden age, because who knows what is coming. We haven’t had VR for that long and barely have online streaming games at this point with Alphabet’s Stadia. Hopefully there is more to come.
But what we do have now is near instantaneous connections with millions and billions of people. We need to know where to look to find them, but they are there. Whether social media like Facebook and Twitter, online forums like Reddit, blogs like this one, newsletters, and so on and so on.
We also have ways to worship online so that we don’t have to leave our home church behind if we go on a business trip or vacation. We have whole platforms for creating online streaming that takes it beyond just streaming a video to include chatting and connecting with people. Has this gone too far? Another alternative to take it a step further, we have the ability via numerous companies to do therapy online.
Whether you decide to jump onto a video chat with a therapist or do therapy and even crisis services via text messages, there are so many different ways. So as the article asks, how far can online services go?
There is even a growing telepsych program for brick-and-mortar counseling centers to do due to a huge shortage of psychiatrists and teledoc services from primary care physicians for minor, regular colds that can cut down on doctor visits and get access to medication much, much sooner without having to miss work.
We did a whole podcast episode if online relationships are as good, better, or worse than face-to-face relationships, so I won’t dive into that conversation. I’m actually not going to advocate one way or the other since I have a stake in the game because I’m a licensed professional counsellor with in-person clients, though I know of others who do part-time online counselling as well for extra income.
It should be noted we are in the early stages of a lot of this. Most insurances at the time of this writing do not cover online anything, it has to be in-person. There are limitations where counselors are not allowed to work with severe clients in online therapy who have a high risk for self-harm or lethality.
So to the more tech-literate audience we have than the average Joe:
How do you feel about these traditionally face-to-face services becoming more and more online? Is this watering down what is being offered? Are we delusional that these services are even worth it? Or should we get our heads out of the sand and actually do these services because of how helpful they are?
How far can online services go?
Tell us in the comments what you think.
Jeremy Smith
Jeremy is owner of ChurchAndMentalHealth.com and the Co-Occurring Program Coordinator and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor at a community mental health center. Jeremy has a history of working as a ministry director for Youth for Christ for 8 years and then working as a mental health and substance use adult counselor in Colorado and Ohio, specifically running an Opioid Residential Treatment Center.
Gee, some good questions Jeremy. I don’t think I have the answer(s), but as the internet and tech advances, it is good to ask these questions. “How is the “progress” / “advancement” changing us as people and communities? Are we becoming the better for it or worse?”
As a former teacher, I remember when online classes were starting to become more popular thanks to more tools and better connections. I’ve even taken some online classes when my Spanish teacher was forced to stay at home due to a surgery.
There are certainly students who prefer these online services due to their ease of access or because they don’t have access to a nearby teacher. Particular parents who might have free time late in the evening when it is difficult to get to a class.
At the same time, many students still prefer face-to-face classes as these are more like the situations they will find themselves in at conferences or work.
My own experience was that online classes were very different. Certain activities that worked well face-to-face were very boring or felt pointless. In some ways, that was a benefit. I did certain work before the class and we used the time in class for activities that I couldn’t do alone. But I also found the online classes to be more tiring as it seemed like we had to make full use of the time.
Intellectually, I can make an argument that the online classes were better. But they didn’t feel better to me.
That was just one experience and I certainly don’t say it would apply to every type of online experience. My personal belief is that the best language learning situation is “blended” where you can make the most of both online and offline materials. There are some really impressive programs that certain schools are putting together with blended learning.
I wonder if “blended” options are really the future? Even Amazon have started experimenting with physical stores so perhaps that’s not so crazy.
I like the “blended” idea…