Maryland is a well-liked state in the US. It has good living standards, education, and infrastructure. Yet mental health is still a significant concern for the state residents.
Maryland mental health centers often treat people with PTSD, substance abuse, and eating disorders. As of February 13, 2023, around 27.3% of the adults in Maryland have anxiety and/or depression. This is not much below the national average of 32.3%.
And due to a large population suffering from these, accessing proper care becomes a big challenge.
This is why teletherapy or online therapy is quite prevalent in Maryland. If you also plan to consider online therapy in Maryland, keep reading to learn more about it.
How Is Online Therapy Different From Traditional Therapy?
The main difference between online and traditional therapy is how they are conducted.
In the case of online therapy, you’ll receive services through mediums like calling, video-calling, or live texting. Traditional therapy, on the other hand, is done only in person.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of online therapy:
Advantages:
Affordability:
Compared to traditional therapy, online therapy is more affordable in Maryland. Based on the platform, you can get online therapy anywhere between $60 to $170 per session.
Meanwhile, for traditional therapy, the range is $115 to $250 per session.
Flexibility and convenience:
Online therapy is flexible and convenient. You get to choose from a wider range of therapists and schedule the sessions at your own time and convenience.
This cuts the hassle of commuting, parking, or other dependent situations (i.e., finding childcare if you are a single parent.)
More comfortable on different levels:
Online therapy is great for people who live in remote areas (i.e., Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Harford, Kent, Worcester, etc.). Or who have mobility issues and can’t travel at all.
In addition, many people who face stigma or discrimination for seeking mental health care prefer online therapy. For example, the stigma around substance abuse is something the Government of Maryland is trying to resolve.
So, in such cases, online therapy provides anonymity and privacy, making the treatment more acceptable.
Disadvantages:
Might seem less effective for a few:
As for the downsides, online therapy can be less effective for some people or some conditions. The age-adjusted suicide rate for Maryland is less than the national average. But indicators help therapists understand if their patients encounter a threat or life risk.
In remote communication, your therapist might miss out on non-verbal cues, body language, etc. So, it becomes your responsibility to be transparent and open about your problems.
Tech dependent:
Issues such as bad internet, weak audio, or blurry video can impact your therapy sessions. So, you must ensure everything is in check before the sessions start.
Best Platforms for Online Therapy In Maryland
If you decide on taking online therapy Maryland, here are some platforms you should check out.
Congruent Counseling (CSS):
They offer counseling for mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, anger, suicide, and substance abuse. Apart from the online services, they also have eight offices throughout central Maryland.
Along with a sliding scale fee for self-pay clients, they accept most major insurances.
BetterHelp:
This is one of the biggest online therapy platforms in the world. With BetterHelp, you can get connected with therapists across the US. So you will have plenty of options to choose from.
Although they don’t accept insurance, their prices are quite affordable ($60 to $120 per week). But if this still seems much, you can also look for their financial aid program for additional discounts.
LifeSpring Counseling:
Lifespring is an adult-only therapy service provider in Maryland. They offer therapy through both online and in-person services.
They treat patients using methods like cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness acceptance, and commitment therapy. At Lifespring, you get quite a few therapists to choose from.
Their regular charges start at $155 per session, but they do take most insurances.
Thriveworks:
Thriveworks provide both in-person and online counseling and psychiatry services in Maryland. They can assist with problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-esteem, career challenges, and adjusting to life changes.
They, too, accept most insurance policies and have a flexible cancellation process.
Monarch Wellness & Psychotherapy:
Monarch Wellness and Psychotherapy specializes in treating eating disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma, and mental health problems due to postpartum issues.
They use a holistic and integrative approach to deal with your situation. And since they work both online and offline, they also provide services like dialectical behavioral therapy.
Here are some hotlines for situations of crisis:
- The Crisis Call Center: 775-784-8090
- The National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
How To Choose The Right Online Therapist
While online therapy gives you a lot of options to choose from, it can also become a problem. To find the right therapist online, you need to keep a few things in mind. Here are some of them.
- Be clear about your goals and needs- Instead of simply looking for the best therapist, look for professionals who are experts in the area you need. For example, if you want to manage your anxiety, find therapists who specialize in that.
- Plan your finances- For most, to see the results, multiple sessions are required. So keep that in mind and plan your finances. Online therapy costs less than traditional therapy, but check with your insurance and ask about discounts.
- If the online therapy platform has a free consultation call, use it to ask questions and see if it’s a good fit for your conditions. Ask questions about their treatment approach, qualifications, experience, cultural competence, communication style, etc.
Wrapping Up
Online therapy in Maryland can be helpful in many ways, but it is not the best for everyone. Also, please remember that it cannot replace traditional therapy.
Online therapy is not enough for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and suicidal thoughts. In such cases, you must go the traditional route for safety purposes.