EXPLORING THE ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS OF ONLINE THERAPY FOR MILSPOUSES
Prioritizing your mental health may not always be easy, but it’s vital for milspouses navigating an increasingly stressful world. From running your busy lives, to being there to support your warfighter, to helping your kids, community, and more—it’s a lot. Fortunately, there are several benefits of online therapy, including finding care that fits your schedule. Below, we’re breaking down five great benefits to ensure you’re mentally taken care of.
What Are the Benefits of Online Therapy?
Being a milspouse isn’t for the faint of heart. There’s PCSing, long separations, and many additional stressors that come with the territory, which is why it’s important to reach out for mental healthcare.
44% of spouses have seen a counselor during their partner’s military career, and yet, this figure could be higher if given the right resources.
Reaching out for help is important, and thanks to the Internet, finding quality, trusted, discreet mental health services wherever you can connect is a real option.
Discover the benefits of online therapy with these five great advantages below:
1. Find Mental Health Help on Your Schedule
Juggling everything is stressful enough. Taking the time to receive mental healthcare is important, but if you’re adding it to your already full plate, it’s clear to see how this can only increase your stress levels.
Furthermore, with PCSing, deployments, and evolving schedules, prioritizing your mental care isn’t the only hurdle.
By using online therapy, milspouses benefit from having access when they need help from professionals who can travel as needed with a life of service.
For example, if you have to move to Kentucky, instead of rebuilding a relationship you’ve forged while stationed in Texas, you can still access your therapist wherever life takes you.
With flexible options like messaging and video calls, getting the support you need has never been easier.
2. Get Mental Health Services Overseas
Just like PCSing stateside, whether you’re visiting a loved one or called outside of the U.S. due to the needs of the military, online therapy can be a great option.
Even when you find mental health resources offered, it’s important to remember that when you leave the U.S., things operate a bit differently.
One of the best benefits of online therapy is that even national borders don’t have to prevent you from accessing the care you deserve.
Consistency is key to building trust and making real progress in therapy. Instead of having to find a new provider with every PCS, you can continue your mental health journey uninterrupted, which is a huge relief in an ever-changing lifestyle.
3. Discreet Access
Even as stigmas continue to melt away, we still have a long way to go. While there’s nothing wrong with receiving mental health assistance, because of lasting stigmas, many people skip going to therapy altogether.
Being comfortable when receiving any type of healthcare is important. This is yet another benefit of online therapy, as you’re able to receive the care you need from the comfort of your home with the respect to your privacy you deserve.
Opening up isn’t always easy, and military communities can be close together. While this is a good thing, milspouses looking for a bit more privacy may need extra precautions in some cases.
With online therapy, milspouses are provided the freedom to speak without judgment in a safe, private environment.
There’s no running into your neighbor in the lobby or risk of judgment. Wherever you can connect and you’re comfortable, online therapy is available to help you be the best version of yourself.
4. A Healthier Approach to Mental Health
Whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, or loneliness, having professional support can make a big difference.
With flexible options like asynchronous messaging, you can reach out when you need help—no waiting for an appointment is required.
Online therapy empowers milspouses with the ability to build coping strategies and regain control of their mental health safely.
Unfortunately, one of the biggest reasons people don't seek help is that they believe that they can handle it alone.
In the military world, getting the job done is a huge part of the culture, yet it's important to remember just how effective the American Armed Forces are by working together.
Receiving help tailored to your needs from a licensed professional, regardless of outside factors, is a key benefit of online therapy that is often overlooked.
5. Affordable Care Made Simple
The leading reason for people avoiding mental health resources is that they simply can’t afford them—online therapy changes all of that.
Milspouses can receive online therapy covered by TRICARE, making it a cost-effective option.
Furthermore, online platforms can connect you with therapists specializing in the challenges specifically faced by military families.
Talkspace Makes Accessing Online Therapy Easy for Military Families
The convenience, affordability, and diverse options make online therapy a great option for milspouses; however, who you trust will go a long way in the care you receive.
Talkspace connects military families through an easy-to-use online platform with trusted, licensed mental health professionals, self-guided mental health resources, unlimited messaging, and much more.
This also includes a new in-person partnership with the U.S. Navy, increasing the available mental health support options for around 25,000 Sailors and their families on six different bases.
Through Talkspace’s website or mobile apps, available on iOS and Android, military families can access the help they need from wherever they are with ease.
Best of all, because it’s covered by TRICARE, military families no longer have to worry about sacrificing their mental health due to a lack of funds.
Although active duty service members require a referral for Talkspace, milspouses, retirees, and dependents can gain quick access to mental health professionals without one.
Available in all 50 states, sign up for Talkspace today to take advantage of the many benefits of online therapy and enjoy the care you deserve, affordably.
This editorial is a result of a paid collaboration with Talkspace.
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