Every one of you felt anxiety at one time or another, whether it be before an important event or public speaking. But some people experience anxiety more than others and impacts the quality of their life. An underlying issue, like an anxiety disorder, can trigger disproportionate amounts of pressure that prevent people from completing their daily tasks.
Anxiety is the body’s natural response to fear and worry, but the mental health issue includes a wide range of symptoms that affect people to the extent that interfere with their quality of life. Numerous anxiety disorders cause stress, worry and anxiety due to a specific phobia, work, personal health or social interactions. Anxiety disorders include separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. 31% of adults will deal with an anxiety disorder, at least once in their life. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states that anxiety is more prevalent in women than in men worldwide. The World Health Organisation says that in 2017, 264 million adults around the globe dealt with the mental health issue.
Sadly, many of the people suffering from anxiety fail to find help. Some are fearful of visiting a specialist at a clinic, and others find face-to-face therapy too expensive. For those with anxiety combined with agoraphobia, it’s too stressful to leave their house, so they cannot reach for help.
How can telephone counselling help people with anxiety?
With this in mind, many counsellors have started to offer telephone counselling for people who cannot meet a therapist face-to-face. The sessions work similar to traditional counselling, except that they speak to the therapist over the phone. The method is of great help for people who cannot leave their house or live in remote areas where they cannot find a suitable therapist to speak to. They also don’t have to worry about the lack of confidentiality because the technique provides them with the same benefits as if they would attend a face-to-face session.
Does telephone counselling have any benefits for the patient?
For those new to the phone counselling method, it may be not easy to glimpse the advantages that come with it. Here are some of the reasons people suffering from anxiety choose it.
- They can join the session from the comfort of their house or a quiet spot of their choice
- They don’t have to meet face-to-face with someone, so the level of social anxiety they experience is minimal
- They are more comfortable to share their emotions from their personal space
- The therapist is often the one who calls them, so there is no bill cost for the patient
- They can book the session at a time and day that suits their schedule
- They can speak to a therapist from another town
- They can get comfortable before they talk because they are at home and can pick where they want to stay
- There are zero travel costs associated with the therapy because they never leave their house
- The conversation is confidential
Telephone counselling allows people dealing with anxiety to work with a therapist, they feel comfortable talking to, no matter if the counsellor is from their town or not.
