Today, a new form of psychotherapy is growing: it is psychology at home.
This type of therapy, unlike the traditional one, is carried out in the client’s home, so the psychological intervention at home combines some benefits of both online therapy and classic face-to-face therapy which is carried out in consultation. In this article we analyze the keys to understanding this new approach.
What is home therapy?
Home psychology refers to situations in which the psychotherapist travels to the patient’s home to carry out sessions that will allow the latter to improve their quality of life and well-being.
The idea of home psychology arises because many times the patient can experience too many problems when going to the consultation when they are in a bad emotional moment, have a disability that makes it impossible for them to move, suffer a serious crisis or have a limitation. regarding the means of transportation (either because you do not have a vehicle or the public transportation network is not ideal to go to the clinic).
Due to its associated characteristics and advantages, home psychology can be the solution to these obstacles, just like when a doctor makes a visit to a sick person’s home. It is another alternative to face-to-face therapy, in the same way that online therapy tries to make the service more accessible. Now, regarding the latter, some patients may consider that it is too impersonal when done through a computer, telephone or email.
On the other hand, psychotherapy at home allows you to maintain face-to-face contact with the patient, since it is a form of face-to-face therapy, but with all the comfort that home offers. Thus, the patient can feel more comfortable and confident because he is in a place that he knows very well.
Why go to psychological therapy
Whether in person at a consultation, online or at home, going to psychological therapy can be beneficial for many people. But even if an individual does not feel completely well on an emotional level because certain situations in his life overwhelm him, It is not always easy to take the step and go to a psychology clinic to seek help and receive treatment.
There are still many people who think that to go to a psychologist you have to have a serious disorder, when in reality, people go to psychotherapeutic sessions for the most varied reasons: for relationship problems with their partner, to improve self-knowledge and intelligence. emotional or to acquire a series of habits or skills that will improve her adaptation to the environment that surrounds her.
In fact, there are still individuals who They believe that visiting a psychotherapist is a sign of weakness when in reality it is a symptom of courage and a way to become a much stronger person and prepared for what may arise in your daily life.
If you are thinking about going to a psychologist, it is good that you keep in mind the benefits associated with psychotherapy :
If you want to delve deeper into these benefits, you can read this article: “The 8 benefits of going to psychological therapy”
Psychologists at home: some considerations
As we have seen, home therapy can be a very good option, since as patients They are in their own home and feel more comfortable so they can easily develop the trust towards the professional that is necessary to create a good therapeutic environment.
It is also a great alternative in the case of child psychotherapy, since the professionals who carry out the intervention can observe parenting skills and styles in their natural environment, that is, in the family home. Home psychologists can observe relational dynamics that occur between parents and children just as they occur on a daily basis, with fewer filters than in other environments. For example, it can be especially useful in the case of dealing with a problematic daughter who exhibits patterns of disruptive behavior.
However, in these cases it must be ensured that all family members are present and participate in the therapy process, and if necessary, support must be offered to the parents in raising their children. It must also be taken into account that it is necessary to eliminate barriers that adolescents may put up, as they may feel that their space is being violated, since the psychologist is within their own territory.
Advantages
We have already seen that home therapy shares the advantages of in-person therapy and remote therapy. But what are these benefits? What makes this type of therapy a good alternative?
In short, the main benefits of psychology at home are the following:
Psychology at home as a new option
Home psychology sessions are, without a doubt, a good way to do therapy, since patients can benefit for many reasons as you have seen.
Now, When performed in the patient’s home, it is necessary to take into account some issues : Is it safe to carry out therapeutic sessions at home? Is there minimally necessary privacy? Is there a comfortable place to talk? Does the client feel safe at home? Can the client and therapist focus on therapy at home?
Therapists must be aware that if a series of factors are not taken care of, it is very easy to lose control in different situations. If these factors are controlled, the sessions can be a success.