With modern technology, there are very few things that we can’t access with just a few mouse clicks. Many tasks that used to require transportation and time can be accomplished online, from paying your bills to buying your groceries. You can even improve your mental health.

Mental health disorders like depression can have an impact on every facet of your life, from your productivity to your interpersonal relationships. Although traditional outpatient treatment programs can be extremely beneficial for people struggling with depression, they may not be accessible for everyone who needs help. Virtual aka online mental health services make it easier for people struggling with depression to access the care they need with minimal disruptions to their daily schedules.

We’ll talk about the benefits of online treatment for major depressive disorder, the signs that it’s time for you to seek online help and what online treatment for depression looks like with Lightfully. 

How you can benefit from online treatment for depression

Depression, or major depressive disorder (MDD), is a common mood disorder characterized by overwhelming negative emotions and thoughts, including pervasive sadness and malaise, social withdrawal, and lack of enjoyment in activities. 

By treating your depression, you can help reduce your depression symptoms to loosen the negative grip it can have on your daily responsibilities, relationships with loved ones and goal setting.

Online treatment for mental health disorders like depression usually centers on psychotherapy. This means having virtual therapy sessions with licensed clinical therapists to look at your depression from a different perspective and learn the skills you need to manage it.

Benefits of online treatment for depression include:

• Convenience
• Flexible scheduling
• Increased accessibility
• Comfort at home for increased engagement
• Same effectiveness as in-person psychotherapy

7 signs that it’s time to seek online treatment for depression

It’s not always easy to determine when you need to find help for your depression, especially because self-awareness can take time to develop. If your depression symptoms are chronic and interfering with your daily life, you don’t have to wait until things get worse before asking for help. Online treatment is a valuable care option for people with depression, especially if in-person treatment is not compatible with their busy schedules.

Here are seven signs that you should seek online treatment for depression:

1. You’re using your busy schedule as the only reason to not try in-person therapy.
2. You’re struggling to find safe and effective coping mechanisms for your depression.
3. Your depression symptoms are interfering with your function at work, school or home.
4. Your relationships have become strained due to mood swings and withdrawal.
5. You’re experiencing life changes or situations that are triggering your symptoms.
6. Your lack of motivation and sense of self is preventing you from setting long-term goals.
7. You’re having suicidal thoughts or self-harming.

What online treatment for depression looks like with Lightfully

At Lightfully Behavioral Health, we offer a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program, or vIOP. This level of care is for people who need additional care on top of their regular outpatient therapy sessions, or want to try it for the first time. It can also help people who are trying to bridge over to outpatient treatment.

Our vIOP is flexible and personalized for your particular needs and schedule. It’s an effective course of action as you move along your mental health journey because it provides you with support you need while still encouraging autonomy. 

The vIOP lasts approximately two weeks, and includes:

• Weekly individual sessions with a therapist
• Daily group therapy sessions
• Three to six hours of daily programming
• Ongoing family therapy

Lightfully Behavioral Health can help when it’s time to seek online treatment for depression 

Coping with depression is a challenging journey that no one should have to travel alone. If you’ve been considering treatment for depression but haven’t found a program that can accommodate your unique scheduling needs, online treatment may be an ideal option.

Lightfully’s Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP) provides personalized treatment programming with flexible scheduling options for adults struggling with depression and other mental health conditions.

Our whole-person, process-based therapeutic approach enables us to address the core processes and underlying issues that contribute to the maintenance of your depression.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.