Welcome to the age of the home shrink

There are many reasons why adults, adolescents and children consult a psychologist. When to consult? How can I avoid waiting for an appointment? what do you do when you’re an expatriate? Online psychologists now open up a whole new world of possibilities for patients.

Psychologist: knowing when to consult

The needs of an adult psychologist

Some speak of anxiety, depression, feelings of dissatisfaction, lack of self-confidence… There are many reasons why patients of all ages make an appointment with a psychologist. For adults, these can be classic neuroses through to obsessive-compulsive disorders and other phobias. Various forms of unhappiness that need to be treated to regain a healthy balance in life. The key is to find a psychologist with whom the patient feels comfortable and to whom he or she can visit easily and regularly.

The need for a teen psychologist

For teenagers, this pivotal period of life is overwhelming in many ways. Whether manifested violently or silently, psychological conflicts lead to difficulties and fragility in adolescents. Repeated absenteeism from school, eating disorders, risky behavior, aggression, withdrawal, low self-esteem… these are all behaviors that should alert parents. But finding a shrink with whom the teenager is willing to open up, and agreeing to go several times a month, can sometimes be problematic.

Going to a shrink’s office can be an obstacle to the decision to consult.

The needs of a child psychologist

In everyday life, young children are more likely to suffer from sleep disorders, developmental delays, regression, stuttering… At school, lack of concentration, difficulty in socializing or learning disorders such as dyslexia, dysphasia or ADHD are also reasons for consultation. At school, anorexia, bulimia and academic failure are also behaviors to be taken seriously. Waiting times can be long, depending on where you live, and the process is even more complicated for expatriates.

It can take between three and six months to get an appointment with a psychologist.

The specific needs of an expatriate psychologist

It’s a leap into the unknown. Expatriation leaves no one indifferent. Whatever the motivations behind this life experience, it upsets landmarks, shakes convictions and generates reactions we call expatriate syndrome. The need to be listened to by an expatriate psychologist is all the greater when one’s entourage is far away. What’s more, in other countries, French psychologists are not commonplace, and choice is limited where it does exist.

A sympathetic ear that connects you to your culture of origin can break your isolation and make it easier to adapt to a new country.

The same applies to a child going through a difficult period. A psychologist is just a few clicks or phone calls away. But how do you find a French-speaking psychologist abroad? How do you keep track when you’re frequently on the move?

Online consultation, the benefits of e-health

Remote psychology consultations: proven effectiveness or fad? Online therapy, also known as e-health, is recognized by the WHO as telepsychiatry. These are services that use technology to enhance a person’s well-being. Beyond its innovative format, it’s above all a process adapted to today’s pace of life. Psychologists evolve with their patients’ lifestyles. In this respect, some of them are implementing more flexible systems, while remaining solid in their role as therapists. This is the main objective of the ORA platform, leader in online consultations.

Focus on flexibility

Each problem has its own specialty (depression, addiction, learning disorders, etc.). Finding a psychologist who specializes in a particular field is no longer limited by geographic location. With online consultations, distance is no longer an obstacle. A boon for expatriate patients. The online psychologist adapts to complicated schedules, time differences and people with reduced mobility. It’s now possible to have a session with your therapist from the comfort of your own home, or from anywhere in the world.

Saving on all fronts

No need to travel, no travel costs for the patient. With no practice, no waiting room and no dedicated staff, the psychologist reduces the cost of his sessions and offers lower rates to his patients. These are significant savings in time and money.

Savings are made on the consultation fee, not on the quality of the session.

Long-term follow-up

It doesn’t matter if the patient moves, travels or expatriates. An online psychologist can guarantee regular, uninterrupted support. When it comes to long or short-term therapy, having to postpone an appointment is always detrimental. ORA provides a simple, effective solution with its e-consultation services. Speaking a language other than one’s mother tongue for expatriates can also be a barrier to the decision to consult a psychologist. An excellent option for French expatriates is to use the ORA platform, which provides online access to French psychologists.

As a 2.0 treatment format, online psychology is now an established therapeutic solution.