Iván Martín: "Every time we see more potential in online therapy"

The outbreak of the coronavirus crisis has focused on the potential of the online world when it comes to offering services that, until recently, we only thought of as face-to-face, face-to-face dialogue between client and professional.

This has also been reflected in the world of online therapy, a form of psychological intervention that has seen how its popularity skyrocketed in a matter of weeks at the beginning of 2020, and that it has come to stay.

Because of this, there are cases of teams of psychologists who have adapted to the circumstances making online therapy their main way of working. Today we speak with one of them, Iván Martín, Director of the online psychotherapy center Psicología 360.

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Interview with Iván Martín: online therapy as a way to reach more people

Iván Martín is a clinical psychologist, occupational and group therapist and Director and founder of Psicología 360, an online therapy center whose team has more than 25 years of experience helping patients. In this interview, he explains what it has been like to make the leap into the digital world, the way in which this format of psychotherapy brings novelties to the field of mental health, and what is the future of this type of interventions in patients.

How did the idea of ​​creating Psychology 360 as an option for psychotherapy services come about?

I'm glad you asked that question. Well, the idea came up five years ago and I discarded it. It did not seem to me at that time that it had the same effectiveness as face-to-face, and although I myself cared for patients online who changed residence for personal or work reasons. They did not work badly, but there were still no serious studies that demonstrated the same efficacy as the face-to-face one as there are now, and even though it was working, I discarded it.

Right after the start of the pandemic we started to deal more online, and we realized that it works very well; So I called a friend who gave me the idea and we began to develop a quality therapeutic process with low prices and easy to use.

What are the main advantages of the online modality that you would highlight to someone considering seeking professional psychological help?

The more we do online sessions, the more potential we see in this online therapy tool.

The most described advantages are the savings in time and money for both patients and psychologists. But there are others such as confidentiality, since you do not need to enter any psychology cabinet, you do it from wherever you want, your home, an intimate work space... Sometimes there have been patients who go to an area of ​​a park that gives them peace of mind and we begin therapy in a beautiful office.

Another advantage that surprised us is that there are people who open up more online than in person, as if they had more of a bond and closeness by being in an environment known and chosen by them.

In summary, how does the process of making a first appointment work, from the point of view of someone who has never attended online therapy sessions?

Although the process is very simple, if you call or write we can help you, you can access with a mobile, tablet or computer. An email address and phone number are also required.

I explain. You go to the web psicologia360.com, and click on the contract your therapy button. There a page opens where you will choose if you want a session, a bonus. You choose the psychologist you prefer and then the day and time that best suits you, and enter your name and email address to send you a link to the contracted appointment.

Then you check that the contract is correct and when you make the payment your appointment is reserved. We will send you an email with a link, with which you will connect on the day of therapy at the established time and your psychologist will be there.

Considering that some people are not familiar with the use of connected electronic devices Internet, has it been a challenge to develop a digital platform that makes it easy to carry out therapy sessions? on-line?

Well, the truth is, I think it has been the most laborious part of development. There are many video call platforms, many for online payments, but few that do it in a coordinated way, collection management and both individual and group video calls. We are very happy with the result, we believe that it has been very good, simple, simple and economical by automating costs.

What are some of the psychological problems for which you notice that people seek your help more?

Well, the main ones have been problems related to anxiety, kids with learning difficulties, relationship problems, problems related to COVID-19.

Regarding the potential of online therapy and a platform like Psychology 360, what are your professional goals for this 2021?

Our main objective is to be able to provide quality psychological treatment to many people. who has economic or mobility difficulties, hence our prices, 39 euros per session individual. Reach all corners of Spain.

Subsequently, make psychology 360 a mutual aid site where we create a community where we support each other, report therapeutic information of interest to our clients. In short, to help make this world a little bit better by letting our patients know deal with the personal and social difficulties that they are having to carry in these very complicated.