In the United States, about 21 million Americans have a substance use disorder. One of the latest options for treating addiction is online substance abuse counseling. This digital approach provides flexibility and ease of access. 

Learn more about how this treatment option can significantly impact your sobriety journey, offering personalized support from the comfort of your home.

Online substance abuse counseling, also called teletherapy or telepsychology, allows you to get help via phone, email, text, or video. Like traditional therapy sessions, online treatment is talk-based, with sessions taking place weekly or bi-weekly, allowing you the flexibility to get help no matter where you are or your mobility. 

Some therapists require payment per session, while others opt for a subscription-based plan that offers various hours per week with access to texts. As with other forms of substance use treatment, online sessions can help with addiction to a variety of substances, including:

• Alcohol
• Opioids
• Benzodiazepines 
• Stimulants

This is also an option that offers online drug treatment programs that can help you manage cravings with medications — though therapy is always required alongside prescriptions. 

This type of treatment aims to help those who can’t attend sessions in person to still receive the right level of support while benefiting from the added help of medications to keep them on track. 

In online counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most trusted forms of care. CBT focuses on helping you recognize how your negative thoughts can affect your moods and actions. Once you can identify the negative thought patterns, you can start making changes, letting yourself think in more productive ways. You can also get help with mental health concerns that may have led to the addiction with CBT.

Many mood disorders, like depression and anxiety, have their roots in unhelpful thinking patterns. By learning how to spot these patterns and make changes to the process, you can help yourself stabilize and make better decisions. 

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is another technique we use during online counseling sessions. DBT has its basis in CBT, but it delves into getting you to accept where you are now, without judgment, while striving to make positive changes. It can be an excellent option for people who have trouble with emotional regulation or who can’t manage stress well. 

Motivational interviewing (MI) is another therapeutic tool we use to help those struggling with substance use disorders. This counseling technique helps you build more powerful motivations for getting and staying sober. 

Usually, we use MI as a complement to other therapies, like cognitive-behavioral therapy. One of the best things about this technique is that it prevents confrontational conversations with therapists, allowing you to see that you’re in charge of your recovery. 

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) plays a pivotal role in maintaining sobriety. Through MAT, we administer Suboxone, a tailored medication to mitigate cravings and withdrawal effects, enabling a more focused therapy experience.

Telehealth services allow you to get the drug treatment you need, even if you lead a busy life and can’t attend in-person sessions or if your health keeps you from doing so. These services rely on some of the best technologies available today, allowing you to have access to the care you need in an efficient and safe manner. 

Everything from remote patient monitoring to video conferencing and texting provides huge benefits to both patients and therapists. This technology offers the kind of connectivity that those in treatment require without needing to turn to group sessions. It also gives therapists a chance to engage with patients in unique ways. 

Online treatment can happen anywhere and at any time, while traditional in-person therapy requires you to travel to a location at a particular time. The in-person arrangement is not feasible for everyone. 

It’s true that in-person therapy can help those who need to step away from their typical environment to be able to focus on treatment. For some people, having therapy at home can be a concern, especially if the home environment is not conducive to contemplative activities like talk therapy. 

It does mean, however, having to travel. That can be a different concern for people who don’t have reliable transportation or mobility issues that make it more likely that they will miss sessions. If you have family responsibilities, like children or elderly parents to care for, traveling may be impossible because you may not be able to get anyone to watch them. 

However, it’s important to note that you need reliable internet access to benefit from telehealth services. Therapy sessions can last up to an hour, and you want to ensure you have access to Wi-Fi that sustains video conferences. 

You will also need equipment, like a phone, tablet, or computer, which not everyone can access. In-person treatment, however, tends to be more expensive than online services, and you have to add transportation costs, whether gas or public transport, to the mix. 

Online sessions may not be enough for serious mental health concerns that appear alongside an addiction. That’s why an evaluation is crucial before settling on a treatment method. 

In-person therapy allows therapists to read non-verbal cues. Facial expressions, posture, and more can offer valuable insight into your mood and thoughts. On the other hand, having to travel to a location for therapy can also cause stress, so having treatment at home can put you at ease and allow you to better express what you feel and focus on the therapist’s suggestions.  

Some people find online treatments more isolating, which may be a concern if you worry about worsening mental health symptoms. 

Both types of therapies, however, offer the chance to focus on understanding what led to the development of the addiction. They also both use a wide arrangement of techniques like CBT and MI to provide the care you need.

Both online and in-person sessions can combine MAT services with talk therapy. That way, we’re not just treating the symptoms of substance abuse but getting down to the problem so that you can find long-lasting sobriety. 

These treatment options focus on managing your emotions and dealing with negative thoughts while helping you understand your triggers and what you can do to avoid them. 

For countless people, virtual services are the better choice for their various benefits. 

Online therapy sessions are easier to manage for many people. You don’t have to worry about finding transportation for the sessions — a concern that could lead you to skip more sessions than you would like. 

Online sessions make treatment possible for people with children or job responsibilities that make it impossible to take at least two hours away from a desk or home. 

When planning to attend in-person therapy sessions, you may have to worry about waiting lists. There may also be therapy-patient scheduling conflicts that make it impossible to find the right time when you consider traveling and other factors. 

You also have the chance to use texts, which can be very convenient for patients as well as therapists. 

Online therapy allows you to receive the care you need without worrying about anyone else knowing if you don’t want them to. You don’t have to ask for time off from work to go to therapy sessions or even step away from family responsibilities to get help. 

Virtual therapy sessions for substance use disorders is much more affordable than in-person treatment.

For one thing, you don’t have to spend money on gas or transportation whenever you need a session. You also don’t have to pay for babysitters if you have children. 

You can get the most affordable rates when you schedule many sessions in advance. Many therapists also charge less for online sessions than in-person options, so it can be a good choice for those who might not be able to afford standard rates. 

If you’d like to try this type of treatment, it can help you to know what to expect. 

The first step in the process is to get an initial assessment. This assessment will allow us insight into the severity of the addiction, the unique challenges you face, and your physical health. 

Because a big part of our treatment is offering medications to help with cravings and withdrawal issues, we need a good idea of your physical health. We’ll ask you for your medical history as well as a history of your substance use disorder. We’ll need to know about all the medications you take and anything else that might impact your recovery.

We may perform blood tests to see if you can receive the medications we offer. Our online suboxone doctors can order and get the tests before you start treatment. 

Something to keep in mind is that we currently don’t accept women who are pregnant into our suboxone treatment programs. 

Once we have your health information, we can create an individualized treatment plan. We will talk through the entire process so you know what to expect. 

Weekly sessions are the standard for most of our patients. It’s always important to let the therapist know if you’ll miss a session so they can reschedule it. 

During your weekly sessions, you will discuss how you’re coping while learning the skills you need to stay sober. The various therapeutic techniques will show you how to manage your emotions better, deal with stress, and even recognize the triggers that can prompt you to fall back into old habits. 

We will monitor your progress and make adjustments to your treatment as necessary. This includes making changes in your therapy as well as in your medications. If something isn’t working, we will find a better option for you. 

We rely on drug testing to monitor progress, but it’s essential to know that we use it to improve outcomes — not judge you. These tests can help us see the effectiveness of the medications we offer while giving you another reason to stay sober. 

Online therapy can be an excellent tool for getting you to manage everyday life and stay sober. You can get assistance when facing a crisis by having help available quickly and avoiding the hassle of traveling to a location. You also know you have support when you need it, so you can start trusting yourself more.

Online therapy offers techniques for long-term addiction management, including relapse prevention guidance. You can find ways to avoid the triggers that put your sobriety in danger while learning how to cope with uncomfortable and powerful emotions.  

Getting therapy for substance use disorders shouldn’t be a struggle. You shouldn’t have to worry about being unable to go to a session because you can’t find a ride or a babysitter. When you turn to MyStreetHealth, you can get the expert help of therapists trained in helping people with substance use disorders and mental health conditions. You'll gain access to group counseling led by online suboxone doctors, enhancing your path to recovery. Our platform has been designed with your needs in mind, ensuring easy access no matter where you are. 

Additionally, we understand the unique challenges those seeking help face, which is why we provide a secure, discreet, and supportive environment. In today's digital age, physical barriers should not prevent anyone from receiving the care they deserve. We bridge that gap, ensuring you're always one click away from the assistance you need. We are here to offer the guidance you can depend on. 

Contact MyStreetHealth today to learn more about our telehealth services and how to get started.