Working On Your Mind...Online?

What comes to mind when you think of Instagram? Food recipes and sports reels? Memes? Sugar Bear Hair vitamin ads? How about a safe space to work on yourself?

Tory Eletto, licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), turns Instagram into a calm haven for self-growth. She is @nytherapist with nearly 80,000 Instagram followers, providing information and advice on self-love, self-growth, parenting, dating, relationships and more. Through her posts of insightful quotes about human behaviors and emotions paired with a detailed, explanatory caption, her compassion, intelligence and excellence as a LMFT is clear.

“I hope for my Instagram page to serve as a space to pause, reflect and take in information that adds depth to our growth journey,” Eletto says. “My hope is that it encourages people to embrace therapy to further explore any information that feels reverent to them.”

Online therapy, or telepsychology, has exploded in popularity in recent years. You may have heard of services like Talkspace or BetterHelp. Betterhelp has even had popular YouTubers, like Shane Dawson and Heath Hussar, advertising their platform. These services bring therapy to you through text messaging, live chats, phone calls and video conferencing. While telepsychology platforms can sound like an enticing and accessible option, further research and advice from experts may paint a different picture. BetterHelp states that their counseling is not suitable to treat people with a severe mental illness (such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia) or those who have thoughts of hurting themselves or others. BetterHelp providers also cannot make any official diagnosis, nor can they prescribe medication.

Furthermore, BetterHelp’s FAQ section of their website ensures that their counselors are licensed, trained, experienced and accredited psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers or licensed professional counselors with at least 3 years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. But, their terms and conditions make these reassurances questionable: messaging are best used as complementary to in-perclient, so trust yourself if it is not working for you.” “A basic plan is to carve out time to get to know ourselves without our phones distracting us,” Eletto says. “Sometimes it can feel intimidating to purposefully choose time to be alone, but like any relationship, we have to give it our presence to thrive. Notice how you feel, write and journal, spend time in nature, meditate.” “We do not control the quality of the Counselor Ser- Additionally, how might we know that we need vices and we do not determine whether any Counselor extra help, such as in-person individual or group is qualified to provide any specific service as well therapy? as whether a Counselor is categorized correctly or “A good indicator that we may need help is if we matched correctly to you.” struggle in this process and/or avoid it,” Eletto says. “If we have interest in learning about ourselves, if So, BetterHelp, and potentially services alike, do not we are repeating unhealthy patterns, struggling fully ensure that their counselors are trained, qualified with our emotions or just want someone to talk to or even licensed. and have a space, it is a great time to find help.” The American Psychological Association (APA) who has cultivated her own mentally and emotionconcludes, “For now, with the current research and ally healing journey for years, Eletto has a message with the current technology, mobile apps and text for college students. As a college graduate, mother, wife and person son psychotherapy.” “Remind yourself that a lot of what you are going through, others are as well,” Eletto says. “We While the conclusion may feel grim to those who often think we are the only ones struggling with seeked out telepsychology services as a comprehen- relationships, self esteem, friendships, when really sive, professional mental health resource, the APA this is a normal, but challenging phase in life. This still highlights the bright underbelly of the situation. is often a time we begin to build a relationship with An Instagram page like @nytherapist, although not ourselves, so pay attention to what that relationship a replacement to in-person therapy, proves to be a looks like, and prioritize it as much as any other.” wonderful supplement in your journey of self-growth Going to therapy is absolutely nothing to be and healing. The more competent resources and ashamed of; in fact, quite the opposite. Those who opportunities for learning about and flourishing in our have been to therapy are tough enough to face mental health, the better. their struggles, modest enough to admit they need “I believe that our field is trying to give options to session in and session out. Therapy can work as a make therapy more accessible,” Eletto says. “The thera- life-changing tool for everyone, not just those who peutic connection is the most vital part of therapy, and struggle with mental illness. Whether it is utilizing we just have to make sure that technology isn’t hinder- the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) ing that connection. I do virtual sessions, and I will say, at Penn State, seeking therapy at a private medical for most clients it seems to be just as effective as in practice or calling a crisis hotline, please reach out person. But not every therapist feels this way, or every if you need help. It can be challenging to even know where to start PENN STATE COUNSELING AND when wondering how to take care of ourselves PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES: mentally. 814-863-0395

help, and resilient enough to work on themselves

1-877-229-6400

800-273-8255

TORY ELETTO’S WEBSITE: www.emotionpsychotherapy.com

“When life gives you beets, make borscht: how growing up in an immigrant family influenced my life tremendously.”