Sarah’s Journey: Finding Wellness Through Virtual Therapy

Ever feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges and unsure where to turn? Virtual therapy can be a lifeline, just like it was for Sarah. Discover her inspiring journey of self-care and growth through accessible therapy. You’re not alone in this—let’s explore how you can find your path to wellness too.

Finding My Path to Wellness: Sarah’s Journey with Virtual Therapy

This article highlights Sarah’s journey with telehealth therapy and how working with a licensed clinical social worker helped her implement self-care practices that led to improvements in multiple areas of her life. It’s a story that many individuals might relate to: Sarah had considered speaking with a mental health professional on several occasions and researched it frequently, but financial constraints, time limitations, and insurance complications kept getting in the way.

After Sarah’s doctor suggested telehealth therapy, she connected with a licensed clinical social worker through ReachLink and began making progress with her mental health.

Below is Sarah’s story, which has been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

Sarah’s story

Sarah’s experiences before therapy

“I always knew that I could benefit from speaking to a mental health professional, but I always had a reason not to, even though I would look into it frequently,” Sarah began. “Either money, insurance, or timing issues always stopped me. I was open to counseling but was never truly motivated to take any action on finding a method that would work best for me.

Doctor’s suggestion for therapy

“When my doctor suggested I look into therapy, she mentioned she had a patient who communicated online with their therapist regularly. I was intrigued by that since my schedule is so erratic, I didn’t see how making scheduled appointments would work for either of us. The idea of being able to reach out to my therapist with flexibility held great appeal for me.

The choice of a video and messaging approach

“I don’t mind face-to-face interaction, but having both video sessions and messaging helps me get my thoughts out in a way that makes sense so that I’m being as honest and open as possible to get the best feedback. It allows me to take my time without feeling rushed if I’m struggling to put feelings into words or get interrupted by work.”

How Sarah found ReachLink

Searching telehealth therapy options

“So, I did a Google search and read the reviews on several telehealth therapy options, but ReachLink had the best reviews, and I immediately liked the feel of the website. It just felt right.

Signing up for ReachLink

“When I signed up for ReachLink, I was mainly looking to handle my depression and anxiety but also tackle issues related to stress, sleeping issues, family issues, relationship issues, and childhood trauma. I felt that I had so much to talk about that it was difficult for me to even find where to start. Even with the support I was already receiving, I was struggling to handle my depression and anxiety in a healthy way. I was doing okay, but I knew I could be doing better.”

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see reputable mental health resources for more information.

Changes Sarah experienced after starting counseling with ReachLink

“I’ve been working with Michael, my ReachLink therapist, since I signed up in late December,” Sarah continued.

“After our initial conversation, he mentioned how he was into holistic approaches such as mindfulness, meditation, energy work, etc. Since that’s something that had started to heavily influence my life, I felt relaxed and comfortable speaking about those things to someone who could fully relate and understand what I meant.

“I find that I’ve come to value his responses, advice, and input to help me navigate challenges. Knowing I can speak openly during our sessions without judgment is incredibly freeing. Having that unbiased professional to listen to me and provide advice and feedback is so refreshing.

“I think I would have put myself at 5/10 when I first signed up, but at the time, I probably thought I was more of a 7.5/10. However, now I feel confident saying that I feel like I’m truly at 7.5-8/10 most days,” reported Sarah.

Exercise and other self-care habits to improve mental health

“I’ve managed to implement healthier habits into my daily life with Michael’s help, suggestions, resources, etc. I feel less guilty for my feelings, and I’m improving on how best to handle my sensitivity and emotions and how to communicate them.

“We started with just me sharing all of my thoughts in what felt like a jumbled mess of concerns and feelings. Once we worked through everything and started getting to the root of the issues, Michael was better able to provide more specific guidance. He gave me practical strategies like exercise to manage my stress and improve my sleeping habits. He provided affirmations that I reviewed daily to help maintain a positive mindset, and he made suggestions on how to implement healthier self-care habits for myself.

Someone to talk to

“I think one of his greatest attributes is his way of knowing when I need someone to listen and when I need actual advice. Sometimes we just talk through a situation because he seems to know that’s what I need most at that moment.”

Sarah’s experiences with self-care

“Self-care and self-love are the most important things I’ve learned from Michael. I’ve always been a loving person to others but not so much to myself. And I wasn’t aware of that. Michael has helped me realize that I was forgetting about myself, that it’s okay to put myself first, and that doing so doesn’t automatically make me selfish or a bad person.

“For example, saying no to things I don’t truly want to do is not a bad thing. In the past, I would find myself doing things I didn’t want to because I knew that the other party wanted to do it. But now I can confidently turn down a night out for dinner and not feel bad because I need to be at home alone in my own space.

“I still struggle with my sensitivity not only to my own emotions but to others as well. However, with Michael’s help and guidance, I’ve been able to start implementing ways to protect myself from being drained by those around me,” Sarah explained.

“Michael understands that how I’m feeling isn’t me being overemotional or ‘out of control.’ It’s a result of my being so sensitive that I can feel others’ moods and energies, and if I don’t do something, those feelings and energies can drain me. It happens gradually sometimes, and I don’t even realize it until Michael asks how I’ve been doing with it. He basically checks in with me in the kindest way.

“I’m not sure if he actually knows I’ve been neglecting self-care or if it’s his professional intuition, but every time he’s asked me, I’ve realized that while I’m not feeling horrible, I’ve felt better, and I know exactly why: self-care. Maybe I slacked, and now I’m grouchy or touchy. But simple reminders to continue doing things for myself have truly helped me get through most of my difficult days.”

Telehealth therapy may help

If you are experiencing challenges similar to Sarah’s, you may benefit from speaking to a licensed clinical social worker. If you feel hesitant to sign up for traditional in-person therapy, you may benefit from telehealth therapy. Research shows that online therapy is effective for a variety of mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression.

Benefits of telehealth therapy services

Telehealth therapy services tend to offer more flexible scheduling, more affordable prices, and access to professionals you might not be able to find locally. Sarah was also excited about being able to communicate with her therapist through both scheduled video sessions and messaging between appointments, a feature provided by ReachLink. You can reach out between sessions, and your therapist will respond as soon as they’re available.

Takeaway

While Sarah had considered starting therapy several times, she didn’t find a method that worked until she tried telehealth therapy at ReachLink. By making treatment more accessible and allowing her to work around a busy schedule, ReachLink provided the environment Sarah needed to start her mental health journey.

If you’re interested in counseling services but life always gets in the way, you may benefit from telehealth therapy. With ReachLink, you can be matched with a licensed clinical social worker who has experience in your specific areas of concern, and you can find a therapist who is a good fit for your needs and preferences. Take the first step toward getting support and contact ReachLink today.