The irruption of the Internet into our lives has brought about functionalities and services that we would not have been able to imagine years ago. And the psychotherapeutic assistance sector is no exception to this rule.

Mentavio is an example of this : a service that connects patients and psychologists and psychiatrists so that the limitations of the physical world are not a problem when seeking help in mental health.

Mentavio: an online platform for psychologists, psychiatrists and patients

On this occasion we interviewed Carlota Esteve, Marketing Director for Spain and Latin America , to explain what this tool used by both psychologists and patients consists of.

What exactly is Mentavio and what are the main needs it covers?

Mentavio is an online psychological counseling platform.

On the one hand, it offers patients an immediate, private and easy access system to medical professionals through different tools such as videoconferencing, audio calls or chat.

On the other hand, it provides psychologists with a new way of contacting their current patients, the ability to reach new users without geographical limitation and compliance with legislation in the field of online therapy.

As for the technical requirements, what is needed to use Mentavio?

To use Mentavio all you need is a desktop PC, a laptop or a tablet with a microphone, a speakerphone and a webcam if you want to make a video conference session, plus a good Internet connection.

How does it adapt differently to what psychologists on the one hand and patients on the other are looking for?

On the one hand, patients who require psychotherapy sessions are provided with time optimization (avoiding travel), discretion and the comfort of having an appointment with their psychologist from the comfort of their home couch.

And on the other hand, psychologists are provided with a secure communication tool to be able to do their work online, since mentavio has its own technology to allow the secure transmission of data through SSL encryption, that is, it guarantees the security and privacy of the therapy sessions, during which confidential and especially sensitive information is exchanged.

This fact is relevant, since professional associations of psychologists often reject the use of personal video call platforms for professional purposes.

In addition, the portal also assures psychologists of the payment of services through secure payment systems.

Will anyone seeking anonymity see their expectations met with this kind of service?

Patients have the option, as long as the treating psychologist agrees, to remain completely anonymous.

Is there any way to know the degree to which other clients are satisfied with a particular psychologist available at Mentavio?

At the end of each session, patients have the option of assessing their satisfaction with the session and writing a personal review. All users have access to the psychologists’ assessments in their respective profiles.

What are the customization options offered by Mentavio?

The psychologists choose their schedules of availability, their fees and the modality of their sessions (video, chat, telephone, email and face-to-face consultations).

Patients, for their part, choose the psychologist who best suits their possibilities, and for this they have the option of making a free presentation session of about 10 minutes for an initial contact; they can also choose the way to carry out the session and the methods of payment.

A few years ago, the idea of contacting psychologists through the Internet seemed unthinkable. What has changed?

It’s changed the way we do everything. We choose the movies we want to watch, book trips, find a partner, learn languages, shop… and all this online. Today it’s all just a click away, and so is the world of health.

It is necessary to adapt to new needs, and Mentavio makes this possible for both psychologists and patients.