At present, a new form of psychotherapy is growing: it is home psychology .

This type of therapy, unlike the traditional one, is carried out in the client’s home, so the psychological intervention at home combines some benefits of both online and classic face-to-face therapy which is carried out in consultation. In this article we analyze the keys to understanding this new approach.

What is home therapy?

Psychology at home refers to situations in which the psychotherapist goes to the patient’s home to conduct the sessions that will allow the patient to improve his or her quality of life and well-being.

The idea of psychology at home arises because many times the patient may experience too many problems when coming to the clinic when he or she is in a bad emotional moment, has some disability that makes it impossible to move, suffers a serious crisis or has a limitation in terms of the means of transport (either because he or she does not have a vehicle or the public transport network is not ideal for coming to the clinic).

Because of its characteristics and associated advantages, psychology at home can be the solution to these obstacles, just like when a doctor makes a home visit to a sick person. It is another alternative to face-to-face therapy, in the same way that online therapy tries to make the service somewhat more accessible . However, with regard to the latter, some patients may consider it too impersonal when carried out via a computer, telephone or email.

On the other hand, psychotherapy at home allows to maintain the contact face to face with the patient, since it is a form of presential therapy, but with all the comfort that presents the home. Thus, the patient can feel more comfortable and confident because he is in a place he knows very well.

Why go to psychological therapy

Whether it is face-to-face in the office, online or at home, going to psychological therapy can be beneficial for many people. But even if an individual does not feel completely well emotionally because certain situations in their life outweigh them, it is not always easy to take the step and go to a psychology clinic to seek help and receive treatment.

There are still many people who think that in order to go to the psychologist you have to have a serious disorder, when in reality, people go to psychotherapy sessions for the most varied reasons: for relationship problems with their partner, to improve their self-knowledge and emotional intelligence or to acquire a series of habits or skills that will improve their adaptation to the environment around them.

In fact, there are still individuals who believe that visiting a psychotherapist is a symptom of weakness , when in fact it is a symptom of courage and a way to become a much stronger person and prepared for whatever may come up in your day-to-day life.

If you are thinking of going to the psychologist, it is good to consider the benefits associated with psychotherapy :

  • It helps you feel better.
  • Improve your self-confidence.
  • It provides you with tools to manage everyday conflicts.
  • It helps you overcome limiting beliefs.
  • It allows you to live in harmony with the people you relate to.
  • It helps you find emotional balance.
  • The therapeutic relationship is confidential, so you can tell the psychologist what you need.
  • It helps you empower yourself in the face of life.

If you want to know more about these benefits, you can read this article: “The 8 benefits of going to psychological therapy”

Psychologists at home: some considerations

As we have seen, home therapy can be a very good option, as patients are in their own home and feel more comfortable , so they can easily develop the confidence towards the professional that is necessary to create a good therapeutic environment.

It is also a great alternative in the case of child psychotherapy, since the professionals who carry out the intervention can observe parental skills and styles in their natural environment, that is, in the family home. Home psychologists can observe the relational dynamics that occur between parents and children as they occur in everyday life, with fewer filters than in other settings. For example, it can be especially useful in the case of dealing with a problematic child who shows disruptive behaviour patterns.

However, in these cases, it must be ensured that all family members are present and participate in the therapy process, and if necessary, support must be offered to parents in raising their children. It should also be taken into account that it is necessary to eliminate barriers that may be put up by adolescents, as they may feel that their space is being violated, since the psychologist is within their own territory.

Advantages

We have already seen that home therapy shares the advantages of face-to-face and distance therapy. But what are these benefits? What makes this type of therapy a good alternative?

In short, the main benefits of home psychology are the following:

  • The person’s home may provide information that a clinic cannot find.
  • The patient may feel less vulnerable because he is the one who welcomes the psychologist. He feels that he is on his own turf, where he is living his life in total normality.
  • Patients are not seen in the psychology centre, so there is more privacy.
  • Greater comfort by not having to move the patient.
  • Greater confidence as the patient feels at home.
  • Lower cost, as the psychologist does not have to pay for a therapy space.
  • Possibility of more family members present.
  • A good environment to exercise (especially with children who feel they are at home).

Psychology at home as a new option

Psychology sessions at home are undoubtedly a good way to do therapy, since patients can benefit from them for many reasons as you have seen.

However, when performing the therapy at the patient’s home, it is necessary to take into account some questions : Is it safe to carry out the therapy sessions at home? Is there a minimum of privacy required? Is there a comfortable place to talk? Does the client feel safe at home? Can the client and the therapist concentrate on the therapy at home?

Therapists should be aware that if a number of factors are not taken care of, it is very easy to lose control in different situations. If these factors are controlled, sessions can be a success.