The Impact of Digital Therapy on Young People: Finding the Right Balance

Young people today are navigating a digital landscape that's vastly different from that experienced by previous generations. While digital therapy can offer convenient and immediate support, it also comes with limitations. Many young people haven't had the opportunity to experience traditional face-to-face therapy, which has been a critical aspect of emotional and mental health support for decades. This lack of context might make them more susceptible to the downsides of digital therapy, such as missing out on the nuanced interactions and deeper connections that come with in-person support.

 If they’re engaged in conversations about mental health online through platforms like TikTok, young people will know about the huge waiting lists; they’ll know that help isn’t out there if they want to get it through public services. They may be short of the money needed for traditional counselling. This leaves them with digital services, apps and psychology chatbots. These could soon become their norm.

 An app on a phone can’t replace a therapist who can sit with us in our moments of darkness, laugh with us or offer us a tissue or a glass of water when we’re struggling through a tough session. We’ve seen the possibilities. However, for many young people, digital therapy might be all they know, leading them to overlook the unique benefits of engaging with a therapist in person.

There's a need to remind the younger generation of the value found in traditional therapy methods. The question isn't whether digital therapy is beneficial - it certainly has its place - but whether we're doing enough to highlight the irreplaceable benefits of human interaction in mental health support.

There is a growing body of evidence reminding us how vital natural connections are to our neurological development, our sense of self, and our overall well-being. It shouldn’t take a peer-reviewed study 30 years from now to tell us something we already know. We should be ensuring that young people understand that human connection is the most important factor in therapeutic healing.

Meg Moss- Head of Policy and Public Affairs- National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society.