Mental health coaching: Where human and digital meet to maximize support

Employers and health plans today face an increasing responsibility to provide mental health care to their members. In fact, a recent survey facilitated by Teladoc Health found that 8 in 10 mental health support seekers are comfortable using mental health resources offered through an employer. But for those considering a solution, or even re-evaluating their current offering, how do they ensure they meet the mental health needs of their member base both collectively and individually? Is there another way to meet and support members wherever they are in their mental health care journey?

The truth is mental health exists on a spectrum and there is no “one size fits all” approach or solution. Mental health needs fluctuate in type and magnitude over time, and the need for education and support is often episodic. Members aren’t always sure what care they need, but they know their problem and want something to help them feel better (and in a timely and convenient way).

Read more: The Hidden Effects of Pandemic PTSD on Your Employees

Knowing this, it is important for employers and health plans to provide a solution that not only covers the spectrum of mental health problemsfrom digital self-help to psychotherapy, but you can also combine both elements to provide a completely different but equally effective modality of care: mental health coaching.

Both a clinically proven and accessible option, mental health coaching is a unique blend of live human coaching supplemented with digital programming. With training, members work with a highly trained specialist who can teach and motivate them to apply evidence-based skills throughout their daily lives.

Evidence-based care provided by experts
Depending on the severity level of mental health conditions, which focus primarily on mild, uncomplicated mental health issues, mental health coaching can sometimes be a more effective alternative to therapy.

Mental health coaches are highly trained individuals with widely recognized and well-established credentials. The education and support provided by the coaches uses the principles and techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapyand the unified protocol of emotional disorders.

Nature coaching sessions are brief, which is generally appropriate for mental health issues that are healthy, subclinical, or mild (no suicidal ideation or substance abuse). Programs typically run for a limited time over several weeks and focus on optimizing efficiency, with the exact duration informed by evidence-based protocols.

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And as mentioned above, it is the unique combination of human and digital support that makes mental health coaching so effective. Combining one-on-one video coaching with experiential exercise and homework helps members develop and practice evidence-based skills that help them start feeling better.

The member in the center
Perhaps the most important aspects of mental health training are that it is convenient and hyper-personalized.

Sure, the timeline of a training program might be appealing to those with busy lives (ie just 30 minutes a week for seven weeks), but it’s the ability for a member to schedule sessions with their trainer on their own. time, including evenings and nights. weekends, that seals the deal.

Mental health training programs also focus solely on an individual’s goals. Take, for example, a person going through a breakup or divorce. That person would be supported by their certified trainer on that specific issue, and the education, exercise, and homework would be created specifically to help the person with that concern.

A vital piece of the mental health care puzzle
Time therapy fits very well for many, mental health training can produce clinical results on par with therapy, and can be a more cost-effective solution. And coaching is not a minor alternative to therapy; in fact, it is a preferable option for some. For employers and health plans looking to expand access to mental health care and manage costs, mental health training, especially when used as part of a broader mental health strategy, is a clear win. .