When it comes to therapy, patient engagement is integral in determining the success of treatment. Engaged patients are more likely to adhere to their treatment plans, take an active role in their own care, and ultimately experience better outcomes. Fortunately, technology is making it easier than ever for practitioners to support patient engagement in therapy without requiring additional time or resources.
Let’s explore why patient engagement in therapy is essential, specific strategies you can use to engage clients, and how technology can support your organization to improve outcomes.
What Is Patient Engagement in Therapy?
Patient engagement occurs when a patient takes an active role in their own care. Engaged patients are willing to work with their therapists, take responsibility for their treatment, and participate in making decisions. Patient engagement in therapy is a key predictor of successful treatment outcomes.
It’s easier to build a therapeutic alliance with an engaged patient. After all, those who are involved in their care are more likely to follow their therapies, feel more satisfied with their care, and have better outcomes in the long run.
Despite realizing its importance, it’s not easy to create and maintain a therapeutic relationship. Thankfully, technology is making it easier than ever for practitioners to support patient engagement in therapy without requiring additional time or resources.
Making the Case for Online Behavioral Health Therapy
The positive evidence for digital health is growing, and research supports its use in behavioral health care. To understand the scope, it’s helpful to review some of the research that has shown how digital behavioral health and client engagement therapy can solve multiple mental health pain points.
Not only do teletherapy and telebehavioral health increase access to care, but they also improve outcomes. Long-term research has shown that digital behavioral health interventions can be just as helpful for some conditions as face-to-face psychotherapy.
For example, a meta-analysis of 20 years of research found that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) was effective for treating anxiety and depression, with effect sizes similar to those found in face-to-face therapy sessions. Another study found that a smartphone app for depression was as effective as in-person therapy for reducing depressive symptoms.
Digital behavioral health and therapy can also be a cost-effective approach to treatment. For example, a study of ICBT for obsessive compulsive disorder found that it was cost-effective compared to in-person therapy, with similar outcomes at a lower cost. Digital interventions can also be more scalable than in-person therapy, as they can be delivered to many individuals simultaneously.
Online behavioral health interventions are effective at circumventing the stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment as people might be more likely to get help if they can do so privately and without leaving their homes.
Using Technology to Support Effortless Patient Engagement Therapy
The use of technology in therapy is not a new concept, but it’s becoming increasingly crucial, if not essential, as the world becomes more connected. Patients now expect a digital patient experience.
The use of software is one patient engagement strategy that shows how technology works to support the therapeutic process, promote behavioral change, and deliver patient satisfaction. As psychiatry practitioners try to help patients and enhance involvement, they might want to think about how technology can make the process easier and better.
Mobile technology for patient engagement therapy has been one of the most interesting things to happen in the past few years. Client engagement therapy apps help mental health professionals get their patients more involved in their care. There are many ways that an app can be used to support engagement, depending on the needs of the practitioner and the patient.
5 Essential Tools for Patient Engagement Therapy Apps
Some patients lack access to mental health services. Others are afraid to ask for help because they think that asking for help is a sign of weakness. Digital tools for patient engagement can help close the care gap and reach people who need therapy. They can also provide more privacy and anonymity than traditional in-person counseling. Here are the top tools that every patient engagement app should include.
Real-Time Messaging
In contrast to what most people think, online communication can be used for active listening, which is a key part of problem-solving and validation. HIPAA-compliant messaging makes it easy for patients to communicate with their therapists in real time. This may reduce feelings of isolation and increase engagement in the therapy process. Open communication can also help you notice the impairments, disorganization, and cognitive problems that come with relapse, so you can take a more proactive approach to create an effective relapse prevention plan.
Goal-Setting
Ideally, your app will allow patients to set goals for themselves and track their progress over time. Showing patients when they’ve accomplished their goal can be an effective way to motivate and engage them, thus improving their well-being.
Reminders and Notifications
If the patient engagement app can be used to message patients, you should be able to configure automated reminders and notifications to keep your patients on track with their treatment plans. This is an easy and efficient way to help those who have trouble remembering to take their medicines or make their follow-up appointments.
Questionnaires and Surveys
Use questionnaires and surveys to get adults and adolescents more involved in therapy. Interactive quizzes with open-ended questions sent as a follow-up may strengthen the therapeutic relationship by providing a safe and non-judgmental way for clients to identify areas of concern and encourage treatment engagement. By using these tools before the first session of therapy and throughout the treatment process, therapists can build trust and rapport with their clients and promote positive outcomes.
Education and Resources
Your patient engagement solution should also provide patients with access to a range of educational content, such as articles, videos, and podcasts. Education helps activate patients by helping them better understand their conditions and treatment options. The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology also found that assigning "homework" to clients helped ICBT patients feel less anxious and depressed.
How the CaredFor App Helps Clients and Behavioral Health Providers
The CaredFor app is a powerful tool for promoting patient engagement in therapy, with a range of features and benefits that make it easy to use, customizable, secure, and scalable. By using this app, practitioners can get their patients more involved in therapy and help them as outpatients. The app can be used for many different functions, such as real-time messaging, setting goals, getting reminders, and learning.
ContinuumCloud, a leader in behavioral and mental health technologies, designed the app to have an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Not only does this make it easy for patients to get started and stay engaged throughout the therapy process, but it also allows practitioners to be more present in their clients' lives while reducing stressors and saving time.
The CaredFor app is highly configurable to fit the needs of each patient and healthcare provider. This flexibility makes it easy to tailor the app to the unique needs and goals of each patient. The app is also secure and private, which means that patients will feel confident sharing sensitive information with their therapists. Since ContinuumCloud technology is scalable, it can grow with your organization and be used to support engagement across a range of different therapy contexts and settings.
Invest in a Patient Engagement Therapy Solution That Helps Providers and Clients
Engaged patients are more likely to follow their treatment plans, be involved in their own care, and have better outcomes overall. Technology is making it easier than ever for practitioners to support patient engagement in therapy, and the CaredFor app is a powerful tool for promoting engagement throughout the therapy process.
Providers can help patients and get them more involved by using the CaredFor app, which has features like real-time messaging, setting goals, reminders, and education. As the world gets more connected, technology will continue to play a bigger and bigger role in helping patients get involved and making therapy work. Connect with us to learn how this technology can benefit your clients and team.
