"Cold"

This practice recommended me an online course, Silvercloud, which takes you through some aspects of anxiety and depression and changes your understanding and perception using CBT methods. This was accompanied by phone meetings. I found Silvercloud as a platform helpful but as it is just a course, it has a similar impact to reading a self help book for example, and does not relate to one’s individual circumstances. I found the phone meetings to be cold and very structural. You verbally complete a survey in which you rate your feelings of anxiety and depression, you are asked how you feel about your treatment, and finally if there is anything you want to mention. At no point does your ‘supporter’ ask about how you feel outside of the survey. I found my supporter impersonal and robotic, everything seemed (and likely was) scripted. I feel like there was no benefit to these phone conversations, as the supporter did not contribute any true conversation, just recited a script. I am quite disappointed with this, as for some this may be the only therapy option available for them, and I found it largely ineffective. For those struggling with isolation due to Covid or other circumstances, a friendly person on the other end of the phone is irreplaceable anf can be more effective against depression than even good advice.