The digital therapists: Anyone seeking help should get it immediately

Those who are struggling with psychological problems and may have to wait months for a therapy place do not need to despair. The Berlin-based Startup Selfapy offers therapy courses combined with discussions with psychologists on its online portal. The costs for this personal and effective help are already reimbursed by several health insurance companies and insurances.The three founders, Nora Blum (27), Kati Bermbach (27) - both psychologists themselves - and Farina Schurzfeld (31), were and are very keen to support those seeking help quickly, uncomplicatedly, everywhere and effectively. All three came into contact with depression in their personal environment and founded Selfapy at the beginning of 2016 with the vision of making a contribution to the sustainable improvement of the situation of mentally ill people.The three founders have started to digitize classical behavior therapy. They do not want to replace the classical therapy, but to close gaps in care, reduce fears of contact with the online offer and fight against the stigmatisation of mental illnesses.Psychological problems are widespread, but many do not talk about them out of shame. Anyone can get into a crisis, regardless of age groups and social strata. "Everyone who seeks help should receive help. That is our incentive," explains Farina Schurzfeld.Immediate help with psychological stress17 psychologists and a psychological director take care of users who are now taking nine-week therapy courses against depression, anxiety, burnout or eating disorders. Selfapy has treated a total of more than 10,000 people. Around 20 minutes a day are spent on the realistic exercises contained in the therapy. If required, course participants can telephone or chat with a Selfapy Psychologist once a week for around 20-45 minutes.Who looks for assistance with Selfapy, can carry out a free info discussion with a psychologist from the team lead or an anonymized self test on the Website. This does not allow for a diagnosis, but the Selfapy Team can use scientifically standardized questions to assess whether the person seeking help fits in with his or her topic or whether he or she may wish to be referred to a psychotherapist or clinic after a discussion.One third of the course participants use the course to bridge the waiting time for a therapy place, one third in the aftercare after a therapy and another third actually as therapy replacement.Reimbursement possibleThe health insurance companies and insurance companies affiliated with Selfapy insure 12 million people nationwide. And there will be even more, because for 2019 the team has set itself the goal of further advancing integration into the healthcare system, i.e. bringing more health insurance companies and insurance companies on board.Currently, the focus is on Germany, especially as there is a huge potential in this country due to the large gaps in health care provision.Stumbling blocks and rewardsThe high demands placed on health products and the stamina they had to show to cooperate with the health insurance companies posed great challenges for the Selfapy founders.The Selfapy team is proud of the studies that prove the effectiveness of their services and their stamina. They have made a good name for themselves through their active press work. "The feedback from the users also went well. That's an uncanny reward when someone writes you "I'm better now". There's no better way," says Schurzfeld.https://www.selfapy.de/