How digital insomnia therapy works
Digital insomnia therapy is an efficient low-threshold treatment that can be started in approximately a week.
If you feel you need therapy, seek a healthcare professional to discuss your situation, e.g. your local clinic, occupational health care, or student healthcare. That way, you can receive a referral for digital therapy. Referrals can be made by any doctor anywhere in South Africa.
Digital insomnia therapy is a digital treatment developed by Helsinki University Hospital and HealthFOX Oy and offered by HealthFOX Southern-Africa (Pty) Ltd in cooperation with Dr. Alison Bentley and the National Health Center (NHC) to residents of South Africa.
The course and idea of therapy
Digital insomnia therapy starts after your healthcare professional has made you a referral and the therapy has been paid for. You will be supported by a therapist who is a psychologist or a nurse specializing in your symptoms. The treatment lasts from two to three months.
Online therapy is based on independent activities, which you can do wherever you want at any time that suits you. Independent activities increase your participation level and the feeling of being in control of your sleep and life.
You will progress and learn new approaches from information content, videos, and exercises. Each week has a one-hour independent session, during which you will receive further information, consider your situation and difficulties, and think about their relationship with your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Between sessions, you will get to do daily life exercises by using the diary application.
Your online therapist will send you feedback, comment on your exercises, and answer your questions between sessions. You can send them messages at any time during therapy.
Digital insomnia therapy is a digital treatment developed by Helsinki University Hospital and HealthFOX Oy and offered by HealthFOX Southern-Africa (Pty) Ltd in cooperation with Dr. Alison Bentley and the National Health Center (NHC) to residents of South Africa.
Requirements
Successful online therapy requires from you
- motivation to learn new approaches
- commitment to working independently at least two hours a week for several months
- a smartphone or a tablet with an Internet connection.
In addition to adults, young people of 16 years may be accepted for online therapy if their doctor estimates they would benefit from it.
Evidence-based treatment
Easy-to-use online therapies are based on methods used for cognitive and behavioral therapy. Tens of thousands use online treatment each year, and the feedback has been positive in Finland.
Online therapies, which are therapist-supported and IT-assisted treatment via the Internet or mobile devices, have been widely proven efficient and successful in practice. Research published in 2022 has confirmed that the effectiveness of online insomnia therapy is significant.
Where will the online therapy happen?
Online insomnia therapy will be done in the HealthFOX Easier Tomorrow mobile learning environment, which you can access with any iOS or Android device. You can do the exercises and sessions related to the online therapy at any time which suits you.
After you have received the confirmation e-mail about your referral being accepted, you can log into the therapy application with your online banking credentials or mobile signature service. You can find the log-in links directly on the therapy programs, website.
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Patient records saved in the service are part of the National Health Center patient register.