Your roof starts leaking – badly – during a rainstorm and you need someone to fix it. But which of the hundreds of roofers online is actually legitimate?
You see a new trendy bistro pop up down the street and want to check it out. But is it worth risking a whole meal on it?
It wasn’t so long ago when we would ask other people or look in the local paper for reviews of not only roofers and restaurants, but doctors, clothing boutiques, hardware stores, mechanics and daycare centers. These days, though, where we do we all start – and often end – our investigations? Google reviews.
These reviews have emerged as a powerful tool in guiding individuals toward services and businesses that meet their needs. In the context of mental health care, Google reviews take on another layer of importance: increasing access to mental health services. Read on to find out more, and how you can be part of increasing access to care.
Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services
First, let’s talk about a few of the ways in which accessing services can be challenging. In addition to the cost and complexity of the American healthcare system, there is a significant amount of uncertainty that comes with entering a space of vulnerability. Most of us aren’t mental health care experts, and while we might have an idea about why we’re experiencing a given mental health situation, the process for establishing a relationship with a provider can feel opaque and intimidating. When something is both uncertain and uncomfortable, it’s natural to put it off another day – or even decide we don’t want to engage with it at all.
Awareness and Trust through Google Reviews
While Google reviews can only help so much with the cost of healthcare, they can help address many other barriers. Reviews can increase awareness of certain providers among people who are looking for care. By searching for key terms related to your needs, you can easily view listings of providers who match those criteria.
The transparency of reviews can also help address the trust gap between patients and healthcare providers. When people share real experiences in a public forum, those who are looking for options and aren’t familiar with the particular provider can gain a preview of what their own experience might be like. Feedback from current and previous clients of mental health professionals or clinics often includes information about the quality of care, the friendliness of staff, the effectiveness of treatment methods and the overall environment of the service provider. By reading authentic reviews, prospective clients can gauge the reliability of a mental health service, fostering trust and reducing anxiety about seeking help.
Breaking Down Barriers to Information
Healthcare in the U.S. is complicated, and it can be hard to navigate complex systems that require specialized knowledge – how insurance works, which providers are covered, how services are pre-approved or differ between providers and much more.
For many people, the search for mental health services begins online. Google reviews not only provide opinions but also often include practical details such as office hours, availability, pricing and specialties. This reduces the barriers of uncertainty and equips people with the information necessary to take the first step.
Consider someone seeking therapy for anxiety. Through Google reviews, they might discover a local counselor whose clients frequently mention effective treatment strategies and a strong focus on anxiety management. With this information readily available, they can approach the service with greater confidence.
Encouraging Community Validation
The concept of community validation plays a significant role in mental health care. Knowing that others have benefited from a particular service creates a sense of assurance and motivation. Positive Google reviews can amplify this effect by showcasing the experiences of individuals who have successfully navigated their mental health journeys.
Such stories not only validate the quality of care but also inspire hope. Reviews that detail how a therapist or facility helped someone overcome depression, manage stress, or cope with trauma can encourage others to seek similar support.
Google reviews serve as a platform for individuals to voice their opinions and contribute to the broader conversation around mental health services. These reviews help normalize the act of seeking care, confront stigma and promote awareness of the importance of mental health. When more people talk about their experiences with mental health care, the topic gradually becomes more widely accepted and as normal as talking about any other product, service or experience.
Supporting Specialized Needs
Mental health services are not one-size-fits-all. Different individuals have varying needs, preferences and cultural backgrounds. Google reviews often highlight specific aspects of services, such as a therapist’s expertise in treating PTSD, their sensitivity to cultural identity or their approach to serving people from a wide range of communities.
This personalized feedback enables users to identify services that align with their unique circumstances. Furthermore, it ensures that individuals from diverse backgrounds can find care tailored to their experiences and values.
At WellPower, we seek to be culturally proficient, person-centered and strengths-based in everything we do. Feedback helps us continue to grow based on the experiences of the people and communities we serve.
A Few Caveats: Tips for Effectively Using Google Reviews
While Google reviews are an invaluable resource, it is crucial to approach them thoughtfully. Here are some tips for effectively utilizing them:
- Be mindful of biases: Reviews are written by people who feel strongly enough to write a review – a phenomenon that’s often referred to as a “response bias.” Reviews do not necessarily represent the experiences of all – or even most -customers, but the views of those with the motivation to type up their thoughts and share them with the world.
- Consider the context: Certain industries or types of businesses are more prone to attracting certain kinds of reviews. It’s common, for example, for healthcare providers to see more negative reviews, particularly when those organizations are serving people with more complex needs.
- Read multiple reviews: Avoid basing your decision on a single review. A diverse range of opinions provides a more balanced perspective.
- Look for consistency: Pay attention to recurring themes in reviews, such as the professionalism of staff or the ease of booking appointments.
- Verify credentials: Use reviews to identify quality services, but also cross-reference them with official certifications and licenses.
WellPower Takes Our Reviews Seriously
At WellPower, we are committed to serving the breadth of our communities, with a particular focus on people with complex, layered needs – those who have been given up on by everyone else. Unfortunately, our healthcare system is not always set up to work for people the way it should. Our incredible staff and remarkable teams do everything they can to help people in this context.
It’s important to recognize that people do have genuinely disappointing experiences with healthcare providers, WellPower included, and they should be able to share these experiences in ways that make sense for them.
At WellPower, we have a talented, empathic Service Success team that works closely with people we serve to find out about their experiences, share feedback with the appropriate parts of the organization and make sure we are meeting everyone’s needs to the best of our ability. We’re committed to constant growth and improvement, and input from people who access services is critical for making sure we’re being responsive to real people’s needs. Google reviews are one way among several others in which we welcome feedback from the people and communities we serve.
Like the Work We Do? Leave Us a Review!
At WellPower, we do so much more than traditional “mental health therapy” – from community events to urban farming, legislative advocacy to innovative supportive housing solutions, and much more.
If you feel like leaving a Google review of how we serve our community, we’d welcome your thoughts on our official Google Business listing here: bit.ly/wellpower-review.