What Is Therapy Online?
Therapy Online lets you connect with a licensed therapist via video sessions, text messages, or phone calls. You can do this from the comfort of your home or wherever you have a reliable internet connection.
Find a therapist you trust and get to know them through a free consultation session. Limit distractions, like children or pets at home, and make sure your internet connection is reliable.
Convenience
Therapy online provides the ability to connect with a counselor from the comfort of your home, office or other location that is convenient for you. Sessions are typically scheduled for an hour and can be held once or twice a week, depending on your needs and the therapist’s recommendations. In between live sessions, you can communicate with your therapist via email or text message to discuss issues that may arise between appointments.
The flexibility of teletherapy can be especially beneficial for those with a hectic schedule or a difficult commute. It can also be a good option for individuals who are uncomfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings in public. Online therapy can provide a safe space to share deep, personal stories or emotions without fear of judgment or repercussions. Some online counseling services even offer HIPAA-compliant video calls, which can help put people who are wary of the privacy of online counseling at ease.
In addition to convenience, online therapy can be a cost-effective alternative to in-person counseling. Some therapists will offer a sliding fee scale or accept payment from health insurance plans, which can make it more affordable to attend online therapy. Additionally, some counseling apps allow users to sign up for a monthly or yearly subscription that includes unlimited counseling sessions at a discounted rate.
However, before you jump into online therapy, be sure you understand your goals and why you’re seeking counseling. This will make it easier to measure your progress and ensure that you’re getting the most out of your counseling experience. Additionally, it’s important to limit distractions during your sessions. Choose a quiet place with a lockable door that offers privacy, ask family members to avoid interrupting you and turn off or mute any other apps on your phone or computer.
While it is true that online therapy can be as effective as in-person sessions, it requires the same commitment and hard work on both sides of the table. The success of online therapy depends on your level of connection with your therapist, how much you’re able to open up and change your lifestyle habits, as well as your willingness to apply the lessons learned in your sessions to real-life situations.
Ease of Communication
Online therapy offers the convenience of communicating with a mental health professional without having to travel to an office, find parking, fight traffic, or worry about child care. However, some patients may still be concerned about how comfortable or secure online therapy sessions feel. Fortunately, more and more therapists are starting to offer online therapy, and many of these services are HIPAA compliant. Some even use banking-grade encryption for all communication between clients and providers.
Most telehealth platforms start with a questionnaire to get to know you, your goals for therapy, and how you prefer to communicate. This helps to match you with a provider that is best suited for you. Many of these platforms allow you to search for therapists by gender, specialties, and approaches to therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or dialectical behavior therapy. They also often allow you to select a therapist who is LGBTQIA+ friendly. Most of these sites also allow you to switch therapists at any time.
One drawback of online therapy is the lack of face-to-face interaction, which can be important for establishing the trust and supportive rapport that is so necessary to therapeutic success. In addition, a therapist might miss the chance to read non-verbal communication signals that are so critical to forging an emotional connection with a client, such as body language or tone of voice.
Another consideration is that video conferencing means you and your therapist are both completely dependent on an internet connection. This can be problematic if your internet service is spotty or you’re unable to afford high-speed connections. You and your therapist should discuss what will happen if you lose connectivity during a session, and make sure that you can work around these limitations.
It’s important to remember that any kind of therapy is only effective if you attend sessions and apply what you learn to your daily life. You should be prepared to dedicate a significant amount of time and energy to your healing process, whether you meet with a therapist in-person or through an online platform. You should also be honest with your therapist about your needs and expectations so that the best possible outcome can be achieved.
Confidence
A big part of psychotherapy’s effectiveness is the sense of confidence and security that a patient feels in speaking openly with their counselor. However, it can be hard to build this sense of trust when talking to someone online through video sessions or text messaging. In some cases, it can take a few sessions before a person becomes comfortable with opening up behind the screen. Some people may choose to seek in-person therapy instead of online counseling because they are uncomfortable with the idea of revealing so much to a stranger.
There are also concerns about confidentiality when choosing an online therapist. It is important to find a therapist who is licensed in your state and has experience working with your specific issues or demographic. Many telehealth sites offer ways to verify the credentials of their therapists, but it is also important to do your own research before making a selection. It can be helpful to scan a list of available online providers and ask for referrals from friends or family members who have worked with a particular therapist. This process can help ensure you find a quality therapist who will be able to provide the best care for you.
Additionally, some online therapy providers have restrictions on how often they can talk to a patient or may charge extra for sending messages in between sessions. These limitations can be frustrating for some patients, especially when they have an urgent need to communicate with their therapist. Some sites also have unqualified providers who use the site to make money without being licensed or certified.
Before you select an online therapist, be sure to read reviews from previous patients and compare prices and features of different providers. It is also wise to check with your insurance company to see if they cover online therapy, which some companies refer to as teletherapy or telehealth services. If they do, you may be able to get a better deal by using an online therapist directory that offers a curated list of providers. Many of these companies also offer a money-back guarantee if you don’t like your therapist after a few appointments.
Flexibility
Online therapy can be an ideal solution for people who may find it difficult to physically visit a therapist’s office. It can also be helpful for those who live in rural areas or have limited mobility, for those who have to travel for work and cannot make frequent trips to the city, for college students who need more flexible hours than traditional therapy offices offer, and for anyone else whose busy schedule makes it impossible to fit in an in-person appointment.
When choosing a platform or provider for online therapy, you should look into their security and privacy policies. Make sure the service is encrypted and that your computer or phone is password protected. You should also consider who might be able to listen in when using a video conference program. If you are concerned about your privacy, a therapist may recommend connecting with your session via text or email instead of video chat.
Another important factor to consider when choosing an online therapist is whether or not they are in-network with your insurance provider. Many insurance companies have expanded their coverage to include virtual counseling sessions, so be sure to check with yours to see what the specific terms of your policy are.
It is important to keep in mind that no matter what type of therapy you choose, it will only be successful if you are committed to making changes. If you are not, it is unlikely that any therapist will be able to help you. Similarly, if you do not trust your therapist, it is likely that you will not benefit from the therapy sessions.
In addition to individual counseling, online therapists often provide group therapy and peer-to-peer support groups. These can be a great way to connect with others who are going through similar issues and to gain support from them. Peer-to-peer support can be particularly beneficial for those with anxiety, depression, or eating disorders, who may feel isolated and alone. It is important to be aware of the limitations of this type of therapy, however, as it can not replace the support of a trusted in-person support system.
