Online therapy may take you less time away from the office or work day or worry about traffic. You don't need to travel miles to meet.
online therapy
is usually quite affordable and convenient. Since you'll be attending online therapy sessions in the comfort of your own home, you can often schedule your therapy sessions for the times that work best for you.Online therapy involves remote therapy sessions that you attend by phone, video call, chat room, or email. Research has shown that 70% of people do not have access to traditional in-office therapy. Fortunately, the growing online therapy industry has made it easier (and often more affordable) to get mental health care, even if you work non-standard hours, have a busy family, live in a rural area, or don't have insurance. Online therapy, or teletherapy, involves remote therapy sessions that take place over video calls, chat rooms, email, or phone.
Its popularity has skyrocketed since therapists expanded their offerings to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your online therapy sessions will work just like a face-to-face therapy session. You'll be connected to your mental health professional in a video chat. You can usually do this online or through an application on your phone.
Pride Counseling is specifically focused on providing accessible and quality online therapy to the LGBTQIA+ community. The APA noted that online therapy helps alleviate fears and other barriers that prevent some people from seeking treatment. For some, it's worth spending a little extra on a real-time therapy session, and if you're looking to build a long-term relationship with your therapist, you might want to go with a different online provider. Online therapy is very practical, affordable and accessible, no matter where you live, if you have access to public transportation, or if you work odd hours.
With the increase in the use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are more options for online therapy than ever before. Some online therapy companies also have relationships with employers, meaning they offer discounts or accept employee assistance plans (EAP). The online therapy platforms on this list follow federal guidelines under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for encrypting information and maintaining the privacy of health data. If you need to file a complaint about an online therapy platform, please first inform the site about your concerns.
Unfortunately, online therapy is not recommended for those struggling with more serious mental health problems, such as psychosis or suicidal thoughts. With BetterHelp, the world leader among online therapy platforms, you choose the environment and control when and how you get the help you need. Hosted by editor-in-chief and therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares the pros and cons of online therapy. When you're trying to decide if an online therapy subscription is right for you, ask yourself the following questions.