Research has found that online therapy can be effective in treating anxiety, depression and trauma. There is no difference in patient satisfaction depending on whether the therapy is online or in person, and for either of the two methods of receiving therapy, the results are better as a person attends more sessions. Online therapy can be an effective and convenient way to access mental health services. But that doesn't mean it's right for everyone.
Whether or not online therapy is right for you depends on your condition and the severity of your symptoms. Therapists can offer virtual options directly through their personal practice. Online platforms also provide opportunities for people to connect with therapists within their networks. Virtual therapy seems as effective as face-to-face therapy in addressing mental health needs.
While online therapy is a much newer form of therapy, current evidence suggests that for many people it can be as effective as face-to-face therapy. Talking from the safety of your own home can even make it easier for you to open up about your problems. Online therapy also allows you to communicate with a qualified specialist from anywhere in the world, avoiding the expenses, travel time and the inconvenience of having to meet in person. To address the emergency, online counseling interventions have increased, but no study has evaluated the effectiveness of online university counseling during the pandemic period and no study has compared it to face-to-face counseling.
However, another review of 19 studies found that online CBT was superior to placebo and was on the waiting list, and as effective as face-to-face therapy for the treatment of anxiety. Confidentiality is as important in online therapy as it is in more traditional forms of treatment administration. Online and in-person therapy options allow more people to access mental health care than ever before. The messaging aspect of some online therapy services can also be useful for tracking your progress and monitoring any setbacks.
In fact, people often tell me that their online experience has been more satisfying than their previous in-person therapy. Even if you feel that your mental well-being is strong, online therapy can help you strengthen yourself psychologically. The duration of the online CBT sessions was between 8 and 15 weeks, which was considered a short period of time in therapy. Several studies from around the world, including those from Northwestern University in the United States and the University of Leipzig in Germany (both in 2011) suggest that online therapy is as effective as face-to-face work for clients, especially in the long term.
Finally, as a consumer, in some cases it can be difficult to know if an online therapy service is credible, reliable or safe to use. 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. Seeing an online therapist from the comfort and safety of your home can often help you open up, be more vulnerable, and better cope with difficult emotions that may arise during a therapy session. You don't have to have a clinically diagnosed condition to benefit from talking to a professional, and online therapy can provide you with an easy way to get started.
Meanwhile, consulting psychiatrist Dr. James Arkell, from Nightingale Hospital in London, has noticed that online therapy is tailored to younger people because they find texting and FaceTiming to be familiar territory and you can happily assess them via a smartphone. .
