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 method 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 may be right for you depends on your condition and the severity of your symptoms. Online therapy offers an equally effective option for mental health support as face-to-face therapy. People seeking therapeutic support for anxiety, depression, and other common mental health needs can use virtual or in-person therapy for support. While online therapy is a much newer form of therapy, current evidence suggests that for many people it can be as effective as in-person 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, while avoiding the expense, travel time and the inconvenience of having to meet in person. If you have reliable access to the Internet, online therapy gives you relatively quick and easy access to treatments that otherwise might not have been available to you. Drawbacks to online therapy include ambient noise (especially since many therapists and clients are currently attending sessions from home), technological issues, and lack of nonverbal communication.
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. Any of these methods can help reduce the cost of online therapy and make it as affordable as it is convenient. Confidentiality is just as important in online therapy as it is in more traditional forms of treatment administration. Online therapy removes geographical restrictions, making it difficult to enforce legal and ethical codes.
Some people may feel more comfortable undergoing therapy in a digital environment, especially younger people who are more familiar with these methods of communication, but other therapists and patients alike may benefit more from therapy that uses more direct human contact. Seeing a therapist online from the comfort and safety of your own home can often help you open up, be more vulnerable, and better cope with the difficult emotions that may arise during a therapy session. You don't need to have a clinically diagnosed condition to benefit from talking to a professional, and online therapy can be an easy way to get started. While online therapy is often cheaper than in-person therapy, the cost can vary considerably depending on where in the world you live, the benefits you have access to, and the type of service offered.
Unlike in-person therapy, online therapy allows you to connect with a licensed therapist or counselor through any device that has an Internet connection, such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Even if you feel that your mental well-being is strong, online therapy can help you strengthen yourself psychologically. Some online therapy services even offer free testing so you can test interaction with a therapist to determine if they are right for you. In fact, people often tell me that their online experience has been more satisfying than their previous in-person therapy.
Online therapy may require you to research the privacy policies of video and messaging platforms to protect your information. .
