Many people’s lives are transformed by therapy – but is online therapy the way to go? Unlike traditional therapy, online therapy (also known as ‘teletherapy’) is conducted via live video, phone call or live chat. This has its unique benefits, but also its drawbacks. In this post, we’ll explore some of the pros and cons of online therapy, and whether it is the right route for you.
How is online therapy different from traditional therapy?
Online therapy also called as teletherapy allows individuals to undergo therapy from any location. No ‘commute’ is required to get to sessions and patients can choose an environment that is comfortable and convenient for them.
Many techniques used in traditional talk therapy can still be used online. In some cases, it may be possible to combine videos, online tests or online games to make sessions more interactive.
Who is a good candidate for online therapy?
There are several situations where online therapy can be beneficial. Below are a few examples of cases where it could be worth looking into online therapy:
- People with busy lives: Online therapy can be more flexibly scheduled around commitments like work and parenthood – you can undergo sessions at home or on your lunch break at work.
- Individuals with mobility issues or disabilities: If you struggle getting to a therapist’s office, online therapy can be a more accessible option.
- People with social anxiety or phobias: Similarly some people may be trying to overcome social anxiety, agoraphobia or other mental illnesses that make traveling to a therapist’s office difficult.
- Those who live in rural and remote locations: Not everyone has local access to good quality therapy services – online therapy could reduce the need for long trips.
- Those who want to seek out specialist services: Not being restricted to local therapy services allows individuals to seek out specialist therapists from around the world. This could allow you to find niche services like LGBT relationship counselling or OCD therapy.
- Those who are regularly traveling or on the move: If you regularly have to travel to different places for work, online therapy could allow you to continue your sessions from any location.
Who is not a good candidate for online therapy?
Online therapy is not for everyone. Some people can benefit more from in-person sessions due to the nature of the case or other factors. Below are some examples of individuals who may not be a good candidate for online therapy:
- People who aren’t tech-savvy: Some people aren’t comfortable using video call technology or instant chats and may prefer to meet in person.
- Those who need a neutral, focused environment: If everyday life is full of distractions, traditional therapy may be better.
- Individuals who need immediate rehabilitation or hands-on care: In cases of severe addiction, suicidal ideation, acute psychosis or severe eating disorders, it could be important to remove a person from their everyday environment for close-monitoring and hands-on treatment. This helps to eliminate any danger and allows triggers to be eliminated, while medication can be administered if necessary.
How much does online therapy cost?
Online therapy rates can vary widely. There are cheap and even free services out there, and there are other premium options that can cost hundreds of dollars per session. Determine what your budget is. Some therapists will offer pricing upfront, while others will require you to get hold of them first.
It’s possible to find online therapy that takes insurance. This could mean not having to pay out of pocket for therapy, allowing you to save money. Discuss with your health insurance provider whether therapy is covered – and if so what kind of therapy.
What to look for in an online therapy service
It’s important to choose a qualified, licensed therapist. Not only will this help you to receive the best quality support, but it could be important for guaranteeing insurance cover.
Look into platforms that are accredited and have vetting in place. You may also want to look into reviews to get an idea as to how previous patients rate their services.
Make sure that a therapist has experience with your case and consider their therapy style. For example, some therapists can use clinical methods via video call and by using specialist software. Others may use more unconventional methods like playing online chess during therapy sessions or communicating via instant message (necessary if someone has a phobia of phone calls or video calls).
Look into the costs from the onset so that you know a therapist is within budget. There are free charity-run and state-funded services out there, but they may come with strict eligibility requirements or limitations as to treatment types.
Trying out different therapists will ultimately help you to compare different therapy styles. From here, you can decide which form of therapy is best for you.
Can online therapy be combined with traditional therapy?
It’s possible to combine traditional therapy with online therapy. In fact, there are many cases where this can be beneficial.
For example, if you have social anxiety, you may find that online sessions are good for building comfort, allowing you to then transition to in-person therapy.
Another option could be to use online sessions as regular check-ins and to then occasionally schedule in-person sessions for deeper sessions or to undergo clinical therapy like CBT and EMDR.
Meanwhile, when it comes to substance abuse recovery, inpatient treatments can be followed up by online outpatient sessions. This allows an individual to undergo the intensive treatment needed to first get them off alcohol and drugs, while outpatient sessions can be used to check in afterwards.
Is online therapy right for you?
Online therapy could be worth considering if you need a flexible therapy option to fit around your lifestyle, if you want to access therapy services not available in your area, or if you have disabilities or mental health issues that make it difficult to attend a session in-person.
Of course, it’s important to make sure that online therapy is a practical choice for you – there are cases where in-person therapy may be better at providing the treatment you need. Blended options could provide the best of both worlds, providing some flexibility and intensive treatment.
