Online Therapy: Is it Right for Me?
Online therapy is an “up and coming” method of receiving counseling services that more and more therapists are offering as time passes. Online therapy is not for everyone, however the vast majority of individuals will benefit from online therapy just the same as they would in a brick and mortar office. In today’s day and age of COVID-19, more and more people are engaging in online therapy and thriving in meeting their goals.
Benefits of Online Therapy
Of course, there are the obvious benefits to online therapy, including the convenience and time-saving aspects. When engaging in online therapy, you are cutting out drive time to and from your appointments. It is much more convenient to find a quiet room in your home or a private room at the office than having to physically travel to your therapist.
Not only is only therapy time-saving and convenient, but it is often more affordable than traditional brick and mortar building therapy. Oftentimes online therapists have less overhead costs, which in turn means they can offer sessions at more affordable rates for clients.
Online therapy can decrease the stigma associated with attending therapy. It can really take a lot for clients to sign in with the receptionist, sit in a waiting room, and spend an hour in an unfamiliar room speaking with a therapist he or she may have just met five minutes ago or one week ago. Online therapy is from the client’s comfortable and private location, which often makes clients feel at ease and provides greater comfort in discussing their stressors.
At River Root Counseling, I specialize in perinatal mental health and trauma. Both of these things can make physically leaving your home to go to therapy quite tricky. If you are a new mom, trying to work around nap times, babysitters, feeding schedules, and more, previously simple trips can now become highly overwhelming and complicated. Or, if you have experienced a traumatic event, it can take a lot of mental energy and effort to leave the house, where you might experience anxiety, panic attacks, flashbacks, and more. Online therapy offers greater accessibility in receiving treatment for clients with such stressors.
Who is online therapy NOT for?
As with most things in life, there are multiple “levels of care” that one might need. If you are experiencing hallucinations, delusions, suicidal/homicidal thoughts, or thoughts of harming yourself/someone else, then online therapy is not the best option for you. The best level of care would be received at your local emergency department, in which they will help you determine the best course of action upon discharge.
Online therapy is not for individuals without internet access or a private space to go for sessions. Your private space does not have to be pretty; it just needs to be a place you feel safe and comfortable to get away and attend your therapy session. All sessions will be completed through a secure HIPPAA compliant platform, therefore internet access through wifi, mobile hotspot, or other data is a necessity.
As always, if you are interested in therapy at River Root Counseling, or if you have questions about this post, please reach out to me. Please see references for the efficacy of online therapy below.
References
Andrews, G., Basu, A., Cuijpers, P., Craske, M. G., McEvoy, P., English, C. L., & Newby, J. M. (2018, February 1). Computer therapy for the anxiety and depression disorders is effective, acceptable and practical health care: An updated meta-analysis. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887618517304474?via=ihub
Nordgren, L. B., Hedman, E., Etienne, J., Bodin, J., Kadowaki, Å., Eriksson, S., … Carlbring, P. (2014, June 1). Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of individually tailored Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety disorders in a primary care population: A randomized controlled trial. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000579671400076X?via=ihub
Wagner, B., Horn, A. B., & Maercker, A. (2013, July 23). Internet-based versus face-to-face cognitive-behavioral intervention for depression: A randomized controlled non-inferiority trial. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032713005120?via=ihub