Are you looking for a way to relieve stress, anxiety or relationship struggles without leaving the conform of your home or without having to worry about your schedule while on the road? Online therapy might be the answer. This form of counselling has become very popular over the last decade. According to the National Council for Community Behavioural Healthcare, nearly half (48%) of adults who seek mental health treatment report receiving psychological services from a mental health professional or therapist at least once during their lifetime.
With the rise of smartphones and tablets, video chat apps such as Teams and Zoom, and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, online therapy has become much easier to access.
What is online therapy?
Online therapy is a form of psychotherapy that can be accessed from anywhere in the world. It’s an effective way to get help for depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Online therapists are trained professionals who use their skills to provide you with support and guidance. You can access this treatment from your sofa at home, at the desk in the office or even from the seat in your car (do not drive while being on a call!).
You can choose to meet on video with your online therapist or talk via phone, the choice is yours. Some people prefer to speak directly with their therapist, while others find it more comfortable to communicate through text messages or email. We prefer video calls for a more realistic observation of your emotions and immediate reactions to our questions and situations we discuss.
What to expect from Online therapy
When you first start working with an online therapist, you may feel nervous about meeting someone new. However, most online therapists are experienced clinicians who understand how difficult it can be to open up to strangers. They will make sure to put you at ease by answering any questions you may have. First, it’s important to choose a reputable provider. Look for someone who is certified. Some therapists may work with insurance cover online therapy. Make sure they have experience treating the type of issue you’re dealing with. Be sure to read reviews from past clients before making your decision.
Once you’ve selected a provider, you’ll need to schedule an initial consultation. During this session, you’ll discuss your goals for therapy and develop a treatment plan. You’ll also be able to ask any questions you have about the process. After your initial consultation, you’ll begin receiving regular therapy sessions from your provider. These sessions will usually last 50-60 minutes and can be conducted via phone or video. You’ll typically meet with your therapist once per week.
Your online therapist may ask you some screening questions before beginning therapy. These questions include:
- How long have you been feeling struggling? feeling depressed/anxious?
- What do you think is causing these feelings?
- Are there any other problems you want to discuss for your mental health support?
- Have you ever tried talking to anyone else about your concerns?
These questions are to see if you can benefit from virtual therapy sessions.
Benefits of Sticking with Online Therapy
Online therapy is a great way to get help for your mental health conditions, but it’s not always the best option. Online therapy has many benefits that make it worth considering as an alternative to traditional in-person counselling. Here are some of the benefits of sticking with online therapy:
Personal Well-Being
Staying in touch with your online therapist is a great way to stay connected to yourself and your feelings. It’s also helpful for you to have someone who understands what you’re going through and can help you work through some of the issues that may be causing problems in your life. Online therapy can help improve your overall well-being, including your mental and emotional health. It can also help you to cope with stress and anxiety.
Mind Body Improvements
You may feel more relaxed and less anxious after starting an online therapy program. This is because online therapy will teach you how to be gentler with yourself. Mindfulness helps you become aware of how you think about certain situations and how this affects your emotions. Practising mindfulness will enable you to control your thoughts and feelings more effectively.
Relationship Building
When you’re working with an online group therapist, you can build relationships with other people who share similar experiences to you. You can talk to them about your struggles and ask questions about their lives. These conversations can help you understand each other better and develop deeper connections.
Dealing With A Difficult Life Transition
Suppose you’ve recently experienced a difficult life transition, such as moving away from home, getting divorced, losing a job, or dealing with a severe illness. In that case, you might need extra support during this time. An online therapist can provide the understanding you need to deal with these challenges.
Spiritual Benefits
You’re not just working on your individual issues when you’re in therapy. You’re also gaining insights into the more significant human experience and how to be a more spiritually healthy person. This can lead to a stronger connection to your faith or belief system and a greater sense of peace and purpose in life. If you stick with online therapy, you’ll continue to reap these spiritual benefits and may even find that your faith or belief system becomes a more critical part of your life.
Therapeutic Benefits
In addition to the above benefits, online therapy has unique therapeutic benefits. For example, you don’t have to worry about being embarrassed by your behaviour or explaining your actions to others. Also, you won’t have to wait until you see your therapist face-to-face before you can discuss your concerns.
Finding the right online therapist
Finding an online therapist is not as easy as it sounds. There are many different types of therapists out there, and they all have their own specialities. Some specialise in couples counselling, while others focus on individual therapy. Some even offer both options for you!
However, finding the best online therapy services can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect online therapist for your needs.
Look at Their Experience
The first thing you should do when looking for an online therapist is to check how long they’ve been practising. If they haven’t had much experience, then this could mean that they aren’t very good at what they do. It also means that they may not be able to provide you with the type of service that you need.
Check Out Reviews
Another way to learn about a therapist’s experience is by checking out reviews from previous clients. You can usually find these reviews online or through social media sites like Facebook. These reviews give insight into whether or not the therapist has helped others. They can tell you if they were satisfied with the results they got from working with them.
Consider Your Needs
It would be best if you always considered your needs when choosing an online therapist. Do you want someone who specialises in couples counselling or one-on-one sessions? Are you looking for someone who offers phone calls or Skype sessions? Do you want someone to focus more on CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) or EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)?
Ask About Specialisations
If you feel you would benefit from a specific type of therapy, then you should ask your potential therapist about their specialisation. This will allow you to make sure that you get exactly what you need. For example, if you’re struggling with depression, you might want to choose mental health professionals who specialise in treating depression.
Common types of Online Therapy
Here are some common types of online therapy:
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy focuses on uncovering unconscious thoughts and feelings that may be causing problems in your life. It involves exploring past experiences and how these experiences affect current behaviours. It is often used to help individuals overcome childhood trauma, abuse, and neglect issues. Online psychodynamic therapy allows you to work one-on-one with a trained psychotherapist.
Client-Centered Therapy
Client-centred therapy helps you understand yourself by looking into your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. This form of therapy encourages you to take control of your own well-being. Client-centred therapy is ideal for those struggling with depression, anxiety, and other emotional struggles.
Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT)
This method helps you change negative thinking patterns so that you can achieve goals in your life. Online cognitive behavioral therapy uses techniques such as cognitive restructuring, exposure therapy, and mindfulness training.
Existential Therapy
Existential therapy is focused on helping you explore your beliefs, values, and attitudes. It aims to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses to become aware of your true self. Existential therapy is great for anyone dealing with existential mental health crisis, grief, and loss.
Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt therapy is a holistic approach to treating mental illness. It focuses on identifying behavioural and thought patterns that contribute to negative emotions and unhealthy lifestyles. Gestalt therapy is often used to treat eating disorders and substance abuse.
Spiritual Explorations
This therapy is based on the belief that we are all connected to a higher power. This higher power can help us overcome challenges in our lives. Spiritual explorations can help you connect with your spirituality and find peace in your life.
Video Counselling
Video counselling is becoming increasingly popular because it offers a convenient way to receive therapeutic mental health services without leaving home. Video counselling sessions allow you to connect with a counsellor via webcam.
What does an Online therapist do?
Online therapists are trained professionals who provide psychological services via the internet. They use various methods to help you overcome emotional issues. Some of these methods include:
An excellent online therapist will listen to you carefully without judgement. They will ask questions to get more information about your problem. They will encourage you to express your feelings and concerns. Online therapists also provide other forms of support like homework and assignments.
Most Convenient Features of Online Counseling
Online counselling has many advantages, but the most convenient features have to do with accessibility and scheduling. You can easily access online counselling from anywhere at any time, and you can also schedule sessions that fit your busy schedule.
Cost Effective
One of the benefits is cost. You don’t have to travel to see an online therapist, which saves you money. Online therapy cost savings can vary depending on where you live.
Secure & Confidential
Online therapy services are secure and confidential, meaning that your conversations and communications with your counsellor will be private. This can give you peace of mind, knowing that your privacy is respected and honoured. Additionally, online counselling can be more convenient for some people since it can be done from the comfort of your own home or anywhere else that has an internet connection.
Time-saving and Accessibility
Online therapy can be a big time saver. You don’t have to take time out of your busy schedule to travel to an appointment. You can have your sessions at a time that is convenient for you. Get to speak with licensed mental health professional for online counselling at your convenience.
Who Is Online Therapy Good For?
Online therapy programs can be a good fit for many people. It can be especially helpful for those who:
- Are unable to attend regular counselling sessions due to distance or scheduling conflicts
- Want to explore new ways of coping with stress
- Need help managing depression, anxiety, or addiction
Things to Consider with Online Therapy
While online therapy comes with many benefits, there are also some things you should keep in mind.
Thinking about Privacy
Security and privacy are most important when considering online therapy platforms. Make sure to do your research and check any issues out with your therapist or provider depending which way you choose to go. Online counselling services should always take measures to protect client sensitive data.
Planning for technical issues
If you’re using a computer at home, make sure you have a reliable internet connection. If you use a public library or coffee shop, check with them before starting your session. Before you begin online therapy, make sure you have a backup plan in place in case of a power outage or internet connection problem, ie a second device on a mobile connection.
Being aware of what might feel different online
There’s less seeing of facial expressions, body language, etc so please make sure your camera shows you clearly if you are using video, it really helps to bridge the gap of not being in person. It may take a while for you to settle in and feel more comfortable. Many people find that the quality of care is just as good, if not better. Online therapy is still therapy. You will be working with a professional who can help you address mental health care needs.
Online Counselling Results
It is widely known that online counselling has been on the rise in recent years. Online counselling offers many benefits, such as convenience and anonymity(if essential). But how effective is online counselling? A recent study by the University of Manchester found that online counselling can be just as effective as face-to-face counselling. The study found that online counselling can help reduce anxiety and depression and improve well-being.
While an online therapy programme isn’t right for everyone, it may be a viable option for those who need support from a qualified professional but don’t want to leave their homes or are otherwise obstructed from doing so.
Question & Answers
ONLINE COUNSELLING - FAQ
Is online counselling the same as therapy?
Everything is built around the relationship you have with the therapist, whether it is online or in person, there are some slight differences in body position etc but nothing noticeable, over time technology has evolved and we don’t notice any difference in our results.
Is online counselling effective?
Yes online counselling is very effective, in the same way person to person is effective, it all depends on the therapist and the client.
Can I be diagnosed through an online therapy session?
Therapists do not get involved in diagnosis of anything.
Do you offer online counselling for alcoholism?
Yes we work with alcohol and addictions every day, it's a common reason people come to online therapy.
How does online counselling work?
It's a simple process of assessment, then booking in your sessions and getting going, we pick a new meeting time for the following week each session, and start off on the journey to see what we uncover.
About The Author
Jason Shiers Dip.Psych MBACP
Jason Shiers is a Certified Transformative Coach & Certified Psychotherapist. Jason has been working with addictions and people in recovery for over 25 years now and is always looking towards the innate mental health that is inside everyone.
This therapy is a holistic view of the mind body taking approaches from psychological understandings, somatic practices and spiritual explorations such as non duality and advaita vedanta.
Jason has been cited in multiple articles about addiction, therapy, coaching and mental health and is a regular contributor to many different websites.
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