What Are the Benefits of Online Therapy?
This article is the opinion of, and based solely on the experience of, the writer. It is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute individual therapeutic advice. None of the services listed below have contacted or compensated me for this post.
What are the benefits of online therapy?
Online therapy provides accessibility to many people. You can meet with your therapist from anywhere in your state, depending on your state's laws. You can also potentially meet with a therapist from outside of your state, if they carry a license in yours. This is especially helpful if you're looking for a specialist. It increases accessibility for clients with mobility or transportation issues. Online counseling can also be a great option for clients in rural areas.
Scheduling is typically easier because appointments do not need to include commute time. Many of my clients are able to meet online with me from work. They have an agreement with their employer to take the same hour every work for our appointments.
Online therapy is climate-friendly due to the lack of commute. Therapists who work only from home have less of a carbon and financial footprint. They don't have to rent an extra office and spend extra on that office's utilities.
Clients can have their pets nearby during online sessions. Your pet can serve as an unofficial therapy animal. Emotional support animals can provide therapeutic benefit through companionship. Your pet can bring comfort during and after intense counseling appointments. Be sure to discuss the benefits and risks of having your pet with you during sessions.
Some online therapy platforms help clients match with a therapist. You can usually use this by entering some basic information about what problems you want to work on.
What are the problems with online therapy?
Some clients can have trouble finding a private place to meet if they live with family or in a small space.
Online therapy can have reliability issues. The therapist and the client need to have functioning devices and reliable Internet. Having an extra device or using phone calls can work as a backup plan. But switching devices mid-appointment is not ideal, as it interrupts the session's flow.
Some therapists and clients benefit a lot from the energy they feel being in a room together. This doesn't show up in the same way online.
Online therapy might not be a safe option for some clients:
People who are not tech-savvy.
People who have trouble focusing on the appointment.
People who have safety concerns such as suicidal ideation.
Online clients may feel less emotionally safe than if they had in-person therapy.
Some online services limit the type or amount of counseling offered. For example, the therapist may have to use certain modalities like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. The therapist may also have incentive to keep the therapeutic relationship short. Sometimes online clients received as few as six sessions or less. This makes it difficult to tailor your treatment to meet your specific needs.
Who benefits from online therapy?
I recommend online therapy for the following types of clients:
People who have a private place to meet with reliable Internet.
People who know how to navigate tech issues.
People who are able to stay focused on the conversation with their therapist.
Clients with busy work schedules also frequently find online counseling beneficial. By only taking one hour a day and sitting in their car, they have the time and privacy needed for appointments.
I do not recommend online therapy for clients with active suicidal/homicidal ideation. I do not recommend online therapy for clients who engage in self-harm. In-person therapy can provide an extra layer of support for these clients. This can be especially true if a client is unsure about staying for their entire therapy session.
Face-to-face therapy is also helpful for clients who struggle to agree to a safety plan. An in-person counselor will have a greater ability to keep the client and others safe.
What platforms do therapists use?
I don’t personally have a wide range of experience with different online platforms. I've spent a good bit of time researching, though. I can still provide here what I’ve learned over the years.
If you’re a client, you’re probably wondering where to find an online counselor. And if you’re a therapist, you might be wondering which services to use. In this section, I’ll try to offer ideas for both clients and therapists.
Telehealth options for clients
If you’re looking for an online therapist, chances are you’re trying to figure out how to find a therapist in general. Even with relaxed COVID-19 restrictions in America, many therapists still offer online services.
Therapist directories
Most therapist directories offer the option of filtering for online counselors. TherapyDen lists counselors who specialize in working with marginalized populations. Open Path Collective is another great directory if you need financial help. Other great options include GoodTherapy and BeingSeen.
Employee Resources
One place to start when searching for a therapist is through your insurance. You might also receive counseling through other employment benefits. Many employee programs such as Lyra Health provide online counseling. Check your employee benefits. You may be eligible for free appointments through Lyra or a similar service.
Telehealth-only services
Telehealth services like BetterHelp and Talkspace have recently grown in popularity. They are not for everyone, though. If you are trying to work through a short-term problem and have no safety concerns, they may be a good fit for you. They are also relatively inexpensive.
These services usually offer unlimited messaging with your therapist. I don't recommend this for clients with boundary issues. Again, clients with safety concerns are not a great fit for this type of service either.
Telehealth options for therapists
I've used Simplepractice since I started my business three years ago. This is a platform which therapists choose to use. It also offers a service called Monarch, which lets clients search for therapists. Simplepractice provides loads of features including video session hosting.
I've had very few problems using this service. The video sessions are typically reliable. I recommend Simplepractice for therapists who want to manage their work in one place. It's a bit more expensive than some of its competitors, but I've found that it's worth it for what I need.
If you’re looking for a less expensive option, TherapyNotes has excellent reviews. It offers a similar suite of tools to SimplePractice. I have not tried TherapyNotes myself, but have heard good things from colleagues.
If you’re only looking for a place to host video sessions, Doxy.me is a free service. I’ve used this as a client and have enjoyed it.
One thing I like is the “waiting room” feature. It assures me that my therapist has logged in even if they’re running late.
One extra resource to consider is a website called Person-Centered Tech. This organization offers free and premium educational resources to therapists. They can help you decide which online services to use in your practice. To start, they offer a free guide with information about the types of services available. They also provide their own reviews.
I’ve been providing online therapy for over three years. Feel free to contact me and schedule a free phone consultation to see if we’re a good fit.