Etherapy-Blogs

Jun 05 2022

5 Reasons Why Online Therapy is Successful

Online therapy is a relatively new approach to therapy. It has been around for a handful of years and picked up speed when the pandemic ravaged the world. Initially, people were rightfully skeptical about this new approach, wondering if just chatting with a therapist or video-calling them would be as effective as traditional therapy. However, studies show that this approach is as effective as therapy and even more so in certain cases with certain patients. Here’s a look at some reasons why online therapy is successful:

1. More Accessible

Online therapy platforms are much more accessible than regular therapy. You can book a few sessions online and attend them from the comfort of your home, regardless of where you live. You could be in some isolated town in Alaska and still have access to the best counseling available. eTherapy makes it easier for people from remote or underserviced areas to access good therapy.

Accessibility is particularly necessary for people suffering from underrepresented mental health conditions. It is easy to get help for depression or anxiety but sometimes it can be difficult to get help for gender-related concerns or rare mental health conditions. Online therapy gives people access to more professionals, which gives people the benefit of options.

2. Privacy and Anonymity

More people are willing to try online therapy than traditional therapy because of the platform’s privacy and anonymity. Most online therapy websites don’t require your full name or contact information. You don’t even need to show your face to your therapist if you’re communicating primarily through chat or calls. This gives people a sense of privacy and safety. They don’t need to worry about anyone knowing that they are attending therapy.

This is particularly useful for people in risky or vulnerable situations. For example, if a person from an abusive or extremely conservative household requires therapy, they can access eTherapy services discretely, without worrying about anyone finding out. Studies have shown that teenagers and young adults, in particular, find these options appealing. They are more willing to attend online therapy because there is no exposure to peers involved.

3. Medium of Communication

Most online counseling happens through text messages or video conferences, depending on the approach the patient prefers. There are email and similar options available as well. Different platforms offer different communication approaches. You can choose what is most comfortable and tailor the session according to your requirements.

Most younger patients are very familiar with online communication. They are comfortable communicating primarily through text and are often more open or unreserved when using this medium. Older generations do struggle a little but even that is a matter of habit. If you dislike text communication, there’s always voice or video conferencing available. eTherapy can be tailored to suit any kind of requirement easily.

4. Eliminating Barriers

Online therapy eliminates several barriers, especially for people who can’t access traditional therapy. For example, individuals with physical disabilities or people who can’t speak or hear can use text as a way to communicate and access online therapy. Individuals that can’t see can use video or voice conferencing to access therapy. All of these things can be done from the comfort of their home, without the hassle of traveling to the therapist’s office.

Online therapy is also useful for people in high-risk situations. If you think attending therapy will place you in danger or get you in trouble, you can access it discretely without letting anyone know. That sets eTherapy apart from traditional therapy and draws more vulnerable people into the fold.

5. Flexibility

eTherapy is more flexible than traditional therapy, which is necessary for today’s fast-paced lifestyle. Every minute of the day is precious and most people don’t have much time on their hands to drive to a therapist’s office during work hours to get the support they need. Online therapy is more flexible. You can access it any time, from anywhere, and schedule the sessions according to your requirements.

This flexibility also means that you can schedule around disruptions and have the session when you are in the right mindset. For example, it is easier to schedule a session when the kids are at school or when everyone else is busy with work. You can have a quiet and relaxed environment around you and focus on your session completely. People find it easier to use online therapy than to attend face-to-face sessions with a counselor, which does have an impact on the overall success of the therapy.

These reasons make it clear why eTherapy is so successful. However, that doesn’t mean that traditional therapy is completely replaceable. If you’re dealing with serious self-harming behaviors and are an active risk to yourself or people around you, you may need more thorough medical intervention. In these cases, a traditional psychiatrist with the ability to prescribe medication or recommend a hospital stay may be necessary.

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Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

Jun 03 2022

Can You Attend Online Couple Counselling?

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Being in a relationship can be tricky sometimes. You need to adjust to other people’s personalities and make compromises to make sure the relationship works well for both parties involved. However, this can be a difficult task and cause some friction from time to time. Some couples can resolve the friction without any outside assistance while others need some sort of intervention or a neutral third party.

In most cases, this means couple’s therapy. You visit a therapist together and/or individually and resolve your problems in a guided and healthy manner. But can you do this with couple’s therapy? Can you attend sessions together and resolve your problems together?

Can You Attend Therapy Online as a Couple?

Yes, you can. Many people like online couple’s therapy because you can attend sessions together regardless of your location. For example, if you live in one city and your partner lives in another, you can still attend sessions together at the same time. This works well for couples who have separated temporarily and are living in separate locations.

It also works well for couples living together. It is easier to attend couples and individual therapy sessions without dealing with scheduling issues.

Why Attend Both Couple and Individual Sessions?

Problems in a relationship often stem from individual concerns and stressors as well as the friction between a couple. This means you need to work on issues together and work on your own issue individually. Most couples’ counselors will come up with a combination of group and individual sessions. You can also have sessions with your children involved to ensure everyone affected by your relationship problems can have some support.

Modern psychologists focus on cultivating both acceptance and change, which has proven to be a more effective way to address relationship problems. Acceptance can be often found in group sessions as the couples listen to each other’s perspectives and listen to the therapist’s observations together. It is easier to accept certain things and set realistic standards for a relationship through honest discussions.

Individual sessions are focused on change and self-development. If there are some aspects of you that make your partner uncomfortable, like rage issues or self-destructive behavior, you need to work on them individually with your therapist. That’s why it is important to attend sessions separately and work on those issues without your partner being present.

Online therapy makes this easier as well. You can easily manage your group and individual sessions, and discuss your issues over text messaging privately. There is no need to travel to the therapist’s office together and separately, or find ways to make your schedules work. This can be easily done during the weekend or while having breakfast or while you are relaxing in your bed in the evening.

How to Create the Best Environment for Therapy?

One of the advantages traditional therapy has over online therapy is the environment. It is easier to put yourself in the therapy mindset when you are in the office of a therapist. There are no distractions and you can focus solely on the session. When you attend sessions from home, the formal environment isn’t there and many people struggle to take therapy as seriously as they should because of this. However, it is possible to create a good environment in your home as well. Here’s a look at how you can do that:

Silence Devices – The first thing to do when you are attending a session is to silence devices. Let people know that you will be busy with therapy in advance and tell them to only call if there is an emergency. That way you aren’t disrupted during the session.
Children and Pets – Make sure your children and pets have someone to look after them when you’re in therapy. If the children are old enough to remain unsupervised for an hour or so, ask them to remain quiet and not disrupt you during the session.
Comfortable – Make sure your environment is comfortable and clean. A clean and comfortable environment can create a positive backdrop for your therapy session and help you become more focused on the task.
Fed and Watered – Drink water and have a decent meal before you attend a session. If you’re hungry or thirsty, your patience will run short and that will disrupt the therapy session. It is important to be in a relatively good mood when you’re working on healing the bridge between you and your partner.

We also recommend implementing the advice your therapist offers in day-to-day life. Therapy will only work if you work with the therapist and your partner. With cooperation and dedication, coming to an understanding will be easier and help you get on a more positive path. Attending counseling sessions together online can go a long way to help heal your relationship.

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Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

May 30 2022

7 Ways to Make Your Online Therapy More Successful

Many people have started to attend online therapy instead of regular face-to-face therapy. This option has existed for several years, but the pandemic has made it more popular. However, many struggle to get what they need from this form of therapy and are forced to abandon it or look for alternatives. We recommend the following tips to make the sessions more successful:

1. Commit to the Therapy Online

It is important to take therapy seriously, even if you’re attending it from the comfort of your bedroom. That’s one of the biggest reasons why therapy doesn’t work out for some people. They don’t take it as seriously as they should, wasting time and money.

Be open and truthful in your sessions, implement the positive steps the therapist has recommended, and utilize the different coping mechanisms recommended as well. Doing that will help you get the most out of these sessions.

2. Work on Your Environment: Therapy Online

The biggest advantage of online therapy is that you can attend from any location without problems. You can attend the session from home, office, at a friend’s house, or even at a café. However, it is important to ensure your environment is comfortable and doesn’t cause you any undue distress.

For example, if you suffer from social anxiety, a noisy café may not be the most ideal place to attend therapy. However, if you want to be around people and find comfort in busy places, consider attending sessions in cafes.

Depressed individuals often feel more downtrodden and weighed down if their environment is messy or disorganized. Attending sessions in a messy room may not be an ideal choice.

By making sure your environment is suitable and puts you in a good mood, you can improve the overall effectiveness of the sessions.

3. State of Your Body: Therapy Online

Sometimes, therapy requires a lot of focus and energy, especially if you’re discussing difficult topics. It doesn’t make sense to attend sessions when your body is uncomfortable or deprived of rest or food. Make sure you grab a bite to eat and drink enough water to stay hydrated. It is also important to ensure you are well-rested so you can focus on the session comfortably.

If you’re ill, have a headache, or are in any sort of physical distress that will distract you during sessions, it is a good idea to postpone them as much as possible.

4. Consistency

Therapy is an ongoing process. Like any medical aid, you need to complete the course to get the maximum benefit. However, many people drop therapy without resolving the issues or taking a long break. Unfortunately, that does more harm than good.

Don’t skip sessions unless you are unwell and have no other alternative. Schedule your sessions at regular intervals and make sure too much time doesn’t lapse between them.

Consistency can help you recover faster and reduce the number of overall sessions as well. Inconsistent sessions make things difficult for both the doctor and the patient.

5. No Disturbance

When you attend therapy, you need to focus on the session. Put away anything that is distracting or can disrupt the session, including phones and other devices. Make sure your friends and family know not to disturb you. Let people know to only call you if there is some sort of emergency.

When you’re in an online therapy session, you are focused on your therapist and your mind is focused on the task at hand. Switching gears at this point can hamper your progress and cause a lot of frustration. Create an environment where you won’t be disturbed to have a successful therapy session.

6. Be Honest During Sessions: Therapy Online

Few things are as important as being honest with your therapist. You will want to convey your concerns and issues clearly so your therapist can understand what they are dealing with.

You don’t want to mislead the counselor because the advice they offer may end up being faulty. Most therapists know how to dig deep and ask guiding questions to ensure you’re more comfortable being honest about your concerns.

7. Don’t Stop Therapy Online Immediately

If you start seeing signs of improvement and feel like you have overcome your issues, don’t stop therapy immediately. It can be tempting to stop because you want to save money and time, but staying is a good choice.

You may have other underlying issues to address or may not be ready to pull away from the professional support just yet. Attend a few more sessions and only stop when you are completely confident in your recovery.

These tips will help you get the most from your online therapy and ensure you are on the right track. If you feel like you’re not benefiting from your sessions, consider these points carefully and give it some time. You may just need to alter your approach.

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Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

May 28 2022

Transitioning to an Online Therapist? 6 Tips That Can Help

Transitioning from a regular therapist to an online therapist can be a difficult process. You are accustomed to visiting a counselor’s office and discussing the issues face-to-face. Many people don’t believe that the online medium can offer the same level of comfort and support.

Fortunately, research suggests otherwise and many patients have found eTherapy to be more effective than other options. Here’s a look at six tips that can help you transition effectively:

1. Understand the Difference

The first step is to understand the difference between online and traditional therapy. Online sessions are often much different than face-to-face counseling. You are communicating through a different medium, so you may need to approach the sessions differently. Attending sessions in a noisy home environment may not work as well as it should.

That’s why understanding the difference between the two options is essential. You need to know what you’re dealing with before you proceed. It is a good idea to discuss the option with your current therapist if you’re uncertain.

2. What Medium Works?

The next factor to consider is the medium of communication. Different platforms offer different mediums. Look at the online therapy provider’s website to see what kind of options they offer. The most popular options are text-based like messaging, email, chat, etc. Some platforms offer voice and video call facilities as well.

Consider what medium you are most comfortable with. Do you express yourself better in emails and chats? Do you prefer to speak directly? The success of your sessions depends on these factors.

There’s no need to worry about the communication medium from the get-go. Most therapy platforms are flexible and will allow you to switch to a different medium if your current one doesn’t work out.

3. Looking for the Right Platform

The quality of the therapy platform is also an important factor to consider. You need to speak with qualified professionals with the right training and certifications. That can only happen if the platform performs all due diligence when they hire someone.

Look for a therapy platform that has good reviews and a good reputation. Explore their website to see what kind of services they offer. Look at all of the pages and their content to see if they are informative.

Most of all, look for free sessions. Many online therapy websites provide a few free days or sessions so you can experiment to see if the platform is suitable. You can also ask the website’s customer service agent about the counselors available.

4. Get a Professional Assigned

Once you have picked a platform, it is time to get a professional assigned to you. All you need to do is fill up a form detailing your requirements and concerns. The form will have several questions aimed at understanding your issues and will only take a few minutes.

After you have filled in a form, the system will process it and the platform will assign a therapist to you. This therapist will be someone with the training and experience to handle your particular concerns. For example, if you are struggling with depression, the therapist assigned will specialize in depression and related concerns.

5. Evidence-Based Practices

A good therapist will employ evidence-based practices to help you deal with your mental health concerns. These practices have years of research behind them and have been proven in many trials. For example, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one such approach that can help address a wide range of issues ranging from social anxiety to panic attacks.

This approach is no different from the approach employed by traditional therapists. Once you get accustomed to the new medium, you will recognize the approach and adjust accordingly. You can also ask the therapist what kind of approach they use to address mental health issues in their patients. Most counselors will be happy to explain their process.

6. Understand Your Goal

What is your goal with therapy? Do you want to find ways to improve your focus and productivity? Are you struggling with depression and self-sabotaging behavior? Approaching therapy with a goal in mind can help you remain focused and motivated even when the platform has changed.

You can discuss your goals with the therapist in detail during the first few sessions. That will help improve the chances of your success.

The transition will be easier if you approach it with a positive mindset. There is very little difference between traditional therapy and online therapy. It is a good idea to take it seriously and follow the therapist’s advice as much as possible. That will help you get on the right path with your mental health and ensure you recover quickly.

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Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

May 23 2022

Benefits of A Mental Health Therapist Online in California

Access to mental health has improved significantly in recent years with the rising popularity of online therapy. More and more people are attending sessions online, speaking with qualified therapists from different parts of the country, and generally focusing on their mental health. It is easy to access a mental health therapist online in California at an affordable rate these days.

However, some people still hesitate and wonder if online therapy is a worthwhile investment. Should they spend their time and money on such a platform when there are traditional options to consider? This is a pressing concern now as the world is opening up post vaccinations and other such concerns.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest benefits of sticking with your online therapist or choosing online therapy:

1. Comfortable Medium

When it comes to online therapy, you have a choice of different mediums. You can choose text, voice, or even video depending on the online therapy platform you choose. It is easier for people to pick a more comfortable communication medium and open up to the therapist through that.

When it comes to traditional therapy, you have no choice but to talk to the therapist face-to-face, which can be a challenge for many people. Individuals who can’t speak, choose not to speak, or struggle with social anxiety may find traditional therapy either overwhelming or ineffective. Online therapy, however, is more accessible to people from all walks of life. That is one of the reasons why more people choose psychologist services online in California.

2. Access to Therapists

It is easy to take access to therapists for granted when you live in a large city or town but if you are in more remote or rural areas, access to proper therapy can be difficult. That’s especially true for people with very specific requirements. For example, individuals struggling with social anxiety connected to their race or ethnicity may not be able to find a therapist who understands their concerns in their immediate vicinity.

Online therapy is a better option because you have access to professionals from all over the country. You may find a mental health therapist online in California who hails from the other side of the country and specializes in your concern. They will be able to provide more tailored advice and help speed up your recovery process.

3. Benefit of Privacy

Attitude towards mental health concerns has improved significantly over the years but there is still some stigma associated with it. That’s one of the reasons why people wish to keep their mental health concerns as private as possible. However, it isn’t always possible to do so with traditional therapy when you have to visit a counselor’s office regularly.

Online therapy offers the benefit of privacy. You can attend sessions in your bedroom, study, a café, or even a garden without people being any the wiser. Privacy is one of the most attractive aspects of online therapy and is also why so many young individuals prefer to access psychologist services online in California.

But this isn’t just limited to privacy. You can also attend the sessions anonymously, which can be an added benefit for people in unsafe situations. For example, if you’re an LGBTQA+ teen in a very conservative family, you may benefit from therapy with a trained professional but can’t access it safely. Online therapy makes it easier for individuals in unsafe or uncertain environments to access much-needed help.

4. Affordable Psychologist Services Online in California

Online therapy is more affordable than traditional therapy in most cases. This is because there are fewer overhead costs and some of the therapists are from more affordable areas outside large cities or expensive locations. That is particularly beneficial in California because the cost of living here can be very high.

You may be able to attend more sessions and remain in therapy even when your budget is a little tight. Many people are unable to access mental health services because they are expensive. Online therapy is a great alternative and is effective as well. It ensures access to people who are in the most difficult circumstances as well.

5. Effective Therapy

Research suggests that online therapy is just as effective as traditional therapy. In some cases, it is more effective. For example, some experts observed that teen patients responded better to online therapy on matters close to their hearts like their mental health, sexuality, and other such concerns. The response from other demographics is also very positive.

Increasing evidence shows that online therapy is a good choice for many individuals. All you need to do is attend a few free sessions to see if it is a good choice for you. If it isn’t, you can always get back to traditional therapy without any risk or investment. Free sessions make things easier and allow you to experiment with the platform.

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Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.