December 13, 2020
When trying to decide if e-therapy is right for you, the bigger question comes first: is it time to seek out the help of a professional counselor of any kind? While almost anyone could stand to benefit from the growth promoted by a course of therapy, many situations can be readily improved by talk therapy. It may be time to seek the help of a therapist if:
- Symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other problems are beginning to interfere with your quality of life or ability to carry out day-to-day activities. For example, therapy might be a great place to start for someone who has found their work performance slipping due to anxiety that is no longer simply manageable with exercise or another go-to coping skill.
- There was a serious trauma like a sexual assault, natural disaster, or sudden death of a loved one. Therapy can help with both single-event traumas like a bad car accident along longer-term situations, like childhood abuse or domestic violence.
- You’re experiencing either chronic relationship problems (for example, codependence, trouble parenting), or a relationship crisis (infidelity, the possibility of divorce, etc). Therapy can also be helpful for people who struggle in other interpersonal situations with things like holding boundaries or asserting oneself.
- A big life change is either on the horizon or already happening. This could range from deciding to lose significant weight, experiencing being fired or other professional difficulties, or even getting a major medical diagnosis.
- It’s time to tackle substance abuse or other addictive behaviors. While therapy isn’t a substitute for detox or an inpatient rehabilitation program, it can be very helpful over the long term. There are specific kinds of therapists who can help support people in recovery, including those with a dual diagnosis. E-therapy in this arena can be particularly useful for those who are trying to recover from addiction but need another option besides the local Alcoholics Anonymous group.
- Any other situation requiring an adjustment, change in thinking/outlook, or a need for support beyond that which is available from family or friends.
Working with a professional through problems and painful emotions while learning new skills is a great way to begin improving your overall quality of life, along with relationships and even career. For anyone interested in starting this process with the help of a professional, e-therapy should be considered. Besides being a great way to find the precise kind of therapist needed regardless of location and schedule, online therapy gets nearly identical results as traditional therapy and has other upsides, too. Convenience, greater access to the therapist via text messaging, and privacy—all for what is often a lower cost than brick-and-mortar therapy, are valid reasons to consider using an E-therapist.
