Online Counseling Vs Traditional Therapy

The world is always changing and with it changes the way services are delivered. Technology connects people like never before and allows them to do things that were previously impossible. It used to be that the only food delivery you could get was pizza or Chinese and if you wanted a hearty, chef-inspired restaurant cooked meal, you had to get dressed, drive to the restaurant, and stand for 30 minutes until a table became available. With the invention of apps and websites like GrubHub and DoorDash, you can have food from any restaurant you want delivered right to your door. Likewise with grocery shopping, buying clothes, and automatic delivery of your pet’s favorite food. Intangible services have also become more readily available. People are no longer limited to dating people that live in their neighborhood, book clubs can have members from around the world, professionals can give their opinions easily and to as many people as have access to a computer.

Is Online Counseling right for me?

People are asking themselves if online counseling is right for them, when the real question should be “Is counseling right for me?” If the answer is yes, then the first thing to do is start looking for a therapist that matches your particular need. Do you need or desire frequent or regular contact? Do you have a busy or inflexible schedule? Do you live in an area where you have limited access to multiple therapists with different areas of expertise? Do you need to talk to someone immediately? If you answer yes to any of those questions, then online therapy could be the right fit for you.

When exploring online therapy for the first time, many potential clients are curious about what will be different. The short answer is that besides the method of delivery, online counseling works much like like traditional face-to-face therapy. Sessions are often structured the same way and achieve similar outcomes.

Just like with traditional therapy, it’s important to prepare for etherapy by ensuring that the therapists you’re checking out have been licensed and are running a legitimate practice. Any licensed therapist – regardless of how he or she delivers their services – will have received extensive training in a variety of techniques. If there is a specific concern like PTSD, anxiety, or couple’s counseling, clients can and should research therapists who specialize in the relevant area. One advantage online therapy has vs face-to-face is that it can be much easier to find a therapist that specializes in whichever field the client needs, especially for people living in rural or underserved communities. For example, if a client is in need of therapy specifically to deal with symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), it’s “luck of the draw” whether there is a therapist with experience helping with OCD symptoms within a reasonable distance from the client’s home. Connecting with therapists online greatly increases options, making it more likely that each client can find the therapist that is the best fit for his or her specific and unique needs.

Psychotherapy over the internet

Whether a client is new to therapy or just etherapy in particular, it’s natural to wonder how the process works over the internet. Just like with any other clinical practice, therapists that work over the internet are fully licensed and trained to respect client confidentiality at all times. Any reputable online therapist will also take extra steps to ensure client’s information is protected, since the sessions are happening over the internet. This will ideally include using a specialized app or otherwise secure communication gateway to protect sensitive information from being exposed to third parties.

Online Couseling/Therapy -How Does It Work?

Although it’s delivered differently, online therapy doesn’t work in a radically dissimilar way to the brick-and-mortar kind. To this end, research continues to support very similar patient experiences and outcomes overall. To decide if online therapy is right for you, the first question should still be, “is therapy in general what I need right now?” If it’s time to seek help, e-therapy makes the whole process faster, more convenient, and often more affordable. So how does it work?

Just like with face-to-face therapy, it’s important to only work with licensed providers and to take some time beforehand to verify that the practice is legitimate. Also like with brick-and-mortar practices, clients will identify a therapist that seems most appropriate for their goals and needs, book a preliminary session, and pay in advance. Once it’s time for the appointment, most e-therapy practices have dedicated online “gateways” or an associated app that is used to communicate securely with the provider over a computer or smartphone. At the client’s scheduled appointment time, that person simply logs in from wherever they happen to be. At this point, it works much like any other kind of video chatting: a screen will open with the therapist, and the session will begin as the two parties talk in real-time.

Just like office therapy, online counselors will first go over some main goals or problems to be worked on. This is also a time for the client to express anything in particular that they might feel will be helpful to the therapy process. Both online and office therapists will then select from a variety of professionally-developed tools and therapy styles to begin working with the client to through problems or towards goals. Whether the therapy is online or in person, the amount of time it takes to begin having an effect depends greatly from one person to another, based on factors like personality types, severity of the symptoms, and willingness of the client to do “homework” or other exterior assignments. A typical course of therapy is weekly for 8-12 weeks, but some people go for years, while others may find they only need a few sessions.

One thing that most etherapy practices offer differently than their traditional peers is increased access to services. Access to the e-therapist may be billed per-session or monthly, but either way, some form of text messaging is usually included in the fee. This is a unique benefit that can help clients feel more connected and supported by their therapists, whether that be for a specific crisis or for ongoing help with a goal like challenging a pattern of thinking.

Ultimately, the similarities between e-therapy and the brick-and-mortar kind are much greater than the differences. Once clients get used to speaking via video, phone or messaging, instead of face-to-face, the course of therapy will unfold in much the same way, with the therapist using identical kinds of research-based treatment modalities, like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, trauma work, or Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy. As stated previously, a patient can expect almost identical outcomes with etherapy compared to the face-to-face variety. As with all therapy, online counseling is most effective if approached with honesty, an open heart, and a willingness to do the work required to change certain patterns of thoughts or behaviors.

Pros and Cons of Online Couseling

When deciding whether or not online counseling is the best fit for an individual, it’s important to understand both the upsides and the downsides to this form of therapy. Embarking on therapy for the first time or picking it up again represents a commitment of time, money, and emotional energy that means doing a little research first is well worth it.

The Disadvantages of Online Counseling

While scientific study and anecdotal evidence alike have concluded that online therapy is roughly equal to face-to-face sessions in terms of client satisfaction and outcome, the truth is that e-therapy still may not be right for every person.

The primary disadvantage, of course, is lack of actual face-to-face dialogue. For some people, a face-to-face discussion may simply feel more reassuring or comfortable, especially among older generations who may have started using digital communication much later in life. For those who grew up around smartphones and high-speed internet, interacting with a therapist online may actually be more comfortable instead of face-to-face, especially since etherapists also often include access to text messaging as well, which is another form of communication that is ubiquitous among younger Americans. On the other hand, if someone isn’t comfortable operating computers, tablets, and other digital devices, let alone communicating via video chat and/or text messaging, online counseling might not be the right fit. Although this concern is expressed by many patients before trying online therapy for the first time, the reality is that the medium actually works for a surprisingly large number of people. A minority of clients ultimately do decide online therapy doesn’t work for them, but it’s impossible for any person to know for sure unless they actually try it out instead of guessing whether or not it’s a good fit.

Another disadvantage of online counseling is that while the technical requirements aren’t anything excessive, having access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone is necessary. It used to be that to get the best experience, someone seeking online therapy should have broadband internet and a decently fast computer because computer or connection “lagginess” can make conversations seem more stilted, difficult, or less personal because the face-to-face interaction between the therapist and the client isn’t of a high enough quality. Today however, all a client needs is a smartphone with a data plan or access to wifi. Most e-counseling sites have apps for Android and iPhones and a computer may not be necessary at all.

Video chatting is a fairly high-bandwidth activity and although the typical American household can handle it without problems, there will always be exceptions. For example, for people who pay for internet by data usage, or who have usage caps, online counseling may take up too much data to be worth it. To ensure the best therapeutic dialogue, it’s also important that the device used to access e-therapy be new enough (and the network speed fast enough) that there’s no choppiness or cut-offs. In rural areas, e-therapy is a great solution to address the common scarcity of local therapy resources, but unfortunately some of these same areas also have substandard internet access that may make online counseling difficult.

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Advantages of Online Counseling

Accessing therapy online has myriad benefits, starting with convenience. Getting therapy from the comfort of home eliminates the hassle of having to travel to appointments and sit in a waiting room, which can be a tremendous boon to busy students, professionals, and parents alike. E-therapy also brings an unprecedented number of options for counseling services to everyone equally, no matter where they are located. For people in rural areas, those with limited mobility, and those without access to reliable transportation, e-therapy may mean it’s finally possible to get quality treatment for the first time. Considering that rural areas in America have higher-than-average rates of depression, substance abuse, and even suicide, online therapy could finally help bridge this gap.

Online Counseling: Beyond the Pros & Cons

Although multiple studies have found the outcomes for online vs. face-to-face therapy to be extremely similar, there are certainly some differences. The main disadvantage for online counseling is the human factor. For some people, especially of generations that didn’t necessarily grow up communicating via FaceTime and other digital methods, the concept of e-therapy may seem strange. It may be difficult to imagine opening up and trusting an individual that has never been met face-to-face. Even though scientists have been studying various forms of telemedicine for over a decade – including demonstrating it to be effective – for some people, not having conversations face-to-face may be a dealbreaker.

However, it’s impossible to know if etherapy won’t work unless it’s actually tried; many skeptical people have been pleasantly surprised, especially because the quality of online communication has grown so much. It’s also important to look beyond possible doubts at the sheer list of “pros” that come with accessing therapy online. The most important argument for online counseling is simple accessibility.

Cost of Online Therapy

When trying to decide whether to seek therapy and which kind may be right, cost is an ever-present factor. Many insurance plans don’t cover therapy or only cover a certain number of sessions. Sliding-scale clinics often have long waiting lists, leaving many Americans who are interested in therapy wondering how to get the help they need.

Comparing the cost of brick-and-mortar therapy to the online variety can be complex, because there are different types of therapists with sometimes widely different hourly rates. Generally, however, because an online therapy practice is structured differently than a traditional counseling practice, it is more affordable. For one thing, online therapists are able to pass along the savings of not having to lease the physical spaces needed to conduct face-to-face meetings. Quantifying access itself is a little more tricky to compare. This is because many online therapy models include a level of access to the therapist, such as unlimited messaging or texting, that old-fashioned practices simply don’t cover as part of their hourly services.

There are also many online counseling platforms that offer weekly or monthly plans so you can find one that fits into your budget. For example, you can sign up for unlimited text based counseling at a fraction of the cost of a live session. That means you could spend what it would cost to have two monthly live sessions for almost daily contact from your therapist. Many of these plans have different options such as phone or video sessions or live chat, so you can choose which works best for you and which will accommodate not only your budget, but also your time.

Are Online Therapists/Counselors Good?

Because a typical course of therapy (around 12 weeks in length) requires a significant investment of time, money, and emotional vulnerability by the client, doing research before starting out is very important, no matter which kind of therapy is being considered. To avoid getting stuck with someone unprofessional or ineffective, there are a few things that everyone looking for a therapist should do.

Online Counseling for Health & Wellness

Most people think that counseling is only for people suffering from depression, anxiety, or maybe PTSD. The truth is that therapists can help with all kinds of problems, many of which overlap into the physical health and wellness areas. In fact, cognitive behavioral therapy can be useful for anyone looking to make a change, whether that be embarking on a weight loss plan, trying to stop a bad habit, or quitting smoking. In fact, statistics prove that behavioral changes like quitting smoking are much more likely to “tick” when professional talk therapy is involved.

Counseling can also be useful for people dealing with a variety of health challenges, including injuries, cancer, heart disease, or even an illness or injury of a loved one. In all of these cases, professional support can help with fears or anxiety around a diagnosis, coping with medically-caused life changes, and even managing physical symptoms like pain. In fact, for people recovering from surgery or with limited mobility, online counseling is one way to improve treatment outcomes across the board, but especially when it comes to pain management. The opiate epidemic has made many doctors and patients alike wary of prescribing opiates for conditions like chronic pain; cognitive-behavioral therapy and other kinds of mindfulness work have been proven in studies to help improve pain and quality of life, while avoiding the pitfalls of narcotic pain medicine. Furthermore, for those dealing with medical challenges, e-therapy presents a unique advantage. Since a patient literally doesn’t even need to leave their bed to speak with a trained therapist, the benefits associated with professional counseling are now accessible to virtually everyone regardless of physical mobility.

Is Online Counseling Right For You? Weighing Options

One reason that remote counseling has become so popular is that it simply makes access to therapy dramatically easier and more convenient. Studies have shown that therapeutic outcomes and patient satisfaction are nearly identical between video chatting and face-to-face counseling sessions, meaning that e-therapy is a great choice for nearly everyone. That being said, geographic considerations are the most cut-and-dry reason why someone might seek out e-therapy for the first time. Simply put, many parts of America may simply not have easy access to quality practitioners. For people in rural parts of the country or anyone lacking their own vehicle or easy access to public transportation, being able to engage in talk therapy from home means that getting help has become much easier. In the past, long transport times and/or limited providers put many people “off” from trying to seek professional treatment, but this doesn’t have to be the case anymore. On a related note, people who desire a specific kind of counselor (eg. LGBTQ+, African-American, other languages) have a much higher likelihood of finding exactly the right kind of therapist if they include online providers in their search. The same is true for clients who may have physical limitations that make getting to physical appointments difficult.

Online counseling may also be the right fit if you’re struggling with a busy schedule, have a family, or simply need to save time for other reasons. For parents of young children, getting therapy at home means that childcare doesn’t need to be a worry – something that can be a critical difference between whether or not therapy is realistic. E-therapy also eliminates the time and expense of commuting to appointments, while often allowing more scheduling flexibility than traditional practices, both of which can be great for busy students or professionals. Savings on childcare and commuting, along with the generally more affordable nature of E-therapy, can also mean that accessing therapy is finally a realistic option if online counseling is considered.

Do You Need an Online Counselor or Therapists?

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, there are many situations that 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 with 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, moving, getting married, or even receiving a major medical diagnosis.
• 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 traditional therapy, are valid reasons to consider using an e-therapist.

How To Get Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-Behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-studied and evidence-based types of talk therapy available, which is why it’s also in high demand. One reason CBT is so effective is that it provides actionable tools to identify, challenge, and change a variety of unhelpful thinking patterns to manage symptoms of a psychiatric condition, adjust to a big change, improve interpersonal skills, etc. Overall, access to online Cognitive-Behavioral therapy should be easier than trying to find a nearby office provider who both specializes in this area and has an opening in their schedule.

When searching for a reputable online counselor, be sure to look for therapists with up-to-date licensure and a profile that lists CBT as a subset of their training or skills. Making certain that the therapist is licensed ensures that you’ll get the best-quality treatment by a professional with academic and practical training on how best to use CBT for a variety of situations. Also double-check that the e-therapist’s practice has a registered physical address to ensure the business is being run legitimately. Finally, don’t be afraid to call with any questions. Many practices will even let you have a brief phone introduction with the therapist to ensure that you’re a good fit for one another.

The online counselor’s website should have all the information needed for what technical requirements there will be for sessions. These days, many practices have “gateways” straight from the website or use a 3rd party app within the browser to communicate securely with an easy-to-use interface. Although the concept of e-therapy can be intimidating for some users, you don’t have to be a computer genius to participate. Generally, you just need a decent broadband internet connection and a computer or smartphone that is less than 5 years old.

For potential clients wondering about differences in quality, there are now multiple studies supporting the use of CBT in virtual environments. That is to say, a good e-therapist will be just as effective at using CBT to help a client as a brick-and-mortar peer; the difference is simply in delivery. Starting CBT with a specific goal will go a long way towards getting the most effective and timely treatment possible. Additionally, CBT treatment with an online therapist may include worksheets, journaling assignments, or other “off-clock” work to help the client learn to identify the thinking errors and associated solutions that are at the heart of this therapeutic form.

For anyone looking into starting a course of CBT, consider e-therapy as one of the easiest ways to benefit from this proven type of treatment. Looking online instead of just locally will greatly broaden the number and quality of therapists available. E-therapy also allows for a greater selection of secondary criteria to best suit your needs, whether that be having a therapist who is female, someone who specializes in co-occurring substance abuse disorders, or countless other factors. Ultimately, using the possibilities of e-therapy to connect with an experienced, well-trained, and compatible CBT therapist is worth any initial adjustment that might need to be made if it’s your first time using online therapy.

Things To Consider Before Choosing Online Therapy

For individuals interested in online therapy, there are only a few concerns specific to online therapy; most of what should go into the decision applies to regular therapy too.

When deciding if online therapy is right, it may be useful to consider how comfortable with using technology to communicate the interested person is. While the tools used by e-therapists are generally simple, secure, and easy-to-use, some people just aren’t comfortable either with the technology itself, or the idea of communicating remotely. There are people who don’t even like talking over the phone, or who have never used video chat to communicate. For those people, the text based form of e-therapy might be best. Although e-therapy is generally understood to be as effective as face-to-face therapy, there will always be some people who are inherently uncomfortable with the format. Interestingly, younger generations have expressed that they may be more likely to want to communicate via live chat than face-to-face, illustrating a wide generational shift in comfort with using these kinds of technologies for important conversations.

The bigger questions to consider before trying out e-therapy would apply to anyone seeking therapy in general. If possible, identify some main goals or primary problems that can be addressed by a professional counselor as a therapeutic goal. Examples would include struggling to cope with PTSD symptoms, learning new ways to live with anxiety, or working on becoming a better communicator with a spouse. That’s not to say that there must be a therapeutic goal, however. If the central issue is murky, that doesn’t mean you aren’t ready for therapy, just that it may take more time to get to the root of the problem. Next, to make sure that the therapy is as useful as possible, make sure you’re ready to discuss the issue(s) as openly and honestly as possible. Dishonesty fundamentally interferes with the therapeutic process, and being unwilling or unable to start working on changes will make the process more difficult.

On the other hand, you may be ready for therapy if you’re tired of living a certain way, if symptoms of an issue like depression have begun to interfere with other areas of life like work or home life, if your marriage is having problems, or if you simply feel ready to grow as a person. Those who are either struggling with substance abuse or are already sober may also find tremendous value in the support and insight of a professional.

E-therapy may be especially attractive for people with busy schedules, limited mobility or transportation, or those who have already tried to find a face-to-face therapist only to discover there isn’t one nearby who is taking new clients. For people looking for greater access to therapists for the same (or less) than the hourly rate traditionally charged by brick-and-mortar practices, e-therapy is also a great option. Finally, it is also a great choice for people who may simply want the convenience and privacy of being able to do counseling sessions from the comfort of his or her own home for whatever reason.