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7 Ways to Make Your Online Therapy More Successful

Therapy

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.

Transitioning to an Online Therapist? 6 Tips That Can Help

Transitioning to an Online Therapist

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.

Reasons Why A Consistent Online Therapy Schedule is Important

Therapy

Online therapy offers a great deal of flexibility. You can schedule sessions at your convenience, choose the medium of communication, and access therapy from any location. Many people choose therapy specifically because they want to take advantage of this flexibility. However, it is possible to be a little too flexible with your therapy schedule. Experts recommend maintaining a consistent therapy schedule even when you are attending sessions online and there are some reasons why:

1. Developing a Habit

Therapy works effectively if it becomes a habit. You attend sessions regularly, discuss your concerns with the therapist, and actively work on implementing the solutions recommended. It is easier to develop a habit if you’re regular and consistent with it. If you want to really get good results from online therapy get into the habit of attending sessions regularly.

2. Less likely to Skip Sessions

It is tempting to skip lessons when you are a little busy or just aren’t in the mood to speak with the therapist. However, these things can interrupt your progress and slow down your healing. Maintaining consistency and skipping sessions only when there is an urgent task that requires your attention or when you are unwell is the best way to go. Ultimately, you will attend fewer sessions this way and save both time and money on therapy.

3. Effectiveness

Therapy is more effective when you are consistent and focused on your mental health without any significant breaks. For example, a session once in 15 days or so can help you remain on the right track when it comes to mental health. However, if you skip therapy for a couple of months and go back to regular sessions for a couple of months, alternating between the two options, you won’t see much progress. This is one of the reasons why many people struggle to find success with online therapy. They don’t take it as seriously as they take regular face-to-face sessions.

4. Helping the Therapist

Regular and consistent sessions also help your therapist understand you better. While most therapists do take notes and keep a record of the client’s progress, it is easier to develop a more nuanced understanding of the client’s issues if the sessions are regular and consistent. If they have a better understanding of your concerns, they can offer more effective solutions and support. By helping the therapist understand you better, you are helping yourself.

5. Easier Time with the Medium

For many patients, online therapy is an entirely new and different medium. Some struggle with it and don’t know if it is the right choice for them. We recommend sticking with online therapy for a few sessions and giving it your all for a while. After some sessions, it will become easier to use the medium and you will start seeing a marked improvement in yourself.

Online therapy requires just as much commitment from clients as face-to-face therapy. If you have a good schedule and remain consistent with it, you will see results quickly. eTherapyPro encourages clients to discuss their therapy requirements clearly with their counselor and come up with a schedule that suits their requirements.

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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.

Therapy For Teenagers: How Can Parents Help Teens Go Through Online Therapy Successfully?

Therapy

Being a teenager is difficult. These children often experience many internal and external changes that affect their mental health, behavior, and even education. Therapy can help make the journey easier and offer a teenager some much-needed support. However, parents need to be attentive and involved with their child’s mental health, especially if the child is attending therapy online. Here are some ways in which parents can help teens go through online therapy successfully:

1. Give Them the Option

Many teens are afraid to attend therapy because they don’t want their friends and schoolmates to find out. They would rather keep their mental health issues private. Some teens won’t even want to share their concerns with their siblings or close friends. Parents can help by providing them with an alternative to traditional face-to-face therapy. You can find a reliable, effective, and well-established etherapy platform and encourage your teen to use it.

2. Value Your Child’s Privacy

It can be difficult for parents to hold their curiosity and concern back. They want to know what their child is thinking and feeling at all times. They want to know whether their teen is facing bullying at school, has any self-esteem issues, or is struggling with mental health problems.

However, some teens will not be comfortable or willing to share these details with their parents. It is important to assure your kid that whatever they discuss with their therapist will be private unless it actively harms them. It is important to assure them that discussions about things like self-esteem issues, sexuality, gender identity, etc, will remain private unless they are ready and comfortable to share. This will go a long way in making the therapy more effective.

3. Communicate with the Therapist

Parents and therapists should work together to help teenagers remain on the right track. Few people know kids as well as their parents do and sometimes they can help therapists get a better insight into their patients. Conversely, parents sometimes fail to understand some aspects of their children and an outsider’s perspective can help improve their understanding of their children.

It is a good idea for parents to get in touch with their kid’s therapists just to ask how things are going. It is also a good idea to have a couple of group sessions with both parents and the child involved.

4. Support Outside Therapy

A therapist may recommend some lifestyle changes and coping mechanisms to your teen to help them deal with their mental health concerns. For example, if your child has social anxiety, the therapist may help them identify triggers and determine how to either overcome the situation or avoid it. Parents should provide support outside therapy to help their child overcome the problem or avoid being overly stressed.

You need to strike the right balance between encouraging the child to step out of their comfort zone without pressuring them. Make sure the home environment is warm, welcoming, and supportive to improve the impact of regular therapy.

At eTherapyPro, we believe that teens can benefit from active and involved parents who also know how to give their children some space to grow on their own.

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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.

Can Your Teenager Benefit from Online Therapy?

Therapy

Teenagers face many uncomfortable or distressing situations. They are still developing and the pressures of performing well in school, maintaining a social circle, and trying to grow into their own personality can be very stressful. Almost every teenager can benefit from some therapy but those with mental health concerns need assistance urgently.

The world of mental health has expanded to include online therapy in recent years. Instead of visiting a therapist’s office, patients can attend sessions from the comfort and privacy of their homes. Many parents want to consider this option for their teenagers but are concerned it wouldn’t be the right choice.

Is Online Therapy The Right Choice?

Experts agree that online therapy is a good choice for teenagers, especially in this day and age. The current generation is full of digital natives who are very comfortable communicating via the internet. They are accustomed to speaking with friends from different corners of the world and communicating purely through text.

In fact, some studies show that teenagers are more willing to access mental health services if they’re available online than traditional face-to-face therapy. Because teenagers are so comfortable with this mode of communication, they’re more likely to open up and respond positively.

Some studies also show that kids prefer different types of therapy for different situations. For example, if they want to discuss something very personal and close to their heart like their sexuality or gender identity, abuse, or suicidal ideation they prefer online therapy.

However, they wish to discuss things like bullying, conflict in peer groups, guidance on education, or career, they prefer face-to-face therapy. All surveys indicate that teenagers are simply more willing to try therapy to begin with if they go through an online platform.

What are the Benefits of Online Therapy?

Studies and surveys prove the efficacy of online therapy but what are the benefits? Many parents what to get the best solution for their children and don’t know if e-therapy is the best. Here’s a look at some of the benefits that can help you make an informed decision:

  • Familiar Medium – Online therapy is beneficial because the medium of communication is familiar and comfortable. Children are less likely to be nervous and consider this medium low-risk in comparison to others.
  • Convenience – Kids have less time on their hands than most people realize. Between homework, projects, socialization, and other activities, they rarely have the energy to invest in attending face-to-face sessions. Online therapy is convenient because they can attend sessions while relaxing in their room. There’s no need for them to visit a therapist’s office.
  • Privacy – Teenagers rarely want their friends or peers to know they’re attending therapy because they don’t want to face any sort of mockery or discrimination. Online therapy offers a lot of privacy and anonymity, which can reduce the risk of people finding out.
  • Affordable – Sometimes parents are unable to get their children help because traditional therapy is expensive. Most e-therapy platforms are more affordable than face-to-face therapy because of the lack of overhead costs like maintaining an office or hiring staff. That makes e-therapy a more convenient option for parents as well.

However, it is important to choose the right platform and ensure the platform you use has reliable, qualified, and safe therapists. Well-established organizations like eTherapy Pro are a good choice.

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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.