What’s So Great About Online Therapy?
Life can be challenging, frustrating, upsetting, and sometimes downright maddening. Therapy can help. Unfortunately, almost 60% of Americans who need mental health therapy do not get the care which would help them optimize their well-being and which would potentially help them lead a richer, more productive life.
There’s a multitude of reasons for this disparity. Some of the factors behind the gap in care include such things as lack of access to qualified practitioners, difficulty finding time for appointments, fear about what others might say or think (stigma), and not knowing where to go for care. Technology is one solution to some of these obstacles.
You might think online therapy is some newfangled thing which has only recently popped up. In reality, it’s been around for quite some time. Notably, Psychiatrist Peter Yellowlees met with his first client back in 1991 when he was the only provider available in a large, rural section of Australia. Essentially, online mental health care began to be a thing just as the internet was beginning to show up in people’s homes – and clinicians have been logging in to meet with their clients ever since. It’s only more recently that this modality has become more mainstream and, thanks to its benefits, it continues to gain favor.
Online Therapy is Super Convenient
Perhaps one of the most attractive advantages of online therapy is the convenience it offers. Overall, it is far easier to fit it into your busy day. Consider it in comparison to traditional psychotherapy, or talk therapy. You would normally have to block off time to drive to the therapy office, then need more time for the session, and then even more time to drive back to home or work. That’s grief enough without mentioning the stress of dealing with traffic, having to find parking, or the cost of gas. Maybe you work in Tampa, Gainesville, Orlando, or Jackonsville and have a long work commute - you already drive a lot and you have limited time to get to a therapy appointment with your work schedule. However, with online therapy you can sit comfortably in your office and just log in. You don’t have to go anywhere. This makes it much less disruptive to your day and you likely will find it is much easier to fit into your schedule. An appointment that used to take maybe 2+ hours of your day, now takes less an hour.
Online Therapy Gives You A Lot More Choices & Options
Another edge online counseling provides over in-person sessions is that it significantly broadens the pool of therapists with whom you may meet with. While you were previously restricted to whomever was in your local area, you now have much greater access to care. For example, maybe you live in a smaller community like Spring Hill, Florida, and there are no providers who specialize in treating binge eating close to you. If you wanted help, your only choice (unless you’re eager to have to drive over an hour each way every week to get to a larger city) was to see the local generalist – a therapist who is forced to essentially try to be all things to all people. Did you know that there are close to 300 different mental health diagnoses? In other words, a generalist therapist is faced with quite an overwhelming task. How well is that individual able to serve you if they are placed in that position? How much will they actually know about your particular concern, particularly if they have to be ready to see clients who might present with any of a large number of issues? Alternatively, with online therapy, you now have the ability to see someone who is more specialized and has a much deeper understanding of what you’re facing. If you are struggling with binge eating, you can see a licensed therapist who knows exactly what this is and who has a much better understanding of what is needed to address it.
It’s important to note, too, that even if you do happen to live in a busier area like Miami or West Palm Beach, it can still be challenging to locate a therapist who treats your area of concern, who has availability for new clients, and with whom you click. Again, online therapy gives you more choices and more chance to find what you need. (Importantly, you still will need to see a therapist who is licensed in your state and you must be in the state during your appointments. If you live in Florida, your therapist must be licensed in Florida.)
Online Therapy is Both Discreet and Highly Flexible
(and your dog or cat can be with you during sessions!)
Increased privacy is yet another benefit which online therapy brings to the table. Since you don’t have to physically show up to an office, there’s no worry about who you may bump into in the waiting room. If you’re feeling shy and hesitant about facing someone, that’s also eliminated. Since the therapist is not physically in front of you, sharing certain details may come easier. Many people appreciate the “disinhibiting effect” of not being face-to-face. Your in-person defenses may perhaps not present themselves, allowing you to relax more and feel greater ease. At home or at your office, you’re in an environment that is far more familiar and comfortable for you. As an added bonus, if you have a pet, it’s much easier to have them sit with you for support during your session – you’d perhaps be hard pressed to locate a brick-and-mortar therapy practitioner who will permit fluffy or fido to tag along to your in-person appointment.
As with all things, online therapy won’t be an ideal fit for everyone. Those experiencing suicidal intent or active psychosis, for example, will be better served by in-person care. Overall, though, online therapy is growing in popularity and is a great solution for many individuals who’re seeking therapeutic support.