Your Internal lIfe

Online Therapy &
Counselling

What is Online Therapy?

Online therapy, also known as teletherapy or e-therapy, has become an increasingly popular choice for many people, and for good reasons. 

There are many benefits to having psychotherapy online, but it’s not a panacea for all problems and its downsides should be considered as much as its benefits.

Advantages of Online Therapy

Accessibility

Online therapy offers accessibility to individuals who have difficulty in attending face to face sessions due to distance, time or physical hurdles that may mean travelling is not easy. There are numerous phobias and mental health issues that might make it difficult to go to unfamiliar places or remain in unfamiliar surroundings, such as agoraphobia or social anxiety.

Convenience

Talking to your therapist online offers flexibility in scheduling sessions and a time saving without the travel. It allows patients to receive therapy from the comfort of their own homes, making therapy possible for those with tricky schedules or those who prefer a familiar environment.

Cost-Saving

By having therapy online, you won’t have to pay any travel / fuel or parking costs.

Privacy

Some patients feel more comfortable and confident in opening up by having their sessions remotely. Online counselling and therapy provides patients with an opportunity to receive mental health support in a confidential and private manner, which is essential for individuals who may feel stigmatized or uncomfortable seeking therapy in a traditional office setting.

Challenges of Online Therapy

Technology

Having remote therapy obviously relies entirely on technology, which can be a challenge for some people who may not have access to a reliable internet connection or who may not feel comfortable using technology. I schedule my remote sessions via Zoom, so you’ll simply need to click on a link that will be emailed to you.

Limitations of Non-Verbal Communication

Talking to your therapist online may not allow for the same level of non-verbal communication as in-person therapy, making it more difficult for therapists to pick up on subtle cues and body language, which can be important in building rapport and understanding patients' needs.

Relationship

One of the biggest disadvantageous of online therapy, when the relationship between therapist and patient is mediated via screen, is that it’s harder to learn how to build or improve relationships we are in or wish to create. Online therapy can be used defensively, especially when relationships are an issue.

Is Online Therapy Right for You?

The Pros and Cons of Online Therapy

Pros:
Convenient, accessible, and easy option for individuals seeking mental health support.
Cons:
May not be suitable for everyone, particularly those who are not comfortable with technology, don’t have a stable internet connection or who want to grow their relationships without having to overcome technological challenges that the screen presents .presents. Also, a lot of patients like to have the time to reflect before or after sessions, rather than jumping straight back into their routine.

Can Online Psychotherapy and Counselling be as Effective as Talking Face to Face?

One wonders if the digital space can provide an effective forum for therapeutic intervention. A fear shared by many is that the therapist will not be able to identify subtle non-verbal cues from the patient, like body language and vocal inflections, that can be so instrumental to the process. Similarly, there is concern that the impersonal atmosphere will prevent the necessary bond between therapist and patient.

A plethora of studies published in various medical journals have come to the conclusion that online psychotherapy and counselling is just as helpful as the in-person version in treating anxiety, depression or career matters.

My own view is that online therapy has opened opportunities for people, who would otherwise struggle accessing psychological help. I have successfully worked exclusively online with a number of patients. Sometimes this is all someone can do, either because there are physical or mental obstacles, and I respect that. Often there is a great deal that can be achieved online.
However, if convenience is the only reason why someone seeks online therapy, and their therapist’s consulting room can be accessed fairly easily, I would strongly encourage them to consider coming in-person.

But more often than not, it doesn’t have to be either or choice. Many of my patients make the most of both worlds and either work towards coming in-person after a period of sometimes several years of online work, or deploy a hybrid approach and do both, whatever the circumstances allow. Personally, I feel that online therapy works best when there is some form of relationship established between therapist and patient but I’m not prescriptive about whether it’s at the begging, in the middle or at the end of therapeutic journey.
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