Online therapy is emerging from the lockdown that many places around the world have been experiencing since March this year. More and more therapists are going to be using this method of delivery for their clients’ therapy sessions, and this flexibility comes with its benefits and its flaws.
Obviously, online therapy is flexible. This is a benefit in multiple ways. First of all:
Easier to fit in to our lifestyles; especially those of us with hectic lives that never give us the time to take off from work, leave the chores, or have someone take care of the young kids. With online therapy, there is a much greater sense of ease of access to therapy.
No worries about being housebound because online therapy can take place wherever your computer or mobile device is located. If that means you’re stuck in a hotel on a business trip, you’re visiting family in another part of the country, or if you’re trapped in the house because of a national pandemic, you’re covered with online access to your therapist.
Remote access for rural areas is now possible, meaning that the millions that didn’t have access to adequate mental healthcare will now be able to speak with a therapist in their state, despite being hours away; the only limitation is your Internet connection
Accessibility of treatment is of course a huge benefit for online therapy. Some people still attach an old stigma to mental health, and speaking to your therapist online might make it easier for those people to come out of their shell a little.
It’s important to weigh both the pros and cons of any new service or therapy, so let’s take a look at the disadvantages now:
Insurance might not cover teletherapy because some insurance providers consider this ‘out of office’ therapy not part of their packages. Make sure to check with your specific provider if they cover e-therapy.
Online privacy becomes a bigger concern for those of us speaking to therapists online. When you’re undergoing confidential therapy sessions the small chance of hacks or leaks of personal data becomes all the more important to factor in your decision.
Not a substitute in cases of serious psychiatric illnesses that respond much better to close, personal monitoring that an in-person relationship with a therapist can provide.
To get a better insight into whether online therapy is for you, call our therapists for a free 15-minute consultation now on (415) 689-4131, or contact us online.
John R Montopoli is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor who has worked in the mental health field for more than 20 years helping college students and adults, of all ages. He uses a combination of empathy and evidence-based therapies to help his clients who live with anxiety disorders, depression, work stress, obsessive compulsive disorder, specific phobias, life transition issues, and sexual identity issues.
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