Advantages of Online Therapy
If the pandemic of 2020 taught us anything in the therapy world, it is that we are able to provide therapy services effectively and efficiently through online therapy platforms. And as we have approached and new normal, many changes in the therapy world can be observed. Many therapists have found that clients who previously attended sessions in person are opting for online therapy services, and many new clients are specifically asking for online platforms.
While some people are still hesitant to participate in online therapy services, there are a few advantages to online therapy to consider.
1. Online therapy is more time efficient.
While the length of the sessions is the same regardless of whether a client attends therapy services in person or through online therapy platforms, there are some efficiency factors to consider. There is no commute to and from the therapy office, there is no need to pack up, get dressed, get ready, etc. For many people with busy schedules, teens with multiple extracurricular activities, or just those feeling strapped for time and overwhelmed with stress, minimizing these additional commitments in time can be a great advantage of online therapy.
2. There are fewer barriers to attending online therapy sessions.
Similarly, the ability to log onto a therapy session from anywhere with a strong Wi-Fi connection online therapy can increase the access to services for many people. Online therapy is not limited by lack of transportation, traffic, health-related concerns, or even anxiety or depression symptoms that may make in-person attendance challenging and more. As a therapist and social worker, the increase in service access is one of the high points of the prevalence of online therapy services today!
3. There is a wide range of online therapists to choose from.
Many clients find the additional access to more therapists to be a beneficial element of the online therapy process. Many therapists are able to serve clients who are residents of the states in which they are licensed, which means rather than searching for a therapist within a certain radius of your home, there is the ability to search through the entire state for a licensed therapist that may be able to serve you.
This can be particularly helpful for those in rural communities that may want to speak with a therapist outside of their small community, individuals in large metropolitan areas where many therapists may be full or not accepting patients, and those who are hoping to find specific specialties or characteristics of a therapist. Additional choices in the therapy process can be a really great thing that online therapy provides.
4. You may feel more comfortable in your own safe space.
Many people find that when considering attending therapy, feelings of fear or anxiety may arise in the therapeutic process. It is vulnerable to find your way to a new office, enter another person’s space, and start discussing some of the most personal aspects of life. Many clients have reported that the ability to participate in online therapy from the comfort of their home or safe space has been a way to increase their comfortability in participating in the therapeutic process.
For many people experiencing anxiety, significant symptoms limiting their ability to navigate public spaces, or those with chronic health concerns, this can be even more important and freeing.
5. There is the freedom to incorporate your coping skills and resources into online therapy.
As a therapist who provides online therapy services, this is my favorite part of online therapy. As a therapist, we are able to engage with people in their environment with the things that are important to them. This means that we are able to help clients adapt coping skills, behavioral regulation techniques, and other therapeutic skills in their space with the tools that they have at hand. Whether it be utilizing certain items as grounding tools, incorporating an individual’s pet into the therapy process, or just being able to see and understand the space that the client lives in, these can be amazing ways therapy through online platforms can help therapists personalize services to client needs.
If you are interested in trying online therapy, or if you are considering if online therapy could be a part of your journey to health, wellness, and healing, we would love to connect with you. Our team of therapists is trained to provide services for the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, child and teen therapy, EMDR therapy, DBT therapy, and more. Our team is able to service all residents of Texas.
