The arrival of COVID-19 and the social changes that came with it have made teletherapy a wonderful option for those who are struggling with anxiety. It allows clients and therapists to continue to meet even if a city or state is under stay-at-home orders. Any concern about spreading an illness to each other is automatically erased.
Of course, there are also many other reasons beyond social distancing that a person might prefer online therapy.
However, it’s normal to wonder if therapy via video conferencing is as effective as in-person sessions. After all, in-office appointments have been the norm across all medical disciplines as long as we can remember.
When you video conference or talk by phone, you don’t have the immediate, physical presence of the other person. Perhaps the quality of your video conferencing isn’t as good as you’d like it to be. And you may worry that you’ll miss nuanced facial expressions from your therapist that can be helpful communication tools.
Yes, teletherapy may feel a bit awkward at first. But can it still be efficient?
What the Research Shows
Fortunately, therapists have had this same question for some time. Within the last two decades, several studies have examined whether or not teletherapy is as good as in-person counseling. They’ve looked at the option across several behavioral disorders, including anxiety, PTSD, depression, and bulimia.
Importantly, the researchers found no differences between the outcomes of those who utilized online therapy and those who had in-person sessions!
Advantages of Teletherapy
When you stop to think about it, there are many advantages to online therapy. Counselors also praise the ways in which teletherapy can make sessions easier and less stressful for their clients.
What are some of the specific advantages?
Comfortable, Familiar Environment
For many people, it can be hard to relax and open up in new environments. Even if you’ve seen your therapist in person for some time, you may still need several minutes to ease into the session comfortably.
But when you’re doing a session from your own home, you’re already in an environment where you feel at ease. You can snuggle into your favorite chair with a blanket. You can wear sweat pants if you want and not feel under-dressed.
While these may seem like small things, they are actually very important. When you’re already at ease, opening up probably won’t be quite as uncomfortable. It’s easier for you to settle and focus. Starting a session in a relaxed manner such as this offers advantages, especially for anxiety counseling.
No Stressful Commute
As many clients will attest, just getting to an appointment on time can sometimes create anxiety! Depending on the time of day and weather, traffic can be busy and slow. You find yourself getting impatient and frustrated with other drivers. Then, you have to find a parking spot. By the time you arrived, you’re flustered and grumpy.
Teletherapy completely removes this unpleasant part of therapy appointments.
Reduced Wait Time
Sitting in a waiting room understandably can create tension before a session starts. No one likes to wait. When you’re waiting for a therapy session at an office building, just as when you’re driving to an appointment, it’s easy to start to feel impatient.
Online therapy smooths over the hassle of waiting for what, at times, can seem like endless hours.
More Privacy
Therapists are required to use video conferencing software that is approved for medical privacy laws. Your sessions are encrypted and protected.
Moreover, unfortunately, there’s still a stigma in many places around treating mental illnesses. For that simple reason, you may not want to run into anybody you know at the therapist’s office. Perhaps you worry about someone seeing you entering the building and wondering why you’re going there.
Teletherapy effectively erases all these concerns.
Rural Clients, Bad Weather
If it’s hard for you to reach a therapist’s office, online therapy can be a wonderful option. Maybe you live in a rural area with few therapists locally available. And even the weather is bad, the roads are treacherous, or you have a bad cold, you can still meet via video.
The easy accessibility of online therapy is a huge comfort to many who find themselves in those situations.
Should You Try Teletherapy?
Of course, everybody’s situation is different; and every person is different. So it’s important to discuss all of your questions and concerns about teletherapy with your counselor before starting.
But please be assured that therapy conducted online is truly proven to be as effective as face-to-face therapy sessions. And, as we’ve discussed, it offers many benefits.
But if you try it and aren’t comfortable with it, talk with your counselor about ways to adapt it or find other options.
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As a therapist who specializes in treating anxiety, I can attest to the effectiveness of teletherapy with my clients. In times like these, people still need to be able to process their anxiety and build coping skills. I’d like to take the time to work with you to create an individualized plan and approach.
If you’re struggling with anxiety and need to talk with someone, I encourage you to reach out to my office to find out more about my services.
To continue to know more about how to handle difficulties in life or deal with excessive worries and anxiety, go to Anxiety Treatment.