A number of situations can make it difficult to see a counselor in office. This can be very frustrating to those who are struggling with big issues like depression, anxiety, or other crises.
With most people practicing social isolation these days, you may wonder what options there are to seeing a counselor. After all, most offices will be closed to in-person visits.
If this or other reasons are keeping you from seeing someone in person, online therapy offers a wonderful alternative.
Consider some of its benefits.
Proven as Effective as In-Person Therapy
The first thing many people ask when they hear about the idea of online therapy is if it’s as effective as in-person sessions. And that’s an honest question, especially since the use of virtual therapy is still somewhat unfamiliar to most of us. Yet, it’s actually been in use for over 20 years!
During that time, countless studies have been done on the effectiveness of online therapy. They have examined therapy for anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, and more. Significantly, researchers have found that online therapy is just as effective for these issues as in-person sessions.
Armed with this knowledge, you can be comfortable knowing that you’ll be in good hands during online sessions.
Convenience
Many therapists and clients have been pleasantly surprised by the many conveniences of online therapy. Meeting virtually cuts out a lot of challenges that can get in the way of in-person appointments. For example:
Driving
When you meet online, you don’t have to deal with pesky traffic. You don’t have to block out time to drive to and from the appointment. Bad weather or car accidents won’t slow you down. Likewise, you won’t find yourself driving in circles in the parking lot trying to find a spot or losing time to a wrong turn.
Time
Besides the convenience of not having to drive to online sessions, they are also more time-efficient in other ways. You’re not wasting time sitting in a waiting room. You don’t have to plan errands and other appointments around your time out.
Health
If you’re feeling ill or you’re taking care of someone who is, you don’t have to cancel and reschedule because you can still have the online session at home. And, of course, in situations like the current coronavirus pandemic, you don’t expose yourself to anyone else’s illnesses when you do online therapy.
Distance
Rural residents have long used online therapy to get the mental health treatment they needed. When you meet online, you have more flexibility in which providers you can choose and see. Your closest therapist may be 100 miles away, but you can still see them from the comfort of your living room.
Being at Ease
Researchers, therapists, and clients have all found that online therapy can offer a greater sense of being at ease. After all, if you’re doing therapy from your own home, you’ll probably be in an environment you’re very comfortable with. You’re surrounded by your well-loved comfort items; you can even wear cozy sweats or pajamas that you wouldn’t if you were meeting in person.
Most importantly, this sense of being at ease can help you engage more fully in the therapy session sooner than if you were in the office. In other words, when you’re already comfortable, you and your therapist can move into deeper work more quickly.
You’ll be able to open up more readily. Plus, it can help your therapist to see you in your own surroundings. And that helps them gain insight into your behaviors and attitudes when you’re outside the office.
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If you’d like to learn more about online therapy, I’d love to talk with you. It’s very important to continue to seek treatment for anxiety, depression, and related issues even when you can’t come in person. Through the use of online therapy, I’m still able to offer you the support and guidance you need to get through whatever you’re facing. Please, don’t hesitate to reach out! For more information go to Anxiety Treatment.