7 Reasons Online Therapy is Better Than Seeing a Therapist In-Person

By  //  August 4, 2021

In-person therapy has been considered an effective means to help people deal with their mental and emotional struggles. Thanks to the advancements in modern technology, this type of therapy is already made available and accessible online.

Some people even vouch that online therapy is better than seeing a therapist in person. This can be attributed to the reasons outlined below.

Convenience

One of the primary reasons why online therapy proves to be better than seeing a therapist in person is that the former is more convenient. This can be attributed to the fact that with online therapy, you have the option of seeing your therapist address your mental health needs without having to leave the comfort of your home.

In this case, all you need to do is to turn on your computer or log in through your smartphone to be able to connect with your therapist. You can even attend a session even while you are still wearing your pajamas. This means that you no longer need to battle heavy traffic or brave a bad weather condition just to adhere to the schedule of your session.

Accessibility

Another reason why online therapy is favored by more and more people over traditional in-person therapy is accessibility. With online therapy, you will most likely have immediate access to licensed therapists and skilled providers anytime you need to.

This means that even if you are living in a remote area, as long as you have the means to connect to the internet and get online, you will have the chance to get the treatment that you need. This involved minimal effort compared to having to travel several miles just to see a skilled therapist who will be able to help you manage your condition.

Comfort

In parallel to convenience, more and more people are opting for online therapy sessions because they find it more comfortable to do so. This is because without having to leave their homes, they can get the treatment they need. They no longer have to adjust to an unfamiliar environment such as the clinic of their therapist for a session.

More often than not, having to adjust takes effort for a person already struggling with mental and emotional issues. When they are at home during the treatment, surrounded by a familiar environment, then there is a greater chance for the session to go more seamless.

Confidentiality

When you delve into an online therapy session, you are still guaranteed that your personal information and sensitive data are kept confidential. This is because even with online therapy, you are still engaging with licensed therapists who swear to keep your information private and confidential.

In addition to this, you will have more privacy when it comes to your treatments as no other people will have to see you wait in line in doctor’s clinics. It will only be you and the therapist who will know that you are undergoing treatments or sessions to help you cope with your condition.

Variety of Connection Mediums

With online therapy, you are not limited to using your computer to connect to your therapist. If your smartphone is capable enough with its specifications, you can also opt to use it to get in touch with your therapist.

While most skilled professionals require their clients to engage in a video call with them, others also agree to phone calls as well as emails but these are often on top of their regular sessions.

When it comes to the platforms that you can use, as long as you and the therapist agree on a certain communication app or software, then you can use it. For instance, you may be more comfortable in using a social media messaging service to access a therapy session.

As long as your therapist agrees with this setup, then you can leverage this to get the treatment that you need. Otherwise, you may also give way to the platform utilized by your therapist in case he or she needs to record your session to further study your behavior and body language.

Cost-effectiveness

Online therapy is also considered to be more cost-effective compared to conventional therapy sessions. If an in-person therapy entails the need for you to shell out hundreds of dollars per session, online therapy will most likely only cost a third of this amount. In addition to this, you won’t have to spend on gas and other transportation costs when it comes to online therapy because you can get a session without leaving home. This again makes online therapy more cost-effective which is why more and more people prefer it over the conventional therapy method.

Just keep in mind that with online therapy, there is a great chance that you might not be able to use your insurance to pay for the fees associated with it.

Perhaps this can be attributed to the fact that the amount you have to pay is only a fraction of the cost that you would have in traditional therapy treatment. Nevertheless, some providers already accept insurance payments for regular clients needing long-term treatment.

Efficacy

Finally, online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy which is why more and more people are going for this treatment method to help them manage their condition.

The key is in the approach that your therapist will most likely use during the treatment such as psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT). There are still other treatment methods that you and your therapist can agree with but keep in mind that there is no significant difference when it comes to the efficacy of online therapy with in-person treatments.

There are several reasons why many people already vouch that online therapy is better than seeing a therapist in person. Apart from being convenient and accessible, undergoing online therapy proves to be comfortable for many as well.

Rest assured that your privacy is maintained with online therapy even if you get to access it in various mediums. The best part is that online therapy proves to be more cost-effective than in-person therapy while being just as effective.