Advantages of Online Therapy During (And After) The Pandemic
Over the years, online therapy has become an increasingly popular way to access mental health support. Long before the surge of remote healthcare appointments due to the pandemic, we already had a variety of studies confirming the efficacy of online therapy in addition to research showing preferences for online therapy, often due to convenience and other factors. If you’ve been considering online therapy or counseling, learning about the benefits might just help you make the leap to take charge of your mental health. So, what are the ongoing advantages of getting therapy online?
Advantages of Online Therapy
Here are five benefits of online therapy to consider whether you’re seeking therapy during or after the pandemic.
It makes therapy more affordable.
There are two main ways that people can get mental health therapy or counseling online. Those two ways are through an online therapy platform or through a provider who works in a center or private practice setting and offers remote sessions.
If you use an online therapy platform, you’ll often be able to get therapy for as low as around $90 per week, whereas therapy can cost $200 or more per session in face-to-face settings without insurance. Some platforms also have scholarships, financial aid, or special offers available at times.
There’s ease in finding specialized care.
Say that you’re seeking a specialist. This could be someone who specializes in a particular condition such as OCD or anxiety, a therapist who specializes in a specific modality or type of therapy, or it could be someone who works with a specific demographic such as an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist. Sometimes, depending on where you live, it can be hard to find a specialist that you can afford to see in your immediate area.
With online therapy, you can see anyone who is licensed to practice in your state or area as long as they are on your platform of choice and are taking new clients. This gives you access to a larger variety of providers and helps you to find exactly what you’re looking for. Having a therapist that’s a good fit for you can be a game-changer, so this is a massive perk.
You don’t have to spend time or money on commuting.
The time and money spent commuting to therapy add up. Depending on where you live, you might drive for an hour or more to get to an appointment. Online therapy is an excellent option for people with busy schedules because it cuts the commute time out of their day.
It’s also fantastic for people in remote areas, for those who don’t have access to a vehicle or aren’t able to spend money on public transportation on an ongoing basis, and so on. Long story short, online therapy is convenient and accessible. It helps you reduce your carbon footprint, too!
You might be able to see someone faster.
When you opt for online therapy, you may be able to start seeing your provider sooner than you would when seeking therapy in person. Some online therapy platforms allow you to start seeing your provider in as few as 24 to 48 hours, whereas when you start in-person therapy or counseling, you may have to wait weeks or even months for your first session.
While this isn’t the case for every online therapy platform, widely used and reputable platforms like MyTherapist and BetterHelp make it possible to start seeing someone quickly. Note that therapy isn’t a replacement for emergency or crisis support, however. If you are in need of immediate support, contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to the nearest emergency room.
You can connect from anywhere.
With online therapy, you can connect with your therapist or counselor from anywhere with a reliable internet connection. This means that you can choose any environment that you are comfortable in. It’s also worth noting that many telehealth platforms offer phone sessions and messaging in addition to video visits.
Online therapy is flexible. If you happen to be at a friend or family member’s house, you can still connect with your therapist and make it to your appointment on time, and you can speak with your provider in whatever way is the most preferable to you.
Find A Therapist
Now that you know some of the advantages of online therapy, you might be wondering how to find an online therapist. As mentioned above, it is possible to find someone in your local area with a private practice that offers remote sessions. Still, if you sign up for online therapy through a website such as MyTherapist, you will have access to a number of added benefits. Every provider on the platform is licensed, which is crucial whether you’re seeking services online or in person.
There are many different ways to connect with your therapist, and when you sign up, you will take a questionnaire that’ll help you match with a therapist that meets your needs. Additionally, you can switch providers or cancel your membership at any time. Whether you see a therapist near you or match with a provider through an online therapy platform like MyTherapist, you deserve quality care.
Carla is a high performing marketing professional with 5+ years of experience driving growth of in a variety of corporate and entrepreneurial environments. Strong command of digital operations with exposure to influencer marketing strategy, branding, analytics, SEO/SEM, customer success, content development, and social media Core expertise lies in managing end-to-end campaigns, creating memorable content, and facilitating improved conversion rates to enhance e-commerce operations. Adept in ensuring alignment with organizational goals, facilitating streamlined operations, and leveraging a data driven strategy used to make insightful marketing decisions.
