In the last few years, several online therapy websites have grown in popularity. These sites give therapists, counselors, and coaches an online platform with which to meet with clients via video as well as a chatroom to communicate with written messages and voice memos. In turn, they give clients the opportunity to utilize counseling services from the comfort of home at an affordable price.
These services are expanding access to counseling to many people across the United States, but online counseling isn’t for everyone. Here are some of the pros and cons of using an online therapy service.
PROS of Online Therapy:
- Online counseling usually costs less than seeing a therapist in person. If cost is a major factor for you, you may want to consider one of these platforms.
- It’s convenient to talk to your counselor from home in your pajamas, and if you live in a rural area there may not be anyone within driving distance to help you. It’s also an accessible option for those who have difficulty leaving home for physical or psychological reasons. Text and voice messages can be left at any time of the day, and maybe unlimited depending on the plan you select when signing up.
- When you use your chatroom to communicate with your counselor, you have a written and recorded history of your conversations. This can be useful if you want to remember what you talked about last week or see how far things have progressed over a few months.
CONS of Online Therapy:
- Having a personal relationship with your counselor or coach isn’t always as accessible online. Really getting to know one another is a slower process when you are leaving messages via voice memos or writing down your feelings.
- Not all online therapists are as responsive as you may want them to be. It can feel frustrating to leave a long, heartfelt message and not get any response for 2-3 days, especially if you are in crisis or really struggling with something. We’ve known some amazing online therapists and our fair share of those who are rarely online.
- Body language can be an important factor for your counselor, and even in video chats, this is hard to see. It’s a lot easier to hide your true feelings when you are typing a message, which can slow down the process of counseling or coaching.
- Due to differences in state laws, online therapy may not be covered by insurance, and your counselor may not be held to, or even aware of, the same ethical standards as someone from your home state. Some states do not allow clients to be matched with counselors from other states, limiting the pool of potential clinicians for you to choose from.
- Some modalities simply cannot be practiced online, such as EMDR, sensory processing, art or play therapy, and more. This limits your interactions with your coach or counselor considerably.
For some clients, online therapy is a perfect solution to their needs. For others, it is limiting and does not fulfill what they hope to get out of being in counseling or working with a coach.
At Third Eye Family Solutions, we do offer Tele-Health video sessions, however, we prefer to meet with our clients in person at least once before using this platform. In rare cases, we will waive this requirement, especially if physical limitations require you being with us virtually rather than physically.
Only you can decide which is a better match for you. We’re happy to speak with you about the best ways to get your needs met! Please don’t hesitate to give us a call or send an email and let’s discuss whether online or face-to-face sessions will be the best match for you.
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