Online therapy has not gained much popularity until recently. But the outbreak of the pandemic situation, as well as the advancement of technology, has made online therapy the “new normal” over the traditional in-person therapy. Early research has shown that online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy. While offering people the freedom to receive therapy from the comfort of their homes.
Online therapy, also commonly referred to as e-therapy or teletherapy, allows a licensed mental health professional to offer to counsel over the internet. Video sessions are the most common form of online counseling as it gives a person the same feel as in-person sessions. Besides, live chats, emails, and messages are the common ways of online counseling.
How is online therapy helpful?
Online therapy over in-person therapy allows people to easily connect with a licensed therapist virtually over the internet. The therapy also opens more options to their clients when it comes to finding the right therapist in their state. Multiple licensed therapists are offering their services online. Hence you get the scope to choose the one who you think is best suited for treating your condition. Online therapy is also the most prominent way of getting mental health treatment for those who are either physically challenged or are living in a remote area.
How to find an online therapist and get started?
Once you have decided to go for online therapy, the next big step is to identify the best therapist in your state. You must be willing to spend some time searching for the therapist offering the best online counseling in 2021. You can begin with searching for a therapist who specializes in your concerns or demographics. It’s also better to make a quick phone call or schedule a meeting with your therapist before scheduling an appointment. Although it might sound strange, it is the best way to find someone that suits you the best.
What to expect from your first appointment?
If you are making an online appointment with your therapist, this is what you can expect in the first meeting:
- You will receive an email containing electronic forms asking for basic personal information, signed consent, and insurance details.
- You may be asked to share your credit or debit card details to make an appointment with the therapist. You may also be charged if you suddenly cancel your session without appropriate prior notice.
- You will be provided with the instructions on the steps to connect for a scheduled appointment. This includes your phone number, zoom link, live chat login information, etc.
- Once your session starts, your therapist would ask you a lot of questions regarding your past life experiences and background. You may also be asked about your mental health, substance use, childhood experiences, etc. at the end of the session you may receive a diagnosis that would be discussed with you further.
- In the first and second sessions, your therapist might concentrate more on making a treatment plan after knowing your therapy goals. The plan will include, how often you would meet with the therapist, what you should work on to notice an improvement in your condition, and some ideas to deal with your situation.
- After the session is over and depending upon your agreed terms, you will be charged by the therapist. It may be a self-pay rate, subscription cost, or copay. But in case you are under the coverage of your insurance plan, you won’t need to pay any charges. Some therapists do their billing. Thus, will inform you if any additional action is required from your side.
Is online therapy effective?
Although research is still being made on the efficacy of online therapy in the new digital age, early research suggests e-therapy can be equally effective as in-person therapy. Although all modes of online therapy including call, message, email are equally effective, video sessions are the best and most popular way of online therapy. This is because video sessions offer the most similar experience to live sessions to the clients.