Online Therapy
Support Without the Hassle
Written by Kelsa Graybill
The Struggle
You come to therapy because you’re struggling, but sometimes it feels like therapy results in even more to manage: another hour out of your work week, a fifteen-minute commute each way, another hour of the week to find childcare for, and another appointment on your to-do list.
Switching your appointment to telehealth, the term for an online therapy appointment, can be an effective way to reduce barriers to receiving therapy. By joining online, you eliminate the time spent commuting, reduce the amount of childcare needed, and can conveniently join from the comfort of your home, car (provided you’re safely parked and not driving), or private space at your office. Telehealth appointments also can increase access to any therapist within the state, making it easier to get in with a therapist who specializes in your concern more quickly.
How does online therapy work?
Online therapy can be joined from your phone or your laptop. Just like a FaceTime or Zoom call, you will have audio and video so that you can see and hear your therapist and they can see and hear you. Unlike FaceTime or Zoom, it uses a therapy software that is encrypted, meaning that your connection is more secure, protecting any sensitive information you may share in a therapy session. You can log onto the call just before your appointment starts to make sure that your audio and video are working and you have a strong Wi-Fi connection.
You’ll want to join from a private location so that it’s just you and your therapist hearing the session. You might join from your room, a private office or reserved conference room at work, a parked car (not driving for safety reasons), or even a private space reserved at your local library. You can be creative and utilize any private space, as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection or data so that your therapist can see and hear you during the session!
What does online therapy feel like?
The goal is that online therapy feels like a safe, supportive conversation just like it would if you were in the office with your therapist, but with increased flexibility to meet the demands and overcome the barriers of your full schedule.
Take the examples of Janie and Zach.
Janie is a busy parent juggling the demands of work, her daughters’ school schedule and extracurriculars, her workout routine, and her husband’s travel schedule. Joining therapy online from the office during an hour lunch break saves her a twenty-minute commute each way, so that therapy is an hour commitment each week instead of an hour forty-minute commitment. Janie can do therapy twice a month now that she’s switched to telehealth, whereas before she could only do an hour per month due to scheduling and childcare constraints.
Zach is an immunocompromised teen with a dynamic disability, and he can’t predict how much energy he will have on a given day. Having the option to attend therapy through telehealth has been a game-changer for him, as it ensures access no matter how much energy he has the day of his scheduled appointment. He can also see a therapist who specializes in mental health for teens with disabilities, even though the therapist’s office is two hours away from him. Zach feels that this therapist truly understands what he’s going through, and Zach’s parents are relieved that they found a therapist with the expertise to support him.
Online therapy can support you to get the help you need without sacrificing your mental health in the process.
Why not just use an online therapy platform then?
There are some major online therapy platforms that offer telehealth therapy at an affordable rate, but before you rush to sign up, pause and consider your goals. These large platforms often require therapists to see a large number of clients back-to-back, which can result in high burnout levels and frequent turnover for therapists.
If you’re looking for personalized care with a consistent therapist who knows you and can support you, telehealth therapy through a smaller group or private practice will likely be a better fit. These practices usually allow for greater work-life balance for therapists, so that you will have a reliable therapist who can support you through the challenges you’re facing. Most therapists in this setting will have completed training in offering therapy online so that they can provide you with consistent, high-quality therapy through telehealth.
Making Sure Online Therapy is the Best Fit for You
Doing therapy by telehealth may not be the right fit for you if you share a studio apartment with a family member and don’t have privacy, if you don’t have reliable Wi-Fi or data usage, or if for safety reasons you need to leave your house and check in with your therapist in person. Telehealth is also not recommended for young children as it limits the hands-on engagement needed to hold their attention and meet their developmental needs for connection.
In most cases, though, telehealth can promote accessibility, reduce barriers, increase flexibility, and support you to meet your mental health goals in a way that works with your life. If you’re not sure whether telehealth is going to be the right fit for you, you can speak with our care coordinators or your therapist at your first couple of appointments to try it out. You might be surprised to find that telehealth therapy can support you through life’s challenges from the comfort of your home!