What is Online Therapy and How Does it Work?
Online therapy is a virtual alternative to seeing a counselor or therapist face to face, which can remove any difficulties people may feel with in-person sessions. People all across the world are now choosing to access therapy in this way, with benefits including affordability, flexibility, access to a wider range of therapists and professionals, and overcoming social stigma issues.
Research from the National Institute of Mental Health finds that 31% of US adults have had a form of anxiety disorder at some time in their lives. However, only half of those people have received treatment for it. Online therapy is making it easier for people to get direct access to licensed therapists by removing the obstacles that may deter them from seeking help. As a result, it is becoming a more accessible, convenient, and viable option for people to get the expert assistance they need.
Why Online Therapy?
Online therapy simplifies the process of getting help, which can feel like a daunting prospect for some people. It can easily be done from a computer, phone, or tablet from the comfort and safety of your own home. Many online therapy providers also offer straightforward mobile apps that enable people to get help at virtually any time and from any location.
A key advantage of online therapy is that it enables people to schedule appointments on their own time and offers more flexible session arrangements. Most online services provide chat, phone, and video sessions with therapists, who are typically also available in intervals throughout the day via private online portals. Some platforms enable recurring appointments and others allow users to mix and match sessions depending on their weekly schedule.
How Much Does Online Therapy Cost?
In addition to being much easier to arrange, online therapy tends to be cheaper than booking face-to-face sessions. This of course varies by platform, but users typically have one weekly 30- to 50-minute sessions per month, depending on the package they choose. Standalone sessions typically range from $50 to $100 per week, while other services provide monthly bundle packages that offer a lower cost. By comparison, traditional, in-person therapy can typically amount to as much as $300 per visit.
Online therapy also works out to be more affordable as it provides greater access to therapists. Many online therapy providers enable daily access and even real-time messaging with therapists in between regular live sessions. This provides a level of consistency and ongoing therapeutic development at a price point that in-person therapy cannot compete with.
While some therapy platforms are partnered with insurance providers, many are not. If you are curious about insurance coverage, contact your insurance provider or the therapy platform directly before signing up.
Which Online Therapy Provider is Best for Me?
The most suitable type of online therapy differs for each person, depending on the type of therapy they require, the type of therapist they wish to see, their budget, and the frequency of sessions they require.
There are also a wide range of reputable online therapy sites available to choose from, so it’s advisable to take the time to do research in order to find the service that will be the best fit. For example, some online therapy providers focus on specific issues and treatment types, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, couples and relationship counseling, or therapy supplemented with medication management. There are also therapy providers that focus on specific demographics, such as teenagers and the LGBTQ+ community, and services that offer a Biblical perspective.
In short, there is plenty of choice of sites, therapy styles, and types of therapists, giving users a wide range of options before signing up for any provider. We recommend examining your personal needs, concerns and budget, as well as the therapy platform’s focus areas and therapist selection when making a decision. To make your decision easier, we have compiled our top online therapy platforms and keep our reviews up to date.
How Does Online Therapy Work?
Most online therapy sites begin with an extensive questionnaire during the sign-up process, which will assess the user’s current concerns, goals and motivations for joining online therapy. This will help the platform connect the user with a therapist that is best suited for their needs. It’s possible that a user may need to cycle through a couple therapists before finding the best fit – this is no different from traditional, in-person therapy and is in fact much less burdensome than physically visiting and vetting several therapists over several weeks or months.
After connecting with a therapist, users will typically work together with their therapist to establish goals and a game plan. This requires users to be honest about who they are, the issues they are struggling with, what they are seeking to gain from the therapy process, and to answer any questions truthfully. It also helps to think about personal objectives, from short-term goals to longer-term aims, before signing up for a therapy service. This helps users to retain focus and increases the chances of therapy having a positive effect.
Most online therapy platforms are accessible through a web portal from any device, and many also have their own mobile apps. Users can communicate with their therapist and care coordinators via messaging, live chat, phone calls and video sessions. Certain platforms allow unlimited messaging within weekly and monthly subscriptions in addition to a fixed number of phone calls and video sessions. Other platforms offer an unlimited number of communications within a flat monthly rate. Many users find that communicating with their therapist via phone and video chat from the comfort of their own home and on their schedule results in more effective, honest therapy sessions. In addition, supplemental live chats and messaging allow reinforcement in between sessions in a way that traditional therapy does not typically offer. Many online therapy sites also provide journals and worksheets for users to compile on a regular basis.
Online therapy platforms are confidential and bound by the privacy guidelines of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regarding users’ healthcare information. This means any patient-therapist conversations remain totally private and will not be shared with any other parties.
Online Therapy Can Benefit You
Online therapy is rapidly increasing in popularity as it enables people that may be hesitant or uncomfortable seeking help from traditional therapy sources to get the help they need. There are plenty of options to choose from based on your needs, budget, conditions, goals and therapist availability.
Online therapy platforms provide sessions via live chat, private messaging, phone sessions and video sessions, providing a level of flexibility and accessibility that is typically not available in traditional therapy. In today’s increasingly remote world, millions of users are turning to online therapy for their mental health solutions and are finding it to be as effective as, if not more effective than, traditional in-person therapy. In addition, online therapy is often more affordable and can feel more confidential than other types of therapy, allowing a larger number of users to access the care they need and deserve.
