The advantages and disadvantages of online therapy

 The advantages and disadvantages of online therapy


Online Therapy and Online Counselling

Online therapy, often called online counselling are also known as viirtual therapy, tele-counselling and phone counselling. These forms of therapy have become increasingly popular and accessible, particularly since Covid.

They offer several advantages and some disadvantages. Here is my breakdown for you to consider which choice to make. 

Advantages of Online Therapy

Accessibility. Online therapy allows you to access counselling/therapy services from your home or office. This is an advantage to people living in remote areas or anyone with mobility issues.

Wider choice of Therapists (with different specialities). By going online there is a wider choice of therapists and it will be easier to find a counsellor who specialises in your subject.

Convenience and Flexible scheduling.  Virtual counselling eliminates the need for travel time, making it more convenient for people who have job commitments or have a loaded schedule. It will be easier to fit into a schedule.

Anonymity and Privacy. Some people feel more comfortable discussing personal issues in the privacy of their own space. Online therapy can provide a sense of anonymity that may encourage people to open up more.

Cost. If you live in an expensive area, you may find costs to be lower with a counsellor who does not have to pay for expensive counselling rooms.

Disadvantages of Online Therapy 

Technology Issues. Not everyone gets on easily with a computer! Technical problems can easily occur with poor internet connection video or sound. I use Zoom and Google Meet. You can use these from your computer, tablet or even phone.  I am happy to use just the phone if you prefer.

Body language and facial expressions. The lack of Non-Verbal Cues can impact the therapist. It is quite easy to see facial expressions but body language is not so easy. These are important to a counsellor in their ability to pick up cues and signs from you.

Difficulty Establishing Rapport. Building a strong relationship with your counsellor is important. It can be more challenging in an online setting compared to face-to-face session.

Security and Privacy Concerns. People have concerns. The major products of Zoom, Meet and Skype are all secure products.

Be aware of distractions at Home. This is important. It is easy to be distracted or interrupted. You need to be able to shut yourself in a room for an hour with interruptions.

Summary

Some counsellors will only offer therapy by Zoom, others will only offer face-to-face. I see about half of my clients by video, the rest come to my counselling rooms.

Being a specialist I think the ability to offer online counselling has helped people find me for their particular requirement.

The choice is yours. 

For more information about me, please visit the Lets Talk About It website.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Depression Treatment

Image
Treatment for Depression  Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is treatable. The good news is that even with the most severe forms of depression, there is hope. What is depression? Depression is a common mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It will interferes with your daily activities and relationships. Depression is different from feeling sad or unhappy for a few days. It’s a long-term condition that can last for weeks, months or even years. There are five main types of depression: Postnatal depression Depressive disorder Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Grief Bipolar What are the symptoms of depression? The symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but some of the most common symptoms include: Feeling sad or miserable Pessimism Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy Changes in your app...
Read more

Why choose a specialist Bereavement Counsellor?

Image
  Why choose a bereavement specialist Would you go to your GP for cancer treatment – or to the best cancer specialist you can find? You don’t get better from bereavement of a loved one. You can alleviate stress or overcome many other mental health issues. Thoughts about the bereaved can come back weeks, months or years later. The slightest or most unconsidered trigger can bring back unhappiness. My aim is to explain how thought of bereavement work, and allow you to move on with your life. You will never forget the loved one. Most mental health issues are quite complex. Some more so than others. Counselling training will cover aspects of many different subjects. A bit like being  GP, they understand a small (relatively) amount about a lot of subjects. But if you want real advice would you not go to a specialist? There are many different approaches to bereavement counselling. Many different theories. I have studied these for many years. This includes reading many books, attendin...
Read more