Is online mental health counselling recommended in the digital world? If Therapy in your own time and space appeals to you, you’re not alone. While not for everyone, online Therapy, also known as telehealth, is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways for people to seek mental health services. If you’re new to Therapy or want to learn more about online counselling, you should do some research. With that in mind, here are our top ten online therapy recommendations.
What Exactly Is Online Mental Health Counseling?
A Complete Guide to Online Therapy
So, if you’re looking for more information on online mental health counselling, you’ve come to the right place. You will learn everything you need to know by the end of this article. You’ll discover everything you need to know to determine whether online counselling is right for you. Along the way, we’ll discuss its advantages and disadvantages, how it differs from traditional Therapy, and how to sign up for services.
Online therapies include:
- BetterHelp
• TalkSpace
• Online-Therapy.com
• Amwell
• MDLive
• 7 Cups
- ReGain
• Teen Counseling
• Pride Counseling
• On-Demand Doctor
Types of Online Mental Health Counseling?
Virtual counselling has gone by several different names over the years. Indeed, you’ve most likely heard of at least one of the following:
- E-Counseling
- Teletherapy
- Telemental Health Counseling
- E-counselling
- Distance Counseling
- Chat Therapy
- Remote Counseling
- Virtual Therapy
All of these terms refer to the same thing. Virtual counselling is Therapy provided by a licensed mental health professional over the internet. Virtual counselling services are typically provided via smartphone, video, and text. Most providers provide all three options, but as a client, you can select which modes work best for you.
Due to social distancing and quarantine procedures caused by COVID-19, many traditional face-to-face therapists have temporarily switched to virtual counselling. There are numerous virtual counselling platforms available online. Unfortunately, millions of people require their assistance.
Is online counselling free?
The simple answer is no. While a few websites advertise “free online counselling,” you should know that what they offer is not actual counselling. It’s called peer support. This includes volunteers who have been trained to use active listening skills. These can and frequently are teenagers and college students.
While help is preferable to none, seeing a licensed professional is always preferable.
If you need legal advice, don’t go to the first person offering it for free. They might need help understanding what they’re saying.
The same is true for online counselling. It would help if you ensured that your virtual counsellor is properly trained, educated, supervised, and licensed. After all, this is your life.
What Credentials Do You Need for Online Therapy?
So, for this discussion, “virtual counselling” refers to professional, paid services in which the therapist you’ll be seeing meets the following minimum qualifications:
- A Master’s or Doctoral Degree in Counseling, Social Work, or Psychology
- Full licensure to practice in your state
- Trained to provide virtual counselling services (i.e., telehealth)
- Responds to an Ethics Board and is subject to Federal and State requirements, including background checks.
If you have a problem that is too big for you to handle on your own, I want you to seek professional assistance.
Traditional Counseling vs. Virtual Counseling
You may be wondering what the difference is between virtual and traditional counselling. It’s an excellent question.
And you’re right to ask. In terms of quality, I don’t believe there is a distinction. In terms of education and training, virtual counsellors are the same as face-to-face therapists.
Traditional Therapy, on the other hand, is the better option in some cases. Take a look at the list of common scenarios below. If you need a formal mental health diagnosis, online counselling is not for you.
- You require in-depth treatment for an alcohol or drug use disorder.
- You deal with hallucinations, delusions, and psychosis.
- You are actively suicidal or murderous.
- You are not at ease communicating via video, phone, or text.
- You have an eating disorder or a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia.
- You are currently exposed to domestic or intimate partner violence (IPV).
Virtual counselling is not for you if you identify with the following.
If none of those apply to you, here is a non-exhaustive list of things that ARE appropriate for both virtual counselling and face-to-face counselling:
- Problems with marriage and relationshipsWork/Life Stress Management
- Communication
- Parenting Issues and Concerns
- Mindfulness and Relaxation
- Social Anxiety and Phobias
- Self-Esteem
- Substance Abuse
- Life and Career Changes
- Grief
- Anxiety and Depression
- Setting Boundaries
- Life Coaching
- Spirituality
- Goal Setting and Achieving
As a result, virtual counselling is appropriate for the vast majority of reasons people seek regular Therapy. It’s just that you don’t have to get up from your couch.
Is Online Mental Health counselling, however, as effective as traditional Therapy?
Let’s wait and see what the research says!
Virtual counselling has been around for many years. It was first used in the late 1950s when doctors from hospitals in two states used a closed-circuit television link to conduct psychiatric consultations.
The origins of online counselling can be traced back to the mid-1980s when Cornell University established a mental health Q&A forum. It has evolved into what it is today: a high-tech, convenient, and secure online forum where people like you and me can connect with licensed therapists.
So it’s been around for quite some time. As a result, research indicates that it is quite effective.
Consider how I gave you a list of things that aren’t appropriate for online Therapy. If you have any concerns, I will go over that list again. In some ways, the question is unjust. We’re not comparing apples to oranges here. There’s a lot more to it than that. Are you, for example, the type of person who prefers to be in the same room as your therapist? If this is the case, virtual counselling is not for you.
However, virtual counselling may be ideal if you suffer from social anxiety, live in a rural area, have limited access to services due to transportation issues, or prefer online interaction. It all comes down to personal taste.
I prefer to see my therapist in person. I did, however, enjoy late-night text sessions with my virtual counsellor. She once texted me for two hours about a relationship problem I was having. It was incredible.
Remember your requirements, desires, and preferences. Those are the most important. Everything else is just another person’s opinion. You must do what is best for you.
The Benefits of Online Mental health counselling
Let’s look at what virtual counselling provides that traditional Therapy does not. While I’m sure there are many more, I’d like to highlight three:
- Online counselling is convenient. You can leave your house if you have an internet connection. You only need a smartphone and some privacy.
- Virtual counselling is inexpensive, especially if you lack insurance. Traditional therapists charge at least $200 per session. You could talk to an online counsellor almost daily for an entire month for that price.
- Virtual counselling is confidential and secure. Communication between you and your therapist is secured and encrypted using cutting-edge 256-bit encryption. They are full HIPAA compliant and use SSL browsing encryption. Furthermore, as required by federal and state law, your confidentiality is guaranteed.
- Virtual counselling is available immediately. I love my in-person therapist, but I have to wait two weeks between appointments to see her. The longest I went between sessions when I did online counselling was two days.
There were also times when I spoke with my online counsellor multiple times in a single day.
I have nothing against traditional Therapy, but that last one was a major draw. After all, who among us enjoys sitting around?
What Are the Advantages of Online Counseling?
Over several months, I used three different providers. I had no idea what to expect. I enjoyed connecting with others and was skeptical that this would be possible with an online counsellor.
I was mistaken.
Here Are Three of The Most Significant Advantages I Discovered:
- My therapists did a fantastic job of reflecting, clarifying, and validating my emotions.
- I appreciated how quickly my counsellors understood where I was coming from and how certain situations affected me.
- I appreciated how quickly my counsellors responded to my messages. Talk about feeling backed up. Response times ranged from a few minutes to an entire day, which was more than adequate for me. You can leave messages or schedule a time when you have your therapist’s full attention. A text message was ideal for getting quick feedback. If I needed to process something, a scheduled session was preferable.
Of course, your therapist is the best part of virtual counselling. Once you’ve gotten used to each other’s communication style, you’ll find it easy to confide in them. I was looking forward to hearing from my therapist. Every time I did it, I learned something new.
- I appreciated how quickly my counsellors responded to my messages. Talk about feeling backed up. Response times ranged from a few minutes to an entire day, which was more than adequate for me. You can leave messages or schedule a time when you have your therapist’s full attention. A text message was ideal for getting quick feedback. If I needed to process something, a scheduled session was preferable.
Of course, your therapist is the best part of virtual counselling. Once you’ve gotten used to each other’s communication style, you’ll find it easy to confide in them. I was looking forward to hearing from my therapist. Every time I did it, I learned something new.
- You should have internet access and a smartphone. Online counselling isn’t a good option if you don’t have either.
Who Is the Ideal Virtual Counseling Candidate?
You’re probably a good candidate for online counselling if you’re still reading this. If you’re still on the fence, consider the following:
- Do you enjoy, if not prefer, text-based, video-based, or phone communication?
- Do you lack insurance and are unable to afford traditional Therapy?
- Do you live in a rural area with limited access to transportation or services?
- Do you suffer from social anxiety and prefer to stay at home?
- Do you like to use technology?
- Do you want to be able to communicate with your therapist daily?
Whatever you call it—virtual counselling, online Therapy, or telehealth—one thing is certain. Online counselling provides convenient, low-cost, secure, and convenient access to highly qualified and licensed mental health professionals.
Whatever you call it—virtual counselling, online Therapy, or telehealth—one thing is certain. Online counselling provides convenient, low-cost, secure, and convenient access to highly qualified and licensed mental health professionals. It is awesome for millions of people unable to participate in traditional face-to-face Therapy.
Conclusion
While there are numerous options to consider, your best bet is to conduct your research and choose the option that best suits your needs, preferences, and lifestyle.
I had a positive experience with my online service providers, and I’m confident you will. If you’ve never had Therapy before, I recommend being open-minded, honest, and willing to try new things. Whether it’s a new coping strategy or a new way of approaching your problems, the skills you gain in Therapy will transform your life.
Begin right away. Your new life is waiting!
What are your thoughts on online mental health counselling? Please leave your feedback in the comments section below.
Leave a Reply