Why fight traffic when you can tackle your inner demons from your sofa? These days, online psychologist therapy is more accessible than ever. Instead of spending hours making it to a therapist’s office, you can open your laptop or grab your phone and talk to a trusted specialist wherever you are.
But does that mean online sessions will completely replace in-person therapy? Are there still use cases when a face-to-face meeting is more useful? Let’s try to figure this out.
Accessibility and comfort
Virtual therapy is touted for the flexibility of receiving support, particularly for patients living in small towns or abroad. Virtual platforms enable you to select from hundreds of therapists operating in multiple cities across Australia. Opting for an online psychologist consultation means you can plan sessions during your lunch break, in the evenings or on the weekends, which is convenient for those with busy schedules, family responsibilities or privacy needs.
Meanwhile, a therapist’s office creates a more clinical atmosphere. For many, seeing a psychologist in person is a kind of ritual: you leave your usual environment and enter a space where you can focus on yourself. Besides, some patients find that the journey to and from the office can be a great time for reflection and switching between daily affairs and their own inner worlds.
Effectiveness
As scientific research has shown, virtual therapy is just as effective as traditional in-person therapy. Specifically, cognitive behavioural therapy delivered online has a proven track record of good outcomes during the treatment of anxiety disorders, panic attacks, stress and moderate to mild depression.
However, there are situations when the presence of a therapist remains important. This applies to cases when the patient has serious or high-risk conditions:
- Suicidal thoughts
- Psychotic episodes
- High risk of harm to self and others
Offline meetings are also indispensable for body-oriented therapy, psychodrama or art therapy.
Confidentiality
For many patients, confidentiality is one of the main supporting arguments in favour of offline sessions. In the office, no one will overhear you, come in the middle of the conversation or distract you.
Online psychologist consultation requires creating a space for yourself, which can be harder when your relatives or children are always nearby. On top of that, there is a risk of technical failures or data loss online. These risks can be managed by creating a safe environment for your sessions, choosing a secure clinical platform and maintaining good clinical governance.
Cost and financial accessibility
Often, sessions with a psychologist online are cheaper than traditional therapy. Online therapists don’t have to cover expenses for renting an office or related costs. For many patients, the price becomes the deciding factor in whether to start therapy at all.
On the other hand, some argue that paying more for in-person therapy increases its value. People perceive this format as a more serious investment in themselves: you take time out of your schedule, physically come and concentrate on the process. This, in turn, psychologically motivates the willingness to improve your mental well-being.
So, what type of therapy should you go for?
There’s no right answer. Both online psychologist therapy and traditionally arranged sessions can be effective and have their strengths. What works best depends on your individual needs, comfort level and specific situation.
If you’re accustomed to traditional sessions but are interested in exploring online counselling, contact Limbic Flow to schedule a consultation.
