Introduction
In recent years, online therapy has become increasingly popular. It is very appealing to people who have tight schedules and are unable to travel to a therapist’s office, people who find it more comfortable to have therapy in their own home or people who struggle to find therapists in their area.
This article will take a look at many aspects of online mental health services, compare them to traditional therapy, look at effectiveness, and long-term outcomes, and determine how they may be less or more effective for different populations. Over the last few years, online therapy has been very important for many people, allowing them to remotely access help for their mental health. Especially during the pandemic, people discovered the effectiveness of online therapy and its benefits.
Key Takeaways
- Online therapy is generally as effective as in-person therapy for many mental health conditions, particularly in the short term.
- There is a gap in research in some areas of online therapy, necessitating further studies.
- Online therapy offers unique benefits for specific populations, including those in rural areas or with physical limitations.
- Despite its benefits, online therapy has challenges such as internet reliability and the lack of non-verbal communication cues.
What is Online Therapy?
Definition and Overview:
Online therapy is available in a few different forms. The most common form of online therapy is remote therapy. This is essentially the same as a traditional therapy session but over a video call and commonly, people use software such as Zoom, Skype or Teams to do this form of online therapy.
Another form of online therapy is text therapy. This type of therapy is more common within helplines or online mental health help sites and has proven to be a good way for someone to speak while having the comfort of anonymity. However, it is not considered to be as effective as remote video therapy sessions or in-person therapy due to the lack of non-verbal communication.
Teletherapy is also an option for some, but through the rise of Zoom and Teams, teletherapy has become predominantly less common but is still an option. The benefit of teletherapy is that it can be largely anonymous but can still offer some non-verbal communication to the therapist or counsellor through tone of voice.
Online therapy aims to replicate the in-person experience as closely as possible as people most often get online therapy if they are unable to do in-person therapy. Although it attempts to be as similar to in-person as possible, there are some setbacks.
For example, online therapy can sometimes feel less personal than in-person therapy and it may be harder to connect with a therapist. Furthermore, another disadvantage can be technology, limited wifi or a slow computer that can limit the accessibility of an online session of therapy. Finally, someone who struggles with non-verbal communication or is hard of hearing may find online therapy much more difficult than in-person therapy.
How Effective is Online Therapy Compared to In-Person Therapy?
Long-term and Short-term Effectiveness
When comparing in-person therapy to online therapy, it is important to remember that if possible, in-person therapy will generally be the preferable option but that is not to say that online therapy isn’t still a good and effective option. Often, it can end up being just as effective as in-person therapy.
Most studies looking at online therapy look at satisfaction ratings from participants. Most studies found that satisfaction rates across all online therapy types are similar to those of in-person therapy, showing that the effectiveness of online therapy may be very similar to that of in-person.
Unfortunately, there is a gap in research regarding online therapy for long-term online therapy. This may be due to the fact that people who attend therapy may be reluctant to commit to research courses over many years. For the research itself, the longer it continues, the more possibility for variables and issues. Furthermore, online therapy, in its current form is relatively new, and this means that there has not been a huge amount of time for studies to be conducted.
Online Therapy for Specific Populations
General Population
Online therapy, for the broader population, is generally considered to be marginally less effective than in-person therapy. For some of the more specific population groups, the effectiveness of online therapy can become either more or less effective. For people with high support needs, learning difficulties or developmental issues, online therapy may be less effective than in-person therapy. This is due to the fact that online therapy makes understanding someone’s body language and non-verbal communication more difficult. Online therapy can also be a good option for someone who has scheduling issues or does not have the time to travel to a therapist in person, being able to still have therapy sessions around a busy schedule.
Technology Difficulties
Online therapy may also be difficult for people who struggle with technology as they may struggle to log onto the call, have issues with the call or have issues with any of the peripherals. Online therapy may also be less helpful than in-person for people who struggle with hearing or have sight issues because for someone who has less sensory input, physically being in a room with someone can make a big difference when it comes to connecting.
Although online therapy can have some setbacks, for other situations or conditions, online therapy can be very helpful. For someone who has mobility difficulties online therapy can be a convenient way to access therapy sessions.
Specific Conditions
For people who have more debilitating mental health conditions and who struggle to get out of the house, online therapy may also be a good option. This might include people with severe social anxiety disorders, conditions like agoraphobia or in some cases depression. In these situations, online therapy provides an accessible therapy option which someone can have in their own safe space.
Tailoring Online Therapy
Due to the fact that online therapy creates some particular challenges that in-person therapy does not have, personalising and tailoring online therapy is an extremely important aspect of this type of therapy treatment. Every population group and every individual has specific and personal needs and preferences so the therapy will be catering to these needs and will be tailored accordingly.
Specific Difficulties For Online Therapy
Transitioning to Online Therapy
Although an aim of online therapy is to attempt to replicate in-person therapy, there are still some skills used in online therapy which are not used as much in in-person therapy sessions.
Being able to effectively use online therapy technology for counselling is necessary for online therapy. Additionally, a more extensive understanding of non-verbal communication can be important as this type of communication is more difficult in an online therapy context. Subsequently, if transitioning to online therapy, there may be a perceptible gap in connection between client and therapist but this will usually lessen over time.
Ethical, Legal and Saftey Considerations
Online counselling does bring another aspect which is legal and ethical codes, and safety considerations. A main consideration of online therapy is server security; making sure that the network used for online therapy is secure. This is a key factor in maintaining confidentiality.
Therapists who conduct online counselling, are required to have a secure network but the client side is also a factor to consider. Furthermore, making sure that the client is in a safe and confidential environment is very important as, if this is not the case, it may put a client in an unsafe situation or affect how the therapy is conducted.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Online Therapy
Online therapy has both drawbacks and advantages but overall, it is a situational option. Online therapy is a clear substitute for in-person therapy if seeing a therapist in person is not possible or less preferable for any reason.
Advantages:
When in-person therapy is more difficult, for reasons such as travel or availability, online therapy is a very good option for specific population groups. For people who struggle with mobility and getting around, online therapy can be a great option as it is a much more accessible way to get mental health support.
Online therapy is also a great option for people who might struggle with motivation, people who are housebound, or those who have mental health conditions such as agoraphobia. Being able to bring mental health care to one’s own home can be a great way to start the therapeutic journey.
Someone who is unable to drive may end up having to travel for hours on public transport to attend in-person therapy so, for someone in that situation, online therapy becomes a great option as well.
Drawbacks:
Although online therapy is generally considered to be effective compared to in-person therapy, it is important to remember some of the drawbacks or disadvantages of online therapy and how it can be less appropriate for certain parts of the population.
A sound internet connection is crucial for successful online therapy to be accessed.
Another drawback of online therapy is that, for some people, the more difficult non-verbal communication can make online therapy nearly impossible. For people who struggle with communication, in-person therapy may be ideal as other options can pose limitations. This may be especially true for people with learning difficulties or developmental disorders.
Finally, the issue of privacy is important for online therapy; not everyone has permanent access to privacy. One possibility for people who have privacy issues with online therapy is blended therapy (a mixture of online and in-person therapy), this option would allow clients to have online therapy when they have privacy at home but see a therapist in person when this isn’t possible.
Future of Online Therapy
Growth of Online Therapy
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, online counselling has become more popular and used as a form of mental health care and support. Because of this, it is still emerging as a therapeutic approach. This means that the effectiveness is still somewhat unknown even though it has largely proven to be a beneficial alternative to traditional therapy. Research studies are still being conducted regarding the online therapy platform.
Final Thoughts on Online Therapy
So far, the majority of research regarding virtual therapy has generally positive implications, showing similar response rates to in-person therapy approaches. This means that it is a positive option for people who are unable to see a therapist in person. While research is promising, gaps remain, particularly in understanding long-term online therapy outcomes and online therapy for more specific mental health conditions.
As discussed in this article, online therapy is a great alternative to traditional in-person therapy, but it is important to remember that for most people, if in-person therapy is possible it will probably be the better option. It is important to discuss this with a specific therapist as it does vary from person to person. Thinking through the points discussed in this article and discussing which therapy option is the best for you can be a good way to start thinking about therapy.
If you are someone who struggles with your mental health or knows someone who does, seeking professional help whether it’s online therapy or in-person can be very impactful for not only mental health and well-being but oftentimes physical health as well. Seeing a licensed therapist can be pivotal in improving someone’s quality of life and having the option of online therapy can be instrumental to improving mental health. If you would like to find out more about our therapy services, you can find out more information here. If you are interested in seeking therapy contacting us below is the best way to get in touch to start the journey.