Is Online Therapy as Helpful as In Person?

(Photo : Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay)

If you're struggling with things like depression, anxiety, or other mental health afflictions, you might consider going to therapy. Online therapy is seen as a convenient, viable alternative to in person therapy, but is it proven to be as valuable?

Online Therapy vs. In Person Therapy: The Basics

First, it's important to understand that online therapy and in person therapy are very similar. In fact, most aspects of online therapy and in person therapy are identical. For example, it's relatively easy to find online therapy covered by insurance, if you don't like your therapist you can change them, and in the course of each session, you'll explore new topics and collaborate with your therapist to find new solutions and make breakthroughs.

Regardless of whether you pursue online therapy or in person therapy, you'll get access to:

• Licensed, qualified professionals. No matter what type of therapy you pursue, you'll likely get access to licensed, qualified professionals. Professional therapists have studied psychology for many years and have the credentials necessary to provide you with adequate mental health support. Not every therapist is a perfect fit, but nearly every therapist you find will be perfectly qualified in their chosen niche.
• Flexible scheduling and care. While online therapy is somewhat more flexible, you'll have flexible scheduling and care provided to you in both formats. You can choose to attend therapy sessions during a time slot that works for you and get the care you need.
• Talk therapy and various therapeutic exercises. Both online and in person forms of therapy rely on talk therapy and various therapeutic exercises to support you and your mental health journey. Most people with everyday mental health struggles rely primarily on talk therapy, making both online and in person therapy reasonable for most patients.
• Recommendations for exercises, resources, and new habits. And in both formats, you'll get recommendations for exercises, resources that can help you, and new habits to form to change how your mind works.

Because of this, people attending online therapy typically see similar if not identical results as their in person therapy attending counterparts.

Are There Unique Advantages of In Person Therapy?

There are some unique advantages of attending therapy in person.

• A neutral location. Some therapy patients benefit from being in a truly neutral location. For example, let's say a high school student is bullied at school and they don't feel comfortable living at home; this person might not feel comfortable truly opening up in an online therapy environment. In a neutral, safe space like a therapist's office, they might be more willing to share the details of their struggles. Some people also benefit from getting out of the house more frequently.
• Access to physical types of therapy. Certain types of patients benefit strongly from types of therapy that can only be done in person. For example, art therapy, music therapy, and play therapy are very difficult to use in an online therapy environment. Not all patients benefit from these types of services, so this point isn't relevant to every patient.
• Stronger nonverbal cues. Increasingly, online therapy takes the form of a video call, where therapists and patients can engage with one another using nonverbal cues. However, the range of nonverbal cues is broader in an in person format.

The Unique Advantages of Online Therapy

There are also some unique advantages of attending therapy online.

• Convenience and accessibility. Some patients strongly prefer online therapy because of its convenience and accessibility. You don't have to leave the house. You don't have to go to a specific office. Instead, you can attend therapy anywhere.
• A comfortable environment. Because you can choose your own environment in online therapy, many patients tend to be more comfortable with this option. You can sit in your favorite chair, adjust the temperature to your liking, and truly feel comfortable opening up.
• More options. There are more online therapists available to you than in person therapists, meaning you have more options to choose from.
• Lower costs. In many cases, online therapy is less expensive than in person therapy.
• Less of a stigma. While the stigma of mental health help is lessening, it still exists - and it's still a problem for many people. If you're embarrassed or intimidated by the prospect of therapy, online therapy may be much more comfortable.

Generally, online and in person therapy are very similar practices, and both can help you through your mental health struggles. Empirical evidence and anecdotal stories suggest that most patients can benefit from online therapy just as much as in person therapy, but it's important to remember that both therapy formats have unique advantages that the other can't quite match. Keep this in mind as you choose the right therapy approach for your needs.