WHAT IS ONLINE THERAPY & WHO IS IT FOR?

An Introduction From SIOV to Research by Consumers Advocate: 

What Don’t We Do Online These Days?

Online services are growing fast in popularity. Every year, more consumers are replacing traditional face-to-face versions with faster, easier alternatives on the internet. Online Therapy is a new option for mental health treatment. (Access more resources here)

Ordering groceries and shopping for clothes are just the beginning of digital transformation for good. Beyond retail, digital services are transforming the healthcare sector. Mental health treatments like talk therapy are part of this innovation trend.

Introducing the Experts: Consumers Advocate

Consumers Advocate recently published a Guide to the Best Online Therapy. It’s designed to help potential patients consider the pros and cons of options on the market.

We’re excited to share a summary of their findings, but follow the link to read it them in full. The report lays out what these websites can offer. Just as importantly, it outlines what they can’t.

Research Methodology

The ConsumersAdvocate.org team that worked on this Online Therapy report has over 25 years of combined research experience between them. They evaluated over 19 companies across 17 features to determine their top two picks. To do this, they used more than 32 different sources, including:

• Interviews with the ethics committee of the American Counseling Association,
• Dr. Terry Rabinowitz and Danielle Louder of the NorthEastern Telehealth Resource Center,
• Forbes magazine contributor Dr. Todd Essig.

Key Takeaways from Consumers Advocate’s Guide to the Best Online Therapy

Telehealth solutions are flexible and affordable. But, which one is right for you? The main options are text messaging-based therapy and video appointments. Learn how you can compare them by reading our breakdown.

Since digital mental healthcare is such a new field, it’s important to make an informed decision before choosing this type of care. Always talk to your doctor before starting an online therapy program. Conduct research of your own, too!

While these types of services aren’t for everyone, they do represent a technological advance. In conjunction with face-to-face therapy, this option can take mental health care to the next level. Most notably, it offers more accessibility and effectiveness.

Online Therapy as a Mental Health Treatment Option Combats Social Stigma

In the current American political climate, mental health is associated with stigma nationwide. Negative stereotypes and unfounded assumptions that unfairly attribute negative traits to medical conditions.

Negative stereotypes about diagnoses pose a massive barrier for people who want to seek help. Unfortunately, patients internalize the stigma associated with mental health conditions all too often.

Making therapy more widely available online can create open dialogue. As a result, we hope our country can begin a conversation about this standard medical treatment that helps so many. Ideally, higher visibility and wider access to therapy could reduce shame and secrecy surrounding mental health.

Protect Your Privacy Using A Safe and Secure Online Therapy Platform

From both a privacy and a marketing perspective, online therapy platforms are helping normalize going to therapy. Increasingly, this emerging trend is starting an important conversation about mental health that’s long overdue.

Digital platforms are a convenient tool to improve the quality of life. Now more than ever, they can serve as a catalyst for an open, honest, and transparent dialogue about mental health.

Opening up a line of communication shows us the scale and prevalence of mental health. Even if you feel like you can’t relate to others, so many Americans might feel just like you. If you feel like you could benefit from therapy, you’re not alone!

Benefits of Online Therapy: Remote Access to Therapists Brings Mental Healthcare Within Reach for More Patients

Online therapy gives users remote access to a therapist through text, direct message, or video. Since there are so many options when selecting a platform or service to purchase, patients should consider the following key factors:

1. Affordable Prices: Without healthcare coverages, therapy sessions with a licensed practitioner often cost around $200 per hour. The online options in Consumers Advocate’s report range from $150—$320 a month.
2. Multiple Contact Methods: One of the main draws of online therapy is the ease of exchanging messages over different means such as text, video calls, or voice messaging.
3. Licensed Therapists: Consumers should speak with therapists or counselors that are duly licensed in their state. Therapists are generally required to have at least three years of clinical experience & a valid state license.
4. Ease of Use: The best platforms are intuitively designed, easy to use, and require minimal pages or screens to click through to book an appointment or send a message to a therapist.

Online Therapy Bridges the Gap Between Patients & Providers While Protecting Privacy

Residents of very small or remote towns often have very few mental health professionals locally. Online therapy, however, is virtually unrestricted in availability from a geographic perspective. To find a therapist online, all you need is an internet connection.

Online therapy services come with a level of distance. Therefore, it can give introverts and patients with social anxiety a much-needed sense of security. As a result, this separation also caters well to patients with privacy concerns.

How Do You Best Connect with a Therapist: In Person, Over the Phone, Or Via Text Message?

If you express yourself more clearly in writing or find it hard to open up while making eye contact, online therapy could be an excellent option for you. This medium lets you can control whether you want the therapist to see your face, especially if you communicate strictly via text messaging.

A lack of visual contact also comes with its own drawbacks. Therapists can gain a lot of meaning from bodily cues and facial expressions. Not being in the same room as the patient can adversely impact a counselor’s options. Also, this limits the ability to study and get an accurate read on a patient’s current condition.

If you’re holding something back, it’s much harder for a remote therapist to tell than one who sees you face-to-face. This is especially true if you’re grappling with issues you don’t fully understand. Spotting an emergency gets more challenging without meeting in person regularly.

Limitations of Online Therapy: Mental Health Diagnoses, Medications, and Emergencies Require In-Person Solutions

Psychological evaluations are often the key to a successful treatment plan. You should only trust a qualified therapist to provide an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, you need to ensure any healthcare provider has the required credentials

Keep in mind that some online services won’t guarantee you a match with a licensed psychologist (PhD or PsyD). Many online services partner with licensed counselors. Therefore, these professionals can be great sources of support and effective therapists, but they can’t diagnose patients.

Medication often helps ease symptoms. However, such medicine requires a psychiatrist with a medical degree to prescribe and monitor. Keep in mind that very few of these sites offer access to psychiatrists (M.D.). If you need medication, they won’t have someone on staff that can legally prescribe it.

Emergency Mental Health Crises Require Immediate, In-Person Care

Online therapy is not sufficient for acute or chronic mental health conditions. Need to vent to someone with proper training? Online therapy is a good option. Going through a tough period with mild symptoms of depression? Online counselors can help you deal with those feelings.

Online therapy is the most valuable in conjunction with in-person treatment. It should never be used in emergency situations.

• People living with a chronic condition like major depression, generalized anxiety, and/or PTSD should see a therapist in person.
• For people who experience suicidal ideation or self-harm as a behavioral symptom, a remote therapist will not be able to meet your needs.
• If you’re in a state of crisis right now, please seek help immediately by calling 911 or a crisis hotline like the number listed in the image below:

Tell a loved one, your therapist, or even call a crisis hotline. There is always someone to listen. Remember, your voice matters and deserves to be heard.

Traditional Therapy & Digital Support:  Online and In-Person Therapy Are Better Together

Best case scenario, you can use digital therapy as a supplement that augments your existing treatment plan. Put your mental wellness first by finding the best solution for you! Ask your current therapist about consulting an online therapist as a complementary service. Also, it’s a great additional support between in-person sessions.

The first step is consulting your current counselor. They probably know you well already. Doing so is critical to preempt ethical issues that could arise from conflicting therapy approaches.

Read the Report in Full

If you feel like online therapy could be a good option for you, check out the full report from Consumers Advocate. In this guide, you can learn more in-depth about services. For example, you can find recommendations, and read more detailed analyses of specific options available on the market.

Disclaimer:  The contents of the Strength in Our Voices (SiOV) Site, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the SiOV Site ("Content") are for informational purposes only. 

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the SiOV Site.

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 or local emergency number immediately. SiOV does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site. Reliance on any information provided by SiOV, SiOV employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of SiOV, or other visitors to the Site is solely at your own risk.

ConsumersAdvocate.org does not have any partnerships or affiliations with the companies listed. As a result, they do not receive any monetary compensation.