Any kind of interaction that you make online, whether ordering your favorite dress or booking a hotel or a therapist, is a bit more suspect than performing the same thing in reality. When doing things online, a little bit of caution is expected as there are too many shady websites in existence. Everyone remembers the story of Silk Road. These shady entities have creeped into many areas of the internet. Being cautious has never been so important. Luckily, there is one area that has (yet) to be affected by bad players: professional counseling.
Have you ever consideredspeaking to an online therapist who has got a website of his own and who will talk to you over video call or text? Apparently, it’s the next big thing as millions of people have already started using it with little to no negative reviews. There is a long list of reasons why this is the case, but many suspect that the main reason is due to HIPAA, which requires service providers to keep all medical information private.
It’s clear that the internet has opened up multiple new opportunities for mental health treatment. Let’s take a look at why online therapy may be a better choice than its traditional counterpart.
What makes online therapy special?
Everything has its pros and cons. It’s always important to weigh the benefits vs the downfalls of online therapy before signing up for a plan. However, as per hundreds of reviews, the pros heavily outweigh the cons. This article will focus on the biggest benefits of online therapy. Go through the points and try to understand what makes online therapy better than traditional therapy in some ways.
1: A perfect option for remote places
There are many who live in remote places and who suffer from mental health disorders. How are they supposed to get access to licensed therapists when no therapists exist near them? For them, online therapy is often not only a better option, but the only option.Moreover, they will only need a smartphone, internet connection and little bit of knowledge to be able to operate properly. That alone seems pretty enticing.
2: Easy access for those with physical issues
Online therapy will offer easy accessibility to all those people who are homebound or disabled due to some kind of physical disability. Mobility is usually a huge issue as long as accessing mental health care is concerned. People who are not able to leave their homes for several reasons like mental illness or physical disabilities will find help in online therapy.
3: Information is more comfortable
The internet and the World Wide Web can make mental health details more comfortable. People will feel much more comfortable while speaking to family and friends regarding health care issues, but they might not feel the same when they discuss their mental health.
4: Affordability
Online therapy is also convenient due to its affordability. Due to the fact that online therapy involves attending online sessions from the comfort of your home, this doesn’t involve hefty costs. The average cost of an office visit is around $150…per hour. Online therapy generally costs around $250 per month, oftentimes for unlimited therapy.
The above points may not seem like much, but it is enough to sway millions of people. And, we didn’t even cover the elimination of stigma. That alone makes online therapy the real deal, even if its effectiveness is still questionable.
Bottom line? Online therapy is here to stay. For good.