Many counsellors moved to offering online sessions during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, online sessions are not just a back up if it is not possible to attend in person. There are many benefits to choosing to have therapy in this format. Since Covid, there is certainly more awareness of online therapy. If you are considering whether online therapy would work for you, this article will outline the benefits and things to consider.

What is online therapy?
Online therapy is, as the name suggests, therapy which is carried out over the internet. This can take different formats. This may be via online video call, 1:2:1 chat or email. You can read more about how these different formats work here.
Benefits of online therapy
Accessibility
You can literally access sessions from anywhere. This can be a huge advantage if you travel for work or studies as you just need an internet connection. You may be looking for a counsellor with a particular specialism, or there may not be many counsellors available in your area. Choosing online sessions widens your choice of counsellor as you can get support from a counsellor anywhere in the country. It removes any difficulties or barriers of getting to a counsellor as you can simply join sessions from home.
Convenience
Having sessions from home can be more convenient as you do not need to factor in travel time or costs. This means you may be able to arrange a session before or after work, or even in a lunch break. It removes the need to consider things like traffic at rush hour. For parents, it can allow you to arrange sessions without needing to arrange childcare. For example, you may schedule sessions for when the children are in bed.
Comfort of your own environment
Starting therapy can be nerve-wracking. You may be worrying about where to park, what the room will be like, will the chairs be comfortable, and so on. Accessing sessions from home can alleviate some of those worries. You control the environment, where you sit, what the temperature is. You may choose to have some comforts, such as making your favourite drink, or having a blanket. It can also be less intimidating meeting someone over a screen as opposed to in person.
Things to consider with online therapy
Being in your own environment
Although being in your own environment can take the pressure off, it can also be a distraction. If you live with other people or pets, it might be hard to fully focus on the session if they are at home. It is important that you are able to connect to sessions from a confidential space where you can speak freely without being overheard. You may talk about difficult, emotional issues in sessions. It can be hard to then just close your laptop and go back to normal life. It can be helpful to consider what you can do after sessions to aid that transition.
Lack of body language
If you have sessions via video call, your counsellor will only be able to see your head and shoulders and vice versa. A lot can still be picked up on outside of what is said, such as tone of voice and facial expressions. However, body language and other subtleties that can be observed in person are not visible in an online session. Depending on how you would like to work with your counsellor, this can mean working online may not be the most appropriate format.
Technological ability and security
You don’t need to be a tech whizz to access therapy online, but if the thought of getting to grips with technology is making you feel anxious or stressed, it may not be the best choice for you. Whatever platform your counsellor uses, it can be helpful to have a practice prior to your first session. You may also want to check out how your counsellor knows the session will be secure, for example by using end-to-end encryption. You may encounter issues with connections dropping out, lagging or sessions feeling impersonal. It can help to choose a counsellor that offers both online and face-to-face sessions then you have the option to switch if online doesn’t feel right for you.
Conclusion
There are many benefits to having therapy online, however it might not be the best format for everyone. After reading this blog, you may be wanting to give online therapy a go. Alternatively, you may be feeling face-to-face sessions would work better for you. Either way, I offer both online and face-to-face sessions and there is also flexibility to switch between them. If you would like to find out more about starting therapy, please get in touch: