Online psychotherapy – The Advantages and Disadvantages of working online

We are going through a difficult period with this CoVid pandemic, which is why more and more psychologists are moving their activity to the online environment. I am one of the psychologists who works a lot online for quite a few years now. I started working online several years ago, not just now, recently. It is clear that it is possible to work through the internet, but the question is: Is online psychotherapy effective?

The answer is a big yes! Here are some of the advantages, but also the disadvantages of conducting online psychotherapy or psychological counseling sessions.

Some of the benefits I see from meeting with a psychologist online are:

1. You don’t have to go to their office anymore

That means you don’t waste your time traveling to their office. Don’t stay in traffic, don’t bother to find a parking space and so on. It also means that online psychotherapy is a good option for those from villages or abroad. The online approach is also accessible to those with physical limitations in terms of travel.

2. You are safer from Covid!

Another important aspect is protection against the virus. Whether we are vaccinated or not, prophylaxis (prevention) is always better than treatment. In online psychotherapy, it is not necessary to meet other people physically or to hadle cash. Meetings are made from the comfort of your home and payment can be made very easily by methods that do not involve going to the bank.

3. Online therapy is as effective as in-office therapy

A meta-study (a study of the scientific research on the subject) concluded that online therapy is as effective as in-office therapy when it comes to anxiety and depression. Details here. My experience is that meetings with a psychologist online is also effective in many other issues, including couple related stuff.

Like anything else, online psychotherapy also has its disadvantages.

1. Technical difficulties

In order to work optimally, you need a good internet connection, a connection that not everyone has access to yet. Without a good connection, the therapeutic discussion can be troublesome and frustrating. Thus, its efficiency may decrease if the situation persists.

2. Lack of privacy

Another aspect that can interfere is the lack of privacy. Some people live in smaller spaces or with small children, which can make it more difficult for them to have their own private time and space. This is especially true for those who do not want their family to know that they are doing psychotherapy.

3. Not suitable for more serious psychiatric issues or for large families

In my experience, online therapy is a little harder in more severe psychiatric cases. I wouldn’t say it’s not beneficial, but it seems that the one in the physical office tends to bear better and faster results in such situations.

Online psychotherapy is also more difficult in the case of large families. It is important for the therapist to be able to see each member of the family as good as possible, which is quite difficult to do online, even when working with multiple webcams.

In conclusion, online psychotherapy is beneficial and worth trying! If you are ready to get started, you can request an appointment here.