“I’m too busy!” “I can’t find anyone in my area.” “I’m a caregiver, I can’t leave my kids…patient…parents alone.” “I don’t get home until late.” “I’ve got to take the kids to sports practice.” “I can’t leave the house because of my social anxiety…mobility issues…chronic illness.” There are a host of issues getting in the way of your going to a therapist’s office. What if you didn’t have to?
With the advent of confidential, HIPAA-compliant phone, email, and video, online therapy is a growing industry with many advantages. You can see your individual therapist from the comfort of your own home. Appointments can be made for before work, after work, even weekends. Imagine being at your child’s sports practice or music lesson, or your parent’s medical visit, and using the waiting time to visit your therapist from the privacy of your laptop or phone.
There are some factors to consider to determine if online therapy is a good fit for you. For example, do you have access to a quiet, private space where you can be undisturbed during your session? Do you have good wifi? Are you at high risk for suicide, overdose, or self-injurious behaviors? Are there physical mannerisms or tics that the therapist will miss because of only seeing your upper body? These are important to consider in evaluating whether online therapy is right for you.
Online therapists are licensed professionals with extensive training and at least a Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field. These professionals are required to continually educate themselves in their chosen field, and are bound to ethics regulations to protect your privacy and confidentiality. Why not give online counseling a try?
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