Is it better to do online therapy or in-person?

Research shows that teletherapy provides the same quality of care as traditional therapy. According to the American Psychological Association, teletherapy is as effective as face-to-face sessions in treating a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety disorders.

online therapy

offers an equally effective option for mental health support as in-person therapy. People seeking therapeutic support for anxiety, depression, and other common mental health needs can use virtual or in-person therapy as support.

Online therapy is more convenient than traditional therapy. Instead of going to a therapist's office for every session, you can simply sign in to a website or app from the comfort of your home. Many online therapists have flexible schedules, making it easy for you to include a session in your day. For someone who has a serious mental illness or who responds better to intimate environments, in-person therapy may be a better option.

It all comes down to your personal preferences and specific circumstances. Therefore, a reliable internet connection can be a factor in deciding if online therapy is right for you. Finally, it's worth considering the fact that people have a larger group of therapists to choose from for virtual therapy compared to traditional therapy. The reasons (the stigma, the cost, the accessibility) vary, but services such as Talkspace and BetterHelp, which offer online therapy, are helping to close that gap.

Become an informed consumer of telepsychology services, learn the factors to consider when considering online therapy, and explore additional resources. Online therapy offers easy access to mental health support from virtually anywhere with lots of flexible options. Online and in-person therapy options allow more people to access mental health care than ever before. Online therapy may require you to research the privacy policies of video and messaging platforms to protect your information.

In fact, the evidence supporting online therapy is stronger when used to treat stress, anxiety, and depression. The growing trend of online therapy also eliminates some logistical barriers, especially for people who find it difficult to access in-person treatment for any reason. Plus, since you're at home for online therapy sessions, you can quickly get items to help you emotionally regulate or deal with difficult conversations. They were able to express their complex feelings and reveal difficult experiences to online therapists more easily than face-to-face therapy.

Many therapists offer online therapy directly to clients through their private practice (you can search for one here). Specifically, a systematic review found that cognitive-behavioral therapy provided online effectively treats depression, panic, and anxiety disorders in clients. These people can now receive the psychological assistance they need through online therapy with just access to a computer. So far, several studies, although still preliminary, have found that online therapy can be equivalent to in-person care.

Whether you have a serious mental health disorder that requires more intensive care, or you simply prefer to communicate in person, online therapy isn't always the best option.