While online therapy isn’t exactly new, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift towards telehealth. From individuals and couples to families and groups, many people are taking advantage of advancements in technology to receive therapy from the comfort of their own home.
Teletherapy, also known as virtual therapy, leverages cutting-edge technology to provide mental health support from any location, says the American Psychological Association, with forms of online therapy including texts, emails, video services, and phone calls.
In-person therapy remains the most common choice for people of all ages, but no matter which option you choose, it’s important to entrust a highly-qualified therapist who can determine which format is best for your needs. Today we will go over the pros and cons of each.
Virtual Therapy: Pros
Virtual therapy offers a format allowing clients to receive services from their therapist with minimal effort. In other words, instead of being present for appointments, they can simply use the Internet, phone, or other means of communication to attend their appointment.
Convenience
The top benefit of virtual therapy is convenience. Patients are able to meet with their therapist without leaving home, budgeting time for travel, battling traffic, and thumbing through magazines in the waiting room. Instead, they can use their laptop or tablet to meet with their therapist, which saves time and hassle.
Multiple Meeting Methods
With multiple methods for receiving therapy at their fingertips, patients have their choice of how they want to communicate for their appointment, such as through chatrooms, messaging services, telephone calls, and video conferencing.
Fewer Resources
Online therapy lessens burdens for those who need to arrange transportation, childcare, or time off work, removing many of the obstacles that would exist with in-person therapy.
Comfort
Meeting therapists from the comfort of their own homes puts patients’ minds at ease. Not only do they not have to get dressed up, they can remain on their couch with their favorite blanket – firmly ensconced in their comfort zone. Familiar surroundings can help people cope with difficult conversations, helpful for those who are uncomfortable sharing difficult topics.
Access in Remote Areas
If you live in a remote area or rural setting, it can be challenging accessing high-quality mental healthcare. Virtual therapy makes it possible to engage in sessions no matter where both parties live.
Confidentiality
While in-person therapy is highly confidential, it does present the possibility of running into someone you know in the parking lot or waiting room. Virtual therapy removes those possibilities, which leads to greater peace of mind for those who wish to keep their private lives private.
VIRTUAL Therapy: Cons
On the other hand, there are some potential downsides to the online therapy format.
Reduced Empathy Experience
There is a perceived reduction of connection that occurs between therapist and client in an online format. Because they are not sharing a room, it’s not as easy to get the same level of empathy from a provider as they would in person.
Technology Issues
From remote areas to glitches, computers, phones, and tablets don’t always work the way they should. Experiencing a technology issue in the middle of a session can result in a more stressful experience as both parties work to resolve the issue. It may even lead to the need to reschedule.
Difficulty Assessing Quality Therapists
Not all online-based therapists are created equal. Some are far more qualified than others. It can be easy to be dazzled by a pretty website, but some therapists are not as skilled or experienced as others. It can also be difficult to assess their professionalism just by doing some cursory research online.
Not Always the Best Fit
Some clients don’t receive a benefit to online therapy, particularly those with severe mental health conditions including schizophrenia, intellectual disabilities, or those with a higher risk of suicide. Those patients should ideally be seen in person.
In-Person Therapy: Pros
In-person is the traditional mode of therapy, as it’s a well-established, effective format that comes with many benefits.
Therapeutic Alliance
It can be difficult to share your deepest thoughts and feelings with a therapist—at least at first. But over time, it’s possible to build therapeutic alliances with your licensed, professional therapist who is trained in gaining the trust of their patients. Over the long-term, this can provide many positive benefits for both parties as they engage through weekly sessions. It can be more challenging to connect and form that bond online.
Evidence-Based Research
In-person therapy has been proven time and time again as an effective treatment modality for a variety of mental health conditions. Decades of evidence speak to the effectiveness of in-person therapy.
More Treatment Modalities
In-person psychotherapy in particular allows for a wider variety of treatment modalities compared with virtual therapy, such as interventions like EMDR, movement-based therapy, and psychodrama.
More Thorough Assessment
In the physical meeting space, therapists can conduct a more thorough assessment of their patients to gain a more detailed and accurate understanding of health status, whereby finer details may be missed in virtual therapy.
In-Person Therapy: Cons
Traditional in-person therapy may also be associated with certain difficulties as well.
Social Stigma
Sitting in the waiting room with others can be anxiety-provoking for many people, especially if they recognize others they know. Despite the need and effectiveness of therapy, a social stigma still inhibits many people.
Inconvenience
Getting yourself to an in-person appointment isn’t always easy, especially when it involves leaving work early, driving through rush-hour traffic, and balancing child care.
Difficulty Finding Quality In-Person Therapists in Rural Settings
While those living in big cities may not have a hard time finding a qualified therapist, the pool of such therapists is often much thinner in rural areas. This could make it difficult for those in remote areas to find someone that’s qualified and that they trust, especially when the need for highly-specialized psychotherapy service is involved.
Some Conditions Make Access Difficult
Those who have conditions such as agoraphobia and social anxiety may decide not to pursue potentially life-changing therapy if they know they have to be present in a physical office setting.
Book a Free Online or In-Person Consultation Today
We offer both in-person and online therapy services for your convenience. Contact us for a free consultation or for more information, whether you are interested in individual, couples, dyadic sessions, or whole family sessions.
