These days, life is fast-paced and internet-based. Everything from school to work to leisure is done online from the comfort of home. So why shouldn’t mental health treatment, counseling, and therapy be the same? Why shouldn’t talking to your therapist be as easy as calling up a relative or coordinating with your team when you’re out of the office?
The potential for internet-based counseling and therapy is growing day by day, and BetterHelp offers some of the best options on the market. Making the shift to online therapy (or starting therapy online for the first time) is an excellent choice in terms of cost, time commitment, and accessibility. Here, you can explore the top five reasons to move therapy online, just like the rest of your life.
1. Ease
When push comes to shove, getting therapy or counseling online is easier than going into the therapist’s office. This is true on so many levels. For example, when you do your therapy sessions online, you don’t have to worry about asking around for recommendations or doing hours of research to find a therapist near you. Instead, BetterHelp sets you up with a qualified mental health specialist immediately, based on what you need. (Don’t worry: if you don’t click with the therapist, you can always easily opt for a different therapist.) In addition to being connected quickly and easily with a therapist, there’s also the ease of communication. You simply have to log into a video conferencing app or a chat app in order to reach a therapist. It’s so much easier than traveling to the therapist’s office, waiting to be called in, and getting into the rhythm of the conversation before actually reaching the crux of the issue. So, from getting started to getting into the issues, doing therapy online with BetterHelp is much easier than going to see the therapist for traditional face to face sessions.
For more information and advice about getting started with online therapy, check out BetterHelp’s Twitter account: https://twitter.com/betterhelp?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
2. Efficacy
You might be wondering if doing a video call or chatting online with a therapist is as effective as going into the therapist’s office. Well, a 2014 study out of the University of Leipzig has shown that online counseling and therapy is just as effective as traditional face to face sessions. In order to test their hypothesis, researchers divided patients into two groups: one group completed the treatment with face to face sessions, while the other did their treatment online. In the end, both groups showed remarkably similar results in terms of improvement and the pace at which they reached key milestones in the treatment. So, even though the delivery methods for the therapy were different, the results were largely the same. This study proves that online therapy is just as effective as the face to face model.
3. Cost
Moving your therapy to an online context is a great way to make your treatment much more affordable. This is because BetterHelp offers clear pricing plans that can be paid weekly, monthly, or yearly. These plans can help you choose exactly how much you’re going to spend on therapy, and you’ll be able to anticipate the exact treatment you’ll be getting as a result. Plus, the hourly rate of online therapy sessions is usually lower than the rates of traditional face to face therapy. This is probably because online therapy doesn’t require the therapist to rent an office, pay the utilities, etc. In turn, online therapy providers are able to pass these savings on to the patient!
In addition to the clearer – and often lower – rates offered by online therapy providers, there’s also the cost of transportation that you won’t be paying. Since you’re logging into your therapy sessions from anywhere with internet access, you won’t have to spend the time and money to get to the therapist’s physical location. Over the course of your treatment, this can save you considerable time and money.
4. Comfort
Moving your therapy sessions online means that you can do them from anywhere with internet access. So, you’ll have total control over the place and context where you’ll be doing your therapy. In turn, you’ll be able to choose a time and space that is comfortable to you, no matter what your idea of comfortable looks like. You might choose to do them from your favorite park or café. Or, you might choose to do them from your own home. If that is the case, you can also remove the pressure of dressing up and “looking good enough” for your sessions. Removing this pressure adds a sense of comfort that is impossible to attain in traditional face to face sessions. Overall, doing therapy sessions in a time and space that you choose on your own terms is way more comfortable and personalized than having them done in a therapist’s office.
5. Flexibility
Choosing online therapy or counseling is a great way to make the whole treatment experience much more flexible. Being flexible and accepting with yourself is a key part of successful treatment, and being able to expect that same flexibility from your therapist or counselor makes the whole process that much easier and more effective. BetterHelp offers plans that allow you to contact a therapist or counselor at any time. This means constant support as well as maximum flexibility: you can get help when you’re in the right time, place, and head space to talk through it.
Conclusion
All in all, choosing to move your therapy online can prove beneficial in every aspect. When you’re looking for an online therapy provider, make sure that you’re getting the best one! BetterHelp has been rated the best online therapy and counseling platform of the year, and there’s a good reason: the ease, cost, efficacy, comfort, and flexibility of BetterHelp leaves its competitors in the dust. https://www.regain.us/advice/general/betterhelp-is-it-the-best-online-therapy-and-counseling-platform-in-2020-and-why/
Check out BetterHelp for the best and most effective way to move your therapy online!
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
