Online therapy is fast becoming a popular therapy option for many people across Australia and the world.
Online therapy can go by many terms: e-therapy, e-counselling, cyberspace counselling and tele-counselling. Many people are now turning to online therapy as an alternative to traditional therapy. While there are some disadvantages to online therapy, for many people the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Here I will discuss the pros and cons of online therapy, and why it might be the right solution for you.
Advantages
Accessibility & Convenience
For many people, it is simply not convenient or even possible to attend traditional therapy appointments. For those who are living in rural and remote areas of Australia and do not have ready access to therapy, online therapy may prove to be the only option. For people who do have greater access to therapy services, attending appointments may still be inconvenient and difficult to manage. It can be done from within the comfort of one’s own home and doesn’t involve travelling, parking, finding a particular location or managing the logistics of attending appointments in person.
People who have disabilities and find travelling to appointments difficult or inconvenient will also find online therapy to be a good alternative. Likewise, people who have visual and hearing impairments would also benefit from the convenience of online therapy as it would remove the difficulties associated with travelling and attending appointments.
Last but certainly not least is that young people often feel more comfortable seeking online therapy as opposed to traditional therapy. Again, for many young people, convenience is a very important part of any service, and therefore they tend to prefer online therapy over traditional therapy.
Social Stigma
Unfortunately, there is still stigma attached to mental health and reaching out for support – although there is no doubt this is slowly but surely decreasing, especially in more cosmopolitan areas of Australia. However, many people feel that reaching out to a therapist online is preferable in this regard, as it assures more privacy for the person seeking therapy. There is no need to sit in a waiting room with other people, for example, and therefore online therapy may feel less stigmatising for many people. To be able to stay within the comfort of one’s own home but still receive therapy negates this issue for many people.
Anonymity
The internet clearly offers a high level of anonymity which is something that may persuade some people to seek help via online therapy as opposed to traditional therapy. This level of anonymity may help some to be more honest and open in their online therapy sessions as they may perceive the relative invisibility the internet provides to be non-threatening and non-judgemental.
Flexibility
For many therapists offering online therapy services, it is possible to offer extended and out-of-hours appointments which may not be feasible in a traditional therapy setting. For example, a therapist may be happy to provide an appointment in the early evening, followed by a break that allows the therapist to go about their own evening commitments, and then have several appointments later that night. For those seeking a therapy service, but whose other commitments make attending an appointment during regular business hours impractical or even impossible, being able to access out-of-hours therapy online with the therapist of their choice is an excellent option.
Alternative Communication Options
Online therapy can take many forms: Skype, email, or chat. For the latter two options, the therapy session is, by necessity, done in writing. Writing has been shown to be a very therapeutic method of relieving distress and promoting emotional healing. Writing may also be a preferable method of communication for people who struggle to put their feelings into words or express themselves verbally. Additionally, written therapy sessions provide a record of the conversation, which can be useful for all parties to refer to.
Disadvantages
There are, of course, several disadvantages to online therapy, which is why it may not be preferable for some people.
Absence of verbal and non-verbal cues
Online therapy has been criticised for the absence of verbal and non-verbal cues that can be critical to communication and building a trusting relationship between counsellor and client. While this may be of some benefit in terms of creating a sense of anonymity and privacy, this can also, in certain circumstances, inhibit the therapeutic process. For some forms of online therapy, such as Skype sessions, this can be largely overcome. However, in a chat-based therapy session, both therapist and client are relying solely on written communication, which can be lead to one or both parties missing out on vital non-verbal and verbal cues that form such an important element of communication, such as tone, body language and facial expressions.
Effectiveness
There is currently no evidence to support either the effectiveness of online therapy or the lack of effectiveness of online therapy; little research has been done on the matter. However, there is research to suggest that online therapy as a sole method of therapy can increase the risk of misdiagnosis. Therefore, it is not currently recommended that people suffering from psychosis or chronic depression use online therapy.
Technology Difficulties
We all experience technology problems from time to time when using an online service; the same can clearly happen during an online therapy session. This potential disruption can make the therapy far less effective than traditional therapy. Clearly, if the client must install new software to participate in the session, this can be another obstacle to receiving effective therapy.
In conclusion, online therapy certainly has its disadvantages, but so too does traditional therapy; for many people seeking therapy, it will be preferable to see the therapist face-to-face in order to have an effective session. However, for people who find that traditional therapy presents one or more obstacles, online sessions could well prove to be the better option. It is clear that online therapy is becoming more and more popular for many people, for a variety of reasons, and therefore both clients and therapists must ensure that those demands can be met and result in effective therapy.
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