Face-to-face therapy has traditionally been the gold standard for mental health care, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, most therapy had to move to virtual formats, and online therapy is now commonplace.
If you are looking into online therapy yourself, this article is for you. Read on to discover the pros and cons of virtual mental health care and find information to help you decide if online therapy in Ontario is right for you.
What Is Online Therapy?
Online therapy is mental health counselling that is delivered through digital media such as smartphone apps, virtual meeting tools like Zoom and Facetime, text messages, internet phone connection, or email.
Advantages of Online Therapy
Online therapy in Ontario has some unique benefits:
Accessibility
If you live in a remote area, have mobility challenges, or travel frequently, online therapy is an accessible option. No matter where you are, all you need is an Internet connection. Many online counsellors also conduct sessions in the evenings or on weekends, making this form of counselling even more accessible.
Comfort
Online therapy happens in your own space. You can sit in your bedroom, in a private office at work, or even outdoors. Being able to choose your environment can make it easier to open up to your therapist, improving the effectiveness of the counselling.
Avoiding Stigma and Maintaining Privacy
Unfortunately, there is still a stigma attached to mental health counselling. Going to a therapist’s office can be a barrier to some people because they may worry about being spotted by a friend or coworker. Until our culture fully accepts psychotherapy as normal and healthy, online therapy may be more comfortable for some people.
Cost Savings and Convenience
Getting counselling online eliminates expenses like transportation, parking, and missed hours at work. It’s also quite convenient, especially during busy (and stressful) holiday periods.
More Options for Therapists
Online therapists may live in your community or on the other side of the world. This gives you plenty of options for professionals to work with. That can be particularly helpful if you want a therapist who speaks another language or specializes in a type of treatment that is not readily available in your community.
Limitations and Challenges of Online Therapy
Although it has many advantages, online therapy also has drawbacks.
Technology Requirements
For online therapy in Ontario, you need a reliable internet connection. You also need to be comfortable with the medium and the app you will use to talk with your counsellor. This can be a barrier to older people or anyone else who may not be as adept at using technology.
Technological issues can also be disruptive in an online therapy session, making it less suitable for intense discussions or very emotional issues.
Lack of Physical Presence
In online therapy, non-verbal signals such as body orientation and movements may be missed by your counsellor, removing an important channel of communication. It can also change the quality of the connection between you, which is critical to some forms of therapy.
At the same time, some types of therapy are more effective when these signals are removed from the conversation. As you are deciding on a format for your therapy, consider the role that physical presence plays in your own communication style and in the type of therapy you want to get.
Another consideration is how accustomed you are to communicating online rather than face-to-face; people who grew up in the digital era may actually be more comfortable with online therapy.
Not Suitable for Serious Psychiatric Problems
If you have a complex condition or you are experiencing a serious mental health crisis, you may need to see someone in person. Although you may also have ongoing online counselling, be prepared for an adjunct treatment method if you have several interacting conditions, have been in crisis in the past, or are going through a particularly challenging time.
If you are in immediate crisis, call 9-8-8 for Canada’s National Suicide Hotline.
Does Online Therapy Work?
Online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy, but “it depends.” This is partly because online therapy has grown so quickly that research about its effectiveness is still being done1. However, a few things have been discovered:
- As discussed above, online therapy is not suitable for serious mental illnesses or in crisis situations, where a more intensive and direct approach is best.
- For treating depression and anxiety, online therapy can be as effective as face-to-face counselling2, although more research is being conducted.
- Therapists have had success in treating perinatal mental health disorders online3. This is hopeful news for pregnant people or new parents since their travel options may be restricted.
Is Online Therapy Right for You?
Only personal experience can determine if online therapy is suitable for you, but there are some questions you can ask to help you make a decision:
- Do you have access to the right technology and a reliable internet connection?
- Do you have a private space where you can do online therapy without being interrupted or distracted?
- Does the counselling service or platform provide the kind of therapy you are looking for?
- Do your current mental health challenges require immediate intervention or intensive treatment?
- Does the counselling platform or service allow you to choose a therapist yourself or switch therapists at any time?
Final Thoughts About Online Therapy
We still have much to learn about online therapy’s effectiveness and how well it works for specific conditions. That said, trying it out may answer the question of whether it is right for you. Many services and individual therapists offer consultations so you can talk about how suitable online therapy is for you before you commit to it.
The team at Kari Walton Counseling is available to help you make decisions about the type of care that could help with your current mental health challenges. With counselling, this is often the first part of the process, especially for people who are new to psychotherapy for mental health counselling.
We offer a wide range of treatment options, including person-centred counselling, psychodynamic therapy, humanistic counselling, integrative therapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, hypnotherapy, group therapy, neurofeedback, and couples and family therapy, in an environment where you’ll feel supported and understood.
Contact us today to make an appointment. Let’s work together to make this holiday season as worry-free as possible.
References
- Psychotherapy at a Distance: American Journal of Psychiatry https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050557
- Effectiveness of online psychological and psychoeducational interventions to prevent depression: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials: Clinical Psychology Review https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101931
- The effectiveness of online psychotherapy interventions for the treatment of perinatal mental health disorders: A systematic review: Ulster University https://pure.ulster.ac.uk/en/publications/the-effectiveness-of-online-psychotherapy-interventions-for-the-t