Online therapy lets you enjoy the benefits of therapy from the comfort of your own home, but does it really have the same impact as an in-office session?

Pros of Online Therapy

Advantages of online therapy include offering mental health access to people in rural or remote areas that might not otherwise have access to it. Similarly, it can also be of use to people with disabilities that might find it difficult to come in to a physical office, including those with physical or mental conditions that prevent them from leaving home.

Online therapy is also usually more convenient and affordable. Many insurance companies are required to cover online therapy just as they would traditional therapy. And there is the added bonus of being able to schedule sessions at times that fit into your schedule.

The information offered by online therapy helps to make information more accessible and provides education about mental health that might not otherwise be available if left to traditional therapeutic modalities.

Cons of Online Therapy

Although some insurance plans cover online therapy, not all of them do. Online therapy may still have too high of a cost for it to be affordable for those that need it if your insurance company doesn’t cover it.

Most states don’t allow access to out-of-state psychologists, so your mental health provider has to be licensed in both your state and their home state. Many states allow only limited sessions from an out-of-state psychologist. But you can enjoy the services of an in-state provider that may be at a far distance.

Online therapy is still new and so there are still concerns and issues surrounding confidentiality, privacy, and technology.

In cases of emergency, such as a mental health crisis or those with serious mental health conditions, an online treatment provider is unable to respond.

Depending on your needs and concerns, online therapy is a worthwhile tool to consider, as long as you understand the limitations.

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