Is Online Therapy as Effective as In-Person Therapy?

I’ll confess that as a therapist trained15+ years ago, I never thought I’d be providing online therapy.  Even as the COVID-19 pandemic hit here in the North East US and we were forced to take all services online, I worried that we wouldn’t be able to make the same impact that we make in person.  But there is nothing like real life experience to teach an old dog new tricks.  We started online therapy and it wasn’t the disaster I feared.  The Internet worked, the telehealth platform worked, the computer created a little window to connect us to our clients.   And I felt the connection, in a way that I couldn’t have imagined.  The connection, the relationship, is THE factor that all therapy builds from.  If this wasn’t possible with online therapy, then we would never achieve our goals.  But I was relieved to find that the connection remains, even when separated by many miles.  

Should I Try Online Therapy or In-Person Therapy?  

This question is going to have a different answer for each person.  If you have a packed schedule and you feel like time is a major barrier to attending therapy, then online therapy may be a great option for you.  If you worry about privacy and NEVER want to run into your therapist in the grocery store, then online therapy is probably a great fit for you.  If you are a therapist yourself and want to see a therapist outside of your network, you likely have considered online therapy. 

In addition to this, many people find online therapy allows them to tackle their struggles from the comfort of a space that feels safe.  If you often feel anxious or unsafe in new situations, online therapy may give you the level of safety you need to start your healing journey.  

Online therapy removes barriers to getting the help you need

The greatest lesson in this online therapy adventure has been the realization that online therapy removes so many barriers to getting into therapy.  When we once saw cancellations for sick family members, broken down cars, busy work schedules, and medical issues, we no longer saw those cancellations.  Our clients kept showing up because they could attend their sessions online and get support at those times where stress levels were at their highest.  

For our post partum clients and pregnant clients, getting to the office could be difficult.  Pregnancy nausea might mean taking a session from home is more comfortable.  A newborn’s unpredictable feeding and sleep schedule might make leaving the house feel daunting.  But online therapy allows you to show up despite these factors.  

When is in-person therapy the right choice?

Again, this is very individualized.  And your answer might change based on your needs and your experiences in therapy.  You may start out online, but feel like you would make a better connection in person.  You may have screen fatigue and want to take a break form more online “meetings.”  You may want to be out of your home and out of earshot of loved ones when discussing a difficult topic.  All of these reasons have contributed to the decision to attend sessions in person for some of our clients.  At times, we might observe that you’re struggling with the online experience and recommend in-persons sessions with us, or a therapist local to your area.  Many of our clients choose to take a hybrid approach, meeting online when the schedule is packed but meeting in person a few times a month.  

When you still aren’t sure what to choose…

It can be hard to know what option will work best for you if you’ve never tried online therapy before.  If you’re considering giving online therapy a try, but want some individualized feedback about whether it will work for you, please reach out and schedule a free phone consultation.  We can discuss your personal circumstance and whether online therapy will be a good fit.

We’re confident we can help most clients with an online option.  Of course, there might be technical difficulties along the way, but we’ve developed some tools to navigate those and ensure we have back-up options.  We offer online counseling sessions to clients in New Jersey or Pennsylvania.  State licensing laws require the therapist  to be licensed in the state where the client is at the time of session.  Be sure to ask any online therapist if they are licensed in your state and let your therapist know if you are traveling out of state.  Additionally, confidentiality is important.  Ensure your therapist is using a HIPAA compliant and secure telehealth platform to connect with you.  Finally, remember that each person is unique.  You should make sure your therapist is a good fit with a 15 minute phone consultation before starting sessions, whether in person or online.  

Learn more about our services below or Contact Us for a free phone consultation.