Sometimes, the thought of going to in-person therapy sessions can feel way too intimidating.
You might worry that once you arrive at the office, you’ll be too nervous to open up. Perhaps you’re struggling to simply leave your house at the moment due to depression or anxiety. Or maybe you simply live far away from the nearest city, and you don’t want to endure a long commute to go to therapy.
No matter what your situation is, it’s worth researching the benefits of online therapy. So if you feel that attending therapy in-person isn’t quite right for you, here’s why you may want to give online therapy a shot.
1. Convenience
There’s no denying that online therapy is convenient! As long as you have video chatting software on your laptop or smartphone, you’re good to go. And since you won’t have to drive to an office, you’ll save time.
This makes teletherapy a great option for busy professionals and working parents. You don’t have to carve out as much time in your schedule. Hence, if you’ve ever considered therapy but felt that you were too busy for it, online sessions could be the answer.
2. Low Pressure
Attending a therapy session in person can feel nerve-racking for many people. And sometimes, the very condition that has prompted you to seek therapy can be the reason you’re hesitant to go.
For instance, if you’re anxious, being face-to-face with a stranger to tell them about your anxiety can worsen your symptoms. Or if you’re dealing with depression, you may feel too exhausted to go to therapy. However, when you can simply log on to an online session, attending therapy can feel so much easier.
3. Frequency
If you live in a rural area or do not have reliable transportation, going to regular therapy sessions can be difficult. And so, you might choose to go only once or twice a month.
Driving long distances or trying to find rides (and parking!) can turn therapy into a very stressful experience for some people. However, at the same time, going to therapy more often can certainly help you progress further and faster.
With online therapy, you can schedule more frequent sessions without worrying about the driving time, cost of gas, or any other hassles involved with a commute.
4. Consistency
Sometimes, you might end up canceling an in-person therapy session after you’ve scheduled it for a variety of reasons. For example, in the winter, a snowstorm could lead to a cancellation. And if you’re feeling under the weather, you might not be motivated to drive to therapy either.
It’s important to be consistent when it comes to treatment sessions. Yet, there may be times when you have no choice but to skip a session.
As it’s in your best interest to attend sessions whenever you have them scheduled, with online therapy, you can prioritize consistency. You won’t have to deal with so many obstacles. And since you won’t be missing as many sessions, you won’t backslide on the progress you’ve made!
5. Getting Past Stigma
Today, people are more open to conversations about mental health. It’s slowly becoming more acceptable to discuss going to therapy. But, sadly, a stigma against therapy and acknowledging mental health conditions still exists. For some people, the stigma holds them back from going to therapy. The thought of telling their roommates or family where they’re going can be enough to make them hesitate.
But when you’re attending therapy sessions online, you can keep your medical business private. Some people may find it easier to ignore the stigma surrounding therapy and mental health because of online therapy—and you’ll still see similar progress!
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Are you thinking about trying online therapy to see if it will benefit you? Why not give it a go? Please reach out to me to discuss my approach to online therapy or to schedule your first session.