Have you ever thought about making an appointment with a therapist, only to put it off for a number of reasons? These reasons can range from the difficulty of finding a professional therapist, anxiety over speaking on the phone, fear of judgment, or even the cost of care. 

Luckily, in modern times, almost everything you want can be accessed online – this includes therapy. We’re going to discuss what you need to know about attending online therapy. Keep reading for more information! 

24/7 Access to Care

If you’ve seen a therapist before, you know that sometimes their schedules and yours don’t work together. On the other hand, you may never have seen a counselor and have anxiety over making the appointment, only getting up the courage in the middle of the night when local therapists are not open. 

Opting for online therapy means that you have access to your preferred counselor or someone who can reach them regardless of the time of day/night. There is no need to sit in an uncomfortable waiting room, wondering if people are judging you or wasting precious working hours. 

We all know that a personal crisis doesn’t wait for the best moment to strike. These issues may arise at any point of the day or your mental health may take a dive due to unforeseen triggers. Speaking with a professional when and where you need to may make the difference between a worsening mental state and the road to recovery. 

Being able to speak with your therapist in the middle of your crisis may change how you handle them. This is because you can explain what lead up to your crisis, your current thinking, fears, and your physical reactions as they happen versus trying to recall them from memory days or weeks later. Your therapist can help walk you through any irrational thinking as it occurs, teaching you how to react in the future. 

Online Therapy is Cost-Effective

Seeing a psychologist, therapist, or counselor in your hometown is usually expensive. Even if you do have health insurance coverage, the co-pay may easily cost $50-75 per visit. Online therapists often have plans you can choose from for a number of monthly visits and when they don’t, they usually will still cost less than your insurance’s co-pay. 

Because online therapy is much more cost-effective, you can actually speak with your therapist more often without incurring extra medical debt. This ensures that your mental health continues to become stronger and you see or feel results faster. 

Real Results from Real Therapists

If you know anyone who has benefitted from attending therapy, you may not realize that their therapist used different techniques or modules. These modules of therapy are great when you are face-to-face but are just as effective when you used online or over the phone. 

When you choose a licensed online therapist, they will work with you to decide the best method of approach to ensure your mental health. They are using the same types of techniques that therapists in your hometown use; the only difference is that your therapist may be located across the globe!

Choices, Choices

Whether your hometown has a population of 20,000 or 2,000,000 finding a therapist whom you are comfortable with is difficult. When you factor in the number of therapists that are within your insurance network, the number of choices typically drop dramatically. 

With this said, the choices that you are left with might be dismal and discouraging. You may have tried some of these therapists or are uncomfortable with them for a number of other reasons. The internet allows you to meet therapists from different areas of your state, region, country, or even across the globe, allowing you far more choices when it comes to your mental health care.

No More Uncomfortable Office Visits

Anxiety can wreak havoc on your life. Knowing that you have an upcoming appointment where you’ll have to wait in an area with other patients may cause enough stress that you cancel or repeatedly reschedule. 

This impedes the results of your therapy and may cause you to regress further into whatever mental illness you’re currently dealing with. Sometimes, even the thought of getting out of bed, showered, and ready, makes your appointment feel impossible.

Using an online therapist allows you to avoid most of these issues. There is no waiting room with small talk, no wondering if other people are judging you, and really, no need to even leave your home. Of course, you can’t avoid these issues forever, but opting for an online professional will help you overcome them at a speed you’re comfortable with. 

Marked Mental Health Improvement

Finding an online mental health professional may take some time and effort on your part. However, once you do, you will have access to their services when you need them–not just on a set day of the week.

Because an online therapist is so much more affordable than traditional mental health care, you may find that you can afford more frequent visits. This means that your emotional state improves quickly and you can return to normalcy faster than you might otherwise. 

Whether you need help with anxiety, depression, managing symptoms of bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or PTSD, there is a counselor out there for you! Even once you find your symptoms are under control, you still may find some of their techniques useful for going about your daily life.

The key to successful online therapy is to go into it with an open mind. If you begin attending online sessions with the impression that it won’t work for you, chances are you won’t see the results you’re hoping for. Try as best you can to stay positive, trust what your therapist has to say, and follow their directions and you will soon be on the road to recovery without ever setting foot in a physical office!