Online therapy is growing in popularity, giving individuals an alternative way to pursue assistance. In-person therapy (often referred to as traditional therapy) and online therapy are two vastly different approaches.
If you’re considering online therapy versus in-person therapy, you may have various questions surrounding the differences and efficacy of online treatment versus traditional sessions. This article reviews the differences between the two to help you decide which option may be better for you.
What Is Online Therapy?
Online therapy is an alternative option to traditional therapy. Sessions are conducted over the internet and may occur as a video or online chat. Online therapy allows individuals to connect with a licensed therapist or counselor using any device with an internet connection, including computers, tablets, and smartphones.
Online counseling is often used interchangeably with teletherapy or e-therapy. These terms refer to sessions that take place via an internet or cellular connection. For example, a person could attend the appointment over the phone or text.
What’s The Difference Between Online and In-Person Therapy?
The primary difference between online therapy and in-person therapy is the method of communication. While online therapy takes place via an internet or cellular connection, in-person therapy takes place face-to-face.
Each option offers a set of benefits and drawbacks.
Is Online Therapy As Effective As In-Person Therapy?
In-person therapy has proven its efficacy as a form of intervention for mental health concerns for over a century. One of the primary concerns of individuals considering online therapy as an alternative to in-person sessions falls to the efficacy of remote sessions.
Dozens of studies put these fears to rest, proving that online therapy is as effective as an in-person treatment for various mental health concerns. For example, online therapy is as effective as traditional sessions for treating depression. Research has found online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is equally as effective as its face-to-face counterpart for treating depression, panic, and anxiety disorders.
Online-based therapy services appear to be equally as effective as traditional sessions for children and adults who suffer from anxiety disorders. It’s also proven effective for increasing resilience in adolescents. Families struggling with certain conditions exhibit promising results from online family therapy.
Online counseling services continue with the positive trend across numerous populations and diagnoses. However, it’s important to note that the education level and licensure of the online provider are critical components in the efficacy of the services. As with in-person therapy services, not all therapists are licensed or educated in every mental health concern or disorder. The individual must choose a well-versed and licensed therapist in the type of treatment they seek.
Pros and Cons Of Online Therapy
Online therapy offers many benefits and drawbacks, particularly compared to in-person therapy sessions.
Pros of Online Therapy
There are several benefits to consider when debating between online and in-person therapy. Individuals seeking assistance through this modality can meet with their provider easily, with minimal effort necessary to attend the session. A few of the benefits of online therapy include the following:
- Convenience: Virtual therapy services make attending an appointment much more convenient. Clients can meet with their therapist without having to leave their house. Traveling to in-person sessions can be difficult, especially in bad weather or heavy traffic. With virtual therapy, clients simply connect to their therapist over the internet on their computer, tablet, or phone.
- Confidentiality: Traditional forms of therapy require clients to travel to the therapist’s office, potentially seeing others in the office parking lot or waiting room. Some individuals are discouraged by the thought of seeing people they may know at the therapist’s office, whether it’s due to stigmas or confidentiality issues.
With virtual therapy, there are very few reasons for broken confidentiality, save for pressing issues such as suicidality or protecting the individual in a vulnerable position.
- Comfort: Clients accessing online therapy can do so without leaving the comfort of their own space. The ability to remain in a comfortable, familiar, safe environment can be highly beneficial, especially during difficult conversations.
Objects and items in the client’s space, such as pets or a blanket, may help them regulate and cope with their emotions during tough conversations. Easy access to coping objects may facilitate feelings of comfort for clients, helping them feel more confident sharing difficult stories and emotions within the session.
- Few resource requirements: Another excellent benefit of online therapy is the lack of additional resources required. For example, a person traveling to in-person therapy may need other resources, such as transportation, childcare, or extra time, to make it to the appointment. If the individual doesn’t have access to these resources, it may deter them from obtaining the assistance they seek.
Virtual therapy eliminates the need for these resources, as the individual doesn’t need to leave home. Instead, they simply need a device with access to the internet, such as a phone, computer, or tablet.
- Access to affordable services without a diagnosis: Traditional therapy services can be costly. For that reason, the individual seeking treatment for their mental health must receive a diagnosis to use insurance for payment. They must obtain a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-5) diagnosis for insurance reimbursement. Diagnoses can range in severity from mild (i.e., adjustment disorder) to severe (i.e., psychotic disorders).
Online therapy may offer individuals a more affordable option, allowing the client to seek assistance without a diagnosis.
- Various connection options: Unlike in-person therapy conducted in a single manner (face-to-face), virtual therapy offers clients a variety of connection methods. The client may choose from various options, such as messaging, telephone, chatrooms, or video services. Clinicians who are more comfortable managing information protection in a HIPAA-compliant order may offer a wider variety of options for connection.
- Access to skilled providers: Often, individuals living in rural or remote areas struggle to find a quality mental health provider. The selection process is often even trickier when their need falls under a specialty population.
Online therapy offers access to a wide range of skilled therapists specializing in various areas. Clients can seek assistance from specialized providers with minimal effort necessary.
Cons Of Online Therapy
Although online therapy offers an array of advantages compared to in-person treatment, there are a few things to keep in mind. Some individuals may not benefit from this form of care, so it’s essential to understand both the benefits and the downfalls.
A few of the potential cons of online therapy include:
- Loss of the holistic experience: Many individuals who report dissatisfaction with online therapy mention the perceived lack of connection with their provider. Since the experience is entirely virtual, they may struggle to experience empathy from their provider as they may if they were sharing the same space.
- Issues with insurance coverage: Online therapy is relatively new on the therapy scene, which translates to inconsistent insurance coverage. Some insurance providers may not offer coverage for online therapy practices. Although online therapy may be less expensive than in-person options, clients may struggle to find insurance coverage for their virtual therapy visits.
- Problems with technology: Technology is what makes online therapy possible. However, when working with a spotty internet connection, intermittent cellular service, or an undependable electronic device, the appointment may be interrupted or not work at all. These issues wouldn’t be prevalent with in-person therapy, although in-person services come with a unique set of drawbacks.
- Not suitable for everyone: Some individuals seeking assistance from a therapist may find it unsuitable for them. Individuals with mental disorders on the extreme end of the spectrum, such as schizophrenia, high suicidality, or intellectual disabilities, may not receive the treatment they need from online therapy.
- Difficulty finding reputable therapy providers: Not all online therapy providers are as reputable as those offering in-office services. Certain online therapy service providers are under-educated and offer minimal skills, which may translate to an unsatisfactory experience with the clinician. It’s crucial to thoroughly research your potential therapy providers to ensure they are a reputable choice.
Verify the therapist uses a HIPAA-compliant and only employs licensed therapists for the state you live in. Ensure you look into the therapist’s record-keeping practices. All data and communication between you and your therapist should be encrypted to protect against cyber attacks. The platform and the therapist you choose should outline policies surrounding your state’s record-keeping laws and APA’s record-keeping guidelines.
Pros and Cons Of In-Person Therapy
The traditional approach to mental health treatment appeals to countless individuals seeking assistance. Individuals who find that online therapy doesn’t work for their needs may find in-person sessions better suited. However, in-person therapy offers its fair share of ups and downs as well.
Pros of In-Person Therapy
In-person therapy may be a more suitable option for specific individuals seeking help with their mental health concerns. A few of the benefits of in-person therapy include:
- Nonverbal communication: Face-to-face therapy sessions offer the therapist a wealth of information beyond verbal communications. Nonverbal cues can help a therapist better understand a client’s needs and facilitate verbal communication.
In virtual therapy settings, nonverbal information may be partly or entirely lost. Sessions via a video call may offer the therapist some semblance of nonverbal information. However, sessions over the phone don’t offer this advantage.
- Intensive support: Some individuals struggling with mental health disorders or concerns may require direct, face-to-face therapeutic support. Therapists may enlist art, music, and play therapy, offering effective support during an in-person session.
- Neutral location: In-person therapy sessions occur in a therapist’s office, which may be beneficial for some individuals. The space is a neutral location, isolated from the client’s everyday life, which may increase comfort levels when sharing private information.
Cons of In-Person Therapy
- Travel: Some individuals may be unable to travel to their therapy appointments for various reasons, whether it’s due to things like unsavory road conditions, a lack of transportation, or social anxiety.
- Timing: In some cases, therapists may not have the availability to accommodate a client’s needs. This can cause the client to seek assistance elsewhere or force a delay to begin sessions with a new therapist.
- Diagnosis requirement: Treatment in the form of therapy can be costly, which makes insurance coverage important. Frequently, insurance providers require the individual to have a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) diagnosis. Without this, some insurance providers may not offer insurance reimbursement for therapy services.
Which Is Better: In-Person Therapy Or Online Therapy?
Ultimately, the decision of which option is more suitable falls to the individual and their specific needs. Online therapy, while it is a convenient, comfortable, versatile option, may not be ideal for everyone. Individuals who struggle with more severe mental disorders may find that in-person therapy services are the better choice.
Regardless of whether you choose virtual or in-person services, the type of support that works best for you is available. It’s important to follow your intuition and choose the therapist and service option that works best for you.