With the era of advanced technology, more and more people are turning towards online treatments and solutions including psychotherapy. People are seeking online help to meet their mental health care needs now. Online therapy enables the individual to virtually meet and talk to their therapist anytime anywhere with a stable internet connection. One of the most common and popular online therapy is through video conferencing, but it is up to to the client and the therapist because some prefer phone calls and texts as well.

What is Online Therapy?

Online therapy is just like traditional talk therapy but in this case, the therapist uses text, phone, chat, or video services to perform their duty. The therapist guides the clients through their problems and challenges using the most convenient communication channels.

Nowadays, many therapists are even starting to offer only online therapy as a way to communicate with people who seek help. People prefer this treatment because they can get their therapy done at their homes with convenience with no need to travel or go anywhere. This is particularly very helpful for those living in remote areas, the ones who have busy schedules or have limited mobility due to some reasons.

Online therapy can be used as a standalone treatment or it can be used with collaboration with other therapies. This happens when the therapist is already providing the therapy from the office but switch to online therapy if the client or the therapist is out of town. Online therapy addresses the mental challenges of the people, helping them get through their life challenges, with the easiest communication channel.

How to find an Online Therapist

If you are looking to find the perfect Online Therapist it is crucial to make sure that they have the appropriate qualifications, knowledge and experience. At Expat Therapy 4U we only accept therapists who have full professional proficiency in English and are highly experienced in working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds. The clinicians we approve share our values and commitment to provide high quality therapy to the expatriate community in the private sector across Europe and online worldwide. We strongly believe that therapy changes lives, and being accredited ensures all our therapists are qualified to a high standard. You can find an Online Therapist who is insured to practice and accredited with a recognised membership body online here.

How does Online Therapy work?

An online session can offer you a variety of services, for a variety of issues, to help you work out with your challenges. Depending upon the intensity of the situation and the client, the therapist can decide to reach out to the client in the following ways:

Phone calls: It is not new and surprising at all. Therapists have been doing counselling through phone calls and they have even reported success. When you choose therapy over a phone call, here are some of the perks:

• Anonymity
• More convenient
• A better sense of control

Video Conferencing: it is no doubt more effective and a better way to reach out to help. When you are seeing the other person, you feel like you are in the same room with them. It works really well with the people living in rural areas, having difficulties in travelling, and being unable to reach to the counsellor for their needs. Usually, this way, people tend to attend more sessions than they used to attend in-person.

What can Online Therapy help with?

Online therapy is best for people who don’t have access to direct therapy due to several reasons. People might not want to meet in the office, they can have travelling issues, or they just want to be treated at their convenience. Luckily, the therapists have got it all covered. Now, that you know that you can have the service at home, you might be thinking about if your issues are fit for the therapy or not. Online therapy aims at addressing almost every issue from general to specific.

Mostly, online therapy has been found very effective in treating the following issues:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Stress
• OCD
• Parenting Issues
• Eating Disorders
• Stress issues

Studies have shown that online therapy can be as effective as any other face-to-face therapy for several reasons. Therapists even use many useful techniques like Cognitive-behavioural therapy in their online sessions to make the therapy more effective.

Does Online Therapy actually work?

It is fine to have some doubts about the effectiveness of online therapy. But as it brings some challenges, it has also received support from many patients who have used this therapy for mental health care needs. In a study published in the journal ‘World Journal of Psychiatry’, patients have reported that they have felt a high level of satisfaction from online therapy.

Research has also suggested that online therapy can be used and is effective for several health issues. There was a study that proved that only cognitive behavioural therapy combined with clinical care is very effective for the treatment of depression, stress, anxiety, and other illness-related emotional distress. In some cases, it was seen that online treatment has actually given better results than traditional face-to-face therapy.

A study conducted in 2015 indicated that internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy is as effective as traditional face-to-face therapy for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Another study conducted in 2017 proved the same.

What are the benefits of Online Therapy?

Where online therapy is as convenient as it can be, here are some of its pros that are worthy of consideration:

Online Therapy is good for those living in remote areas

It offers therapy and help to the people who might not be able to get access to the therapist’s offices due to their location. Those who live in remote areas have this biggest advantage of using online therapy for the sake of their mental health treatment. They might find it difficult to drive to the office so it might be the best option for them.

Online Therapy is good for people with physical limitations

Individuals who are physically disabled and are housebound should not be deprived of the basic mental health care they deserve. Online therapy provides them the care and the professional help they deserve through online means.

Online Therapy is convenient and affordable

Yes, it is fairly convenient and affordable for most people. Since you are attending the sessions at your home with your comfort level, and you can schedule the appointment as per your wish, what would be more convenient than this?

Find an Online Therapist through the Expat Therapy 4U platform

Online therapy is a life-saving approach for many people and experts have vouched for its credibility. So, if you think you are having some issues and you cannot go anywhere, do some research and get the care you deserve right now.

Further Readings on Online Therapy

https://theinternationalpsychologyclinic.com/services/online-counselling/