I'd be lying if I said that mental health services are easily available, accessible or convenient. Surprisingly, for something as essential as mental health, it's pretty hard to access. Online counseling has become one possible answer to this age-old problem. Thank goodness for wi-fi, am I right?
...Because the way (the majority of the planet's) mental health took a nosedive in 2020 is remarkable. Unfortunately, for those grappling with mental illness, the process of finding a qualified mental health professional is almost as taxing as the illness itself.
It's a whole ordeal (especially for in-person therapy). While finding an online therapist isn't a perfectly seamless experience, it does pose some benefits that traditional therapy does not.
In this article, I'll break down the pros and cons--both researched and from personal experience--of online counseling. This isn't a bash of traditional therapy by any means. That said, accessing mental health care from abroad, or with limited funds is challenging, so online therapy is a possible alternative.
Online Therapy Pro 1: Immediate access
I speak in-depth about my experience with Talkspace here, but one major pro is how quickly you can get set up and on your way. It's often as simple as clicking a few buttons. Why is this a pro exactly? Because it leaves less room to procrastinate! If you have to find, research, get dressed and drive to your therapy office, well, let's just say there are way too many chances to back out.
Online Therapy Con 1: No body language
One of the cons of online therapy service is so much of it is done via texting or voice notes and not so much via video. Mental health issues are, at times, easy to hide. Body language and nonverbal communication is something that mental health professionals pay attention to because it speaks louder than words at times.
When I used Talkspace, I only saw my online therapist once a month, and even still, it was from the shoulders up. I believe that with traditional therapy sessions it's easier to read facial expressions and there's a lot to be said for direct human contact when trying to connect with your therapist.
Online Therapy Pro 2: Business hours
While it's true that most online therapists have a set schedule, since you're using a messaging app, you can write when you want. They usually promise a window in which they'll respond--between 24 and 48 hours. This is ideal if you have a busy schedule too!
This is super different to in person counseling where you're limited not only by the hours but also the frequency in which you can communicate with your therapist. Usually when the session ends, so does your communication until the next time.
Online Therapy Con 2: Unreliable Technology
Sharing all your trauma is an inevitable aspect of the therapeutic process, now imagine getting frozen mid-story? Eek. The awkward repetition or the moments of "can you hear me?" get really old really quickly.
E-therapy is not without its technical hiccups and some may find online therapy distracting for that very reason. With face-to-face therapy you have the chance to immediately self-correct or clarify. E-therapy, well, not so much.
Online Therapy Pro 3: Familiar Setting
If you were born after the year 1985, you're probably extremely comfortable texting. Online therapy was attractive to me because I felt more in control of my surroundings. I didn't have to worry about what I was wearing, whether I was sweating, or what my hands were doing whenever I reached out to my therapist.
To be able to access mental health services from my pajamas on my couch in Spain is a privilege I don't take for granted.
Online Therapy Con 3: Does your health insurance cover online therapy?
Distance therapy is a more affordable way to obtain informed professional advice instead of, if you're anything like me, at least, sitting and stewing. The biggest gap I've seen so far boils down to insurance coverage.
While online treatment is more affordable overall, it's not free. Health insurance coverage seems to be a huge divider, and for international folks seeking virtual therapy, it's even more of a nuisance. (Do they accept my credit card? Is there a conversion rate issue? Will my account be flagged?) So, I suppose it's not as simple as having a reliable internet connection...
First step is to ask your insurance company and check out the available options. They may have some possibilities that are unique to your provider versus using an external platform like Betterhelp or Talkspace.
Again, international folks, this is where the paths may diverge a bit. Easy access isn't always easy from across the ocean.
Conclusion
Mental health is health. Honestly, access to (at the bare minimum) online therapy should be standard practice, but we're not there quite yet as a society. Not everyone can make it to in person therapy, and having these services online is a game changer for so many people, myself included.
I can't speak to the effectiveness of online therapy for serious psychiatric illnesses as most of the therapists are psychologists (usually clinical psychology), and not psychiatrists. That means if you need medication, or to fill a prescription, you may find that distance therapy platforms fall short.
In general, booking an online session is more affordable since the therapists have fewer overhead costs and physical limitations. There are less complex systems to navigate for both parties which again adds to the immediate help of distance therapy.
It's not a perfect system, in fact there's room for a lot of improvement, but online mediums are bringing therapy to those who need it and that's a reason to celebrate.