Is Online Therapy for You? Pros and Cons of Online Therapy

What is Online Therapy?

Online counseling has been around for a long time. Some forms of it have been around since the 1990s! (Although online therapy was mostly limited to forum answers and emails.) In the early 2010s therapy companies operating exclusively online started to gain traction. Virtual therapy didn’t start to become really popular until the pandemic in 2020, when many in-person therapy offices were forced to close but the need for counseling was at an all-time high. 

Online therapy is the same as in-person therapy, except, as the name suggests, it’s online! You still meet with a licensed professional therapist. Most sessions use some modality of talk therapy, the most common being cognitive behavioral therapy, strength-based therapy, and humanistic therapy. Your therapist will help you through a hard time, rough life transition, or mental illness. They can refer you to psychiatrists for medication and work with your doctors to find the right treatment plan for you. 

Nowadays, there are many forms of online therapy, such as:

• Video calls: The most popular and evidence-based approach, this is when your therapy is done over a video call like Zoom or Skype (except HIPAA compliant)
• Phone calls: Not as common but still relevant is online therapy that does not involve video but instead just voice chatting over the phone. 
• Text therapy: A newer and less popular method, text therapy can have its uses. This involves simply texting with a therapist, usually on an as-needed basis and throughout the day. Although it lacks the in-depth approach of video and phone call therapy, some people find the 24/7 nature of text therapy services helpful. 

The right online therapy modality for you will depend on your needs and availability, although we recommend starting with video calls as it is the most popular and most heavily researched. 

Is therapy as effective online?

Yes! Plenty of research has been done on the question of online therapy’s effectiveness and is conclusive: online therapy is generally as effective as in-person therapy. For mental illnesses, research has drawn conclusive results showing online therapy is as effective as in-person therapy in treating depression, general anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorders, and addictions. For people with more severe mental illness, in-person therapy may be better suited for you. Of course, choosing the right online therapist is paramount to the success of therapy. 

There are also individual differences. Some people simply prefer in-person therapy and get more value from it. We’ll go into the pros and cons of online therapy below, so you can make an informed decision yourself. 

Pros of Online Therapy

Benefits of online therapy include:

• Remote Access: Traditionally in-person therapy clinics were primarily built in highly populated areas like towns or cities. People in rural areas or who did not have a car or other means of transportation could not get to therapy offices to receive mental health care. With online therapy, anyone can be connected with a qualified, experienced therapist from their home, needing nothing more than a stable connection and some privacy. 
• Easily Accessible: Similarly to people living in remote areas, people with disabilities may have found in-person therapy limiting. If an office was not in a disability-friendly office, if there were stairs or other obstacles, finding a therapist could be that much more difficult. Online therapy removes those physical barriers and enables more people to receive the quality mental health care they deserve. 
• Convenient: For parents of young children, people with busy schedules, or young adults and teenagers, in-person therapy could be too much of a time commitment. The commute to and from the therapy office adds up, and figuring out what to do with children and pets while you’re gone could prove to be expensive. Online therapy is convenient because you don’t have to leave your home to connect with your therapist, giving you more freedom and time to pursue other activities. 
• Affordable: Many online therapy companies are cheaper than in-person because the therapists don't have to pay for overhead office costs. It is less expensive for them to conduct business and therefore less expensive for you to receive care! Also, you save on gas, childcare, and all the little costs of leaving the house like coffee, snacks, and parking. 
• Comfortable: Therapy is a scary enough endeavor already; you’re meeting someone new to spill your heart to. That’s stressful! Virtual therapy can help make you feel more comfortable. You’re in your own space, and have access to all your normal comforts like a pet, your favorite sweatshirt and warm drink, or blankets. You don’t have the stress of being in someone else's space for the first time. For many people, this peace of mind can be the difference between opening up in therapy and remaining a closed book. 

These are just a few of the pros of online therapy. There are numerous other pros of therapy in general that are shared between in-person and online therapy, this list includes only the benefits of online therapy that stand out.

One thing people worry about when attending online therapy is privacy and confidentiality. However, all online therapists abide by HIPAA confidentiality policies and use video conferencing tools that adhere to the policy. Your data and personal information is 100% safe during online therapy. If you’re concerned about your privacy, reach out to an online therapy provider for more information. 

Cons of Online Therapy

Although online therapy has proved useful for many people, everyone has different needs. Some people find those needs are better met through in-person therapy. Let’s take a look at some of the cons of virtual therapy:

• Lack of in-person body language: Humans communicate a lot nonverbally. And although video calls allow the tone of voice and facial expressions to come through, your therapist still won't be able to read your body language or energy. This can hinder the therapy process, as counselors are trained to read all the nonverbal cues to help them understand what is going on with their clients and guide them down the best path of recovery. 
• Feeling disconnected: Some people say they don’t connect as well to their therapist during online therapy. There is nothing wrong with simply preferring to meet with someone in person. There is a better energetical exchange during in-person therapy, and some people feel safer when they are also able to read their therapist’s body language and nonverbal cues. 
• Insurance Coverage: Most insurances will cover video therapy. Phone calls and text therapy, however, are on a case-by-case basis. It’s worth checking with your insurance company before you sign up for online therapy services, but most virtual therapy companies that provide video therapy accept all major insurance plans. (Click here to check if Lifebulb Therapy accepts your insurance.)
• Not Appropriate for Severe Mental Illnesses: Online therapy has some limitations with the severity of mental health issues it can address. Although most people struggle with mild to moderate mental illness, which can be treated online, some people are struggling with many complex disorders, incredibly severe depression or anxiety, or psychiatric mental illnesses like Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder. In these cases, an in-person therapist or team of medical health providers might be better suited for your needs.

Online therapy is not for everyone, but it has been a great resource for many people. If you are interested in online therapy and think the pros outweigh the cons, you can find an online therapist near you today. Contact Lifebulb’s team to be matched with a therapist in your state or browse our list of therapists to find one that you connect with the most. 

If you have any questions about online therapy, reach out to us. We are happy to help. 

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