Why Online Therapy?
Any time you watch a movie with a therapist in it, there’s a couch (and arguably, questionable therapy techniques!). We are so used to the image of the movie therapist, tastefully dressed in a starched button-down and nodding impassively along with what the client laying on the couch is saying. Perhaps taking notes on a legal pad, but definitely looking slightly owlish and distant on an overstuffed chair.
Newsflash: this is not usually what real therapy is like. Thank goodness.
Therapy in real life takes many forms, which is great because everyone feels comfortable with different environments and styles of therapy.
This brings us to online therapy.
In-Person Therapy Can Feel Pretty Stressful
Some of the hazards of traditional in-person therapy include not knowing where the office is, how bad parking is or if you will see someone you know in the waiting room.
A perk of online therapy is that there’s no speeding to the first appointment as you realise its farther away than you assumed, only to go in circles around the block looking for a mirage-like parking spot that never appears. You get through the gauntlet of parallel parking, emerging sweaty and wild-eyed from your car only to discover that you’re now late and discombobulated for your first session with a new therapist. (Oh, is that just me? Been there.)
In online therapy, you don’t need to take time away from work or family to budget travel time. There’s no awkward mascara-stained walk to the car after a deep session or walk through a waiting room full of people. You can schedule between odd times in your schedule that wouldn’t be possible if we were meeting in office. Some of my clients prefer to drive to a park and meet with me over video from their cars. With online therapy, it’s up to you as long as you have a relatively private space without interruptions and decent WiFi.
Sensitive People and Overstimulation in In-Person Therapy
For sensitive people, meeting online can feel less overstimulating than in-person therapy. The experience of getting to the building, sitting in a waiting room with people chatting, checking in with a receptionist, walking into the therapist’s actual office and taking inventory of all the sights, smells and sounds can be incredibly overwhelming for sensitive folx and all before even beginning the actual therapy session. When you are meeting a therapist in person, it’s impossible to opt out of features such as fluorescent lights, decor, diffusers, perfume or the leftover smells of your therapist’s lunch that may be lingering in the air. It can feel hard to focus on the actual session and what you want to say with so much sensory input. With online therapy, the narrowed focus of the screen removes a lot of those distractions. You’ll see my face and hear my voice, maybe see some of my plant collection in the background. We’ll focus on you,,, not on leftover lunch smells.
Considerations with Online Therapy
Online therapy is not for everyone. Some people who may specifically not benefit from online therapy are those with severe suicidal ideation or severe, chronic mental health issues. In these cases, it’s usually most beneficial and safest for the client if a therapist can provide ongoing evaluation in-person.
Who Is a Good Fit for Online Therapy?
People who tend to be self-motivated and willing to seek change find that online therapy can feel comfortable. Many of us have been thrown, willing or not, into a bevy of Zoom meetings since COVID-19 changed the world. We’ve found that the things we previously believed to be non-negotiably in person (see also, therapy) are actually negotiable. Thanks to a little scientific brain magic called mirror neurons, we can still deeply be in each other’s presence while using video. Many clients, especially millennials and teens, find it preferable to use video due to their comfort with tech.
In summary, seeking therapy is deeply personal. In online therapy, we can focus on the important things instead of the distractions that aren’t a part of your session. If the thought of online therapy intrigues you and you think you might want to give it a shot, reach out and schedule a video appointment with me.
