May 17, 2022

Online vs In-Person Psychotherapy

Online vs In-Person Psychotherapy: Regardless of the type of therapy that you choose, one thing that is for certain, any therapy is better than no therapy at all.

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Online vs In-Person Psychotherapy

Cam Burbank <small>M.C., REGISTERED PROVISIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST</small>

Cam Burbank M.C., REGISTERED PROVISIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST

Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologist

Online vs In-Person psychotherapy: historically, psychotherapy (a.k.a. counselling) has been almost exclusively delivered in an in-person environment. Over the last few years, there has been a huge shift in the marketplace in terms of how medical and mental health services are delivered to the consumer. Providing clients with online sessions is no longer optional, rather it has become the norm.

What is Online Therapy?

Essentially, “online counselling” refers to the idea of obtaining counselling services over the internet in real-time. Virtual platforms such as Jane, Zoom, Google Meets, etc. provide a virtual space for clients and professionals to meet and to participate in counselling services.

What does the research say?

According to the most recent research on telepsychology, some findings suggest that online therapy can be effective for treating a range of disorders including depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other problems in children and adolescents (Varker, T., et al., Psychological Services, Vol 16, No.4, 2019). Research is limited, but early indications are leaning towards e-therapy being an effective method of treatment for a range of common mental health concerns.

Before you book a session with your counsellor, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons that you should take into consideration.

Online vs in-person psychotherapy

Benefits of Online Therapy

Accessibility and convenience are key motivating factors for individuals/couples who seek online therapy because it is easy to access and takes less time since there is no need to travel to and from your appointment. It is also a great option for people who live in remote or rural areas that have limited access to mental health resources.
E-therapy eliminates potential barriers to seeking counselling. It also provides accessibility to individuals who are disabled or are unable to leave their homes. Seeking professional help can be difficult and intimidating. Online therapy can eliminate some of these barriers and many see it as a useful alternative to traditional in-person therapy.
Treatment can be more approachable. People may feel more comfortable talking to friends and family about their physical health concerns, but many people do not feel the same when it comes to their mental health. Online access to counselling makes it easier to overcome the stigma that is sometimes attached to mental health issues.

Drawbacks of Online Therapy

Confidentiality, privacy and unreliable technology. Keeping your personal information private and confidential is a major concern when using online platforms as it adds a layer of complexity that increases the risk of your personal and private medical/mental health information being compromised. This is one reason why at Calgary Couples Counselling Centre we use Jane software for our video sessions as it has been specifically developed to protect your private data with strong security features.
If there is a crisis it may be difficult to respond in a timely manner. Being in the same physical space is much easier for your therapist to respond in a timely and efficient manner ensuring the safety of the client.
While e-therapy might be useful for treating some conditions, it can be limited in terms of its effectiveness for treating more serious or complex mental health disorders.

While this is not an exhaustive list of all benefits and drawbacks of online therapy, it is some of the more common issues to consider.

So what is best for you?

There is not an easy answer and it depends on the type of experience you want to have. What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for someone else. Regardless of the type of therapy that you choose, one thing is for certain, any therapy is better than no therapy at all.

Still not sure?

Book a free 15-minute consult online or in-person with one of our therapists

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