The thought of seeking help for any problems you’ve been facing at work or home can be daunting. You have to admit that you’re struggling, and sharing your issues with a stranger may not be something you’re overly comfortable doing. You may not even think you have enough spare time to drive to and from sessions.
But as scary as therapy may seem, it can end up being one of the most beneficial things you do for your mental health and well-being. The best part is that advancements in technology have also meant it’s something you can do online.
If you’re not yet convinced that online therapy can be of benefit to you, here are some information that may help change your mind.
Save time
One of the many advantages of online counselling is that you don’t have to drive to an appointment. If you live in a city with long commute times and limited parking, the time savings can be considerable.
Instead of leaving work or home long before you have to be at your appointment, you can simply open up your computer or turn on your phone wherever you are with just a few minutes to spare.
Enjoy more flexibility
Life gets busy, and even if you’ve looked at engaging a therapist before, the inflexibility of in-person appointments may have made it next to impossible to commit. That may not be a problem with online sessions.
Counselling experts with online appointment slots generally provide more options to suit busy schedules like yours, and you can often make your appointment online by choosing a time slot to suit.
It’s easy to assume that your busy lifestyle prevents you from accessing the mental health support you need, but that doesn’t have to be the case.
More privacy
We all need to take care of our mental health, but there is still a stigma around accessing professional help. As a result, the thought of a lack of privacy in online sessions may be stopping you from getting the support you need.
You may feel nervous about having your loved ones see your vehicle parked outside a therapist’s office or being spotted in a public waiting room. As you don’t need to drive anywhere or visit a therapist’s office with online sessions, you may be able to enjoy more privacy.
Generally, you just need to find a quiet place, such as a bedroom in your home, your private office at work, or even your car and connect with your chosen counsellor through video chat software.
Greater comfort
For many people, the prospect of talking to a stranger about your problems can be daunting. However, you then include a new environment, new smells, and new sounds, and there can be too many ‘new’ things that take you out of your comfort zone.
One of the most compelling reasons to try online counselling is being able to enter your sessions in a space you find the most comfortable. You might have a beanbag or a favourite chair, and a cushion to squeeze to make you feel more at ease when talking.
While in-person therapists try their best to provide a warm, welcoming, and comfortable environment, it’s still an unfamiliar one, and that can be enough to stop people from getting the help they desperately need.
More options to choose from
You won’t always match with the first counsellor or therapist you meet, and that’s okay. It’s vital that you’re comfortable sharing with whoever you choose, and that may not be who you sign up with initially.
Online counselling sessions are not only more flexible with time and environment but also with who you choose. You can generally select experts from a wider pool of options, which means even if you don’t ‘gel’ with your therapist initially, you may be able to work with another one who suits your needs better.
Price transparency
It can sometimes be uncomfortable asking how much something costs and in-person therapy sessions are no different. However, when you sign up for online counselling sessions, prices are generally outlined on their website.
Before you sign up, you can be aware of the approximate costs per session and know that there are no hidden costs associated with using an online platform. By knowing all your likely expenses upfront, you can budget for your session in advance.
For improved general accessibility
If you work challenging hours, live rurally, or have no mode of transport like 10% of households, you may not think you’re able to access any mental health support. However, online therapy makes it a possibility.
You can make appointments around your working hours, access support even when you don’t live near a town or city, and you don’t need a car to access your appointments. Overall, online therapy sessions are the epitome of accessibility.
There’s no denying that receiving mental health support can be scary, but it can also be valuable to help you grow as a person and solve some of your most pressing problems. Whether you’re lacking time, courage, or availability, online therapy sessions may be able to solve some of these problems and others.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg.
