Is Online Therapy For Me? 9 Essential Considerations

Overview

A healthy mind and emotional body are critically important to everyone, no matter what age, life-stage, sex, race or occupation.

Feeling mentally fit allows you to notice and enjoy the things in life that bring you joy, being able to overcome and bounce back from setbacks and adversities and generally balance mental, physical, social and spiritual spheres in your life.

Just like physical health, mental health requires constant awareness, attention, and maintenance. Neither can give us a sense of overall balance without the other. It is important to understand how mental health affects our well-being and to recognise the signs that tell us that seeking help may be necessary.

What is Online Therapy

Online Therapy is a way of providing medical and supportive care remotely, usually through video consultations. It is nothing from the future, but simply a combination of two of the most basic urges in society: the desire to connect and communicate and the wish to help those in need.

Online Therapy is a term often used loosely and interchangeably with psychotherapy, talk or talking therapy, counselling, career coaching, social support, “life coaching” or simply therapy. It describes a range of interventions and no matter the term used, mental health counselling can benefit people struggling with emotional difficulties, life challenges, and mental health concerns.

Therapy can help improve symptoms of many mental health conditions. In therapy, people also learn to cope with symptoms that may not respond to treatment right away.

Research shows the benefits of therapy last longer than medication alone. Medication can reduce some symptoms of mental health conditions, but therapy teaches people skills to address symptoms on their own.

These skills last after therapy ends, and symptoms may continue to improve, making it less likely people will need further treatment.

Mental health issues are common. Statistics from the South African Depression and Anxiety Group show that 1 out of every 6 South Africans suffers from a common mental health condition, while 23 South Africans commit suicide daily .

But only a small proportion of people with mental health issues get help. Untreated mental health conditions often get worse and may have other negative effects. They could also lead to:

• • • • Inability to work or go to school
      • Difficulty in relationships or taking care of children
      • Increased risk of health issues
      • Hospitalization
      • Suicide

Do I “Need” Therapy?

Telling someone they should go to therapy or that they need therapy can be stigmatizing. It may be difficult to watch a loved one deal with mental health challenges, but it’s important for people to choose to seek help on their own—as long as they aren’t putting themselves or anyone else in danger.

Encouraging someone you care about to look into possible therapy options, even offering to review potential therapists with them, is generally a better way to show support. People who feel forced into therapy may feel resistant and find it harder to put in the work needed to make change.

While therapy can help people work through issues that lead to thoughts of suicide, it’s usually not the best option for people in crisis.

If you or anyone you know is being abused, in a crisis or may be in danger, please use the appropriate Emergency contacts  to get immediate help through phone, text message, or online chat.

When any type of mental health or emotional concern affects daily life and function, therapy may be recommended. Therapy can help you learn about what you’re feeling, why you might be feeling it, and how to cope.

Therapy also offers a safe place to talk through life challenges such as:

• • • • breakups and relationship difficulties
      • addictions and codependency
      • parenting difficulties and mental well-being and copying skills of children and adolescents
      • depression and anxiety
      • trauma, abuse, grief
      • self-confidence, general resilience and well-being
      • career counselling, assessments and guidance

Should I start Therapy?

It may take some consideration before you decide you’re ready for therapy. You might want to wait and see if time, lifestyle changes, or the support of friends and family improves whatever you’re struggling with.

The American Psychological Association suggests considering therapy when something causes distress and interferes with some part of life, particularly when:

• • • • Thinking about or coping with the issue takes up at least an hour each day
      • The issue causes embarrassment or makes you want to avoid others
      • The issue has caused your quality of life to decrease
      • The issue has negatively affected school, work, or relationships
      • You’ve made changes in your life or developed habits to cope with the issue

If you experience any of the following emotions or feelings to the extent that they interfere with life, therapy may help you reduce their effects.

It’s especially important to consider getting help if you feel controlled by symptoms or if they could cause harm to yourself or others.

• • • • Overwhelm. You might feel like you have too many things to do or too many issues to cope with. You might feel like you can’t rest or even breathe. Stress and overwhelm can lead to serious physical health concerns.

• • • • Fatigue. This physical symptom often results from or accompanies mental health issues. It can indicate depression. Fatigue can cause you to sleep more than usual or have trouble getting out of bed in the morning.

• • • • Disproportionate rage, anger, or resentment. Everyone feels angry at times. Even passing rage isn’t necessarily harmful. Seeking support to deal with these feelings may be a good idea when they don’t pass, are extreme compared to the situation, or if they lead you to take violent or potentially harmful actions.

• • • • Agoraphobia. People with agoraphobia fear being in places where they might experience panic attacks or become trapped. Some people may become unable to leave their houses.

• • • • Anxious or intrusive thoughts. It’s normal to worry about things from time to time, but when worry takes up a significant part of your day or causes physical symptoms, therapy can help you deal with it.

• • • • Apathy. Losing interest in usual activities, the world around you, or life in general can indicate mental health issues like depression or anxiety.

• • • • Hopelessness. Losing hope or motivation, or feeling as if you have no future, can indicate depression or another mental health condition. Feeling hopeless from time to time, especially after a period of difficulty, isn’t uncommon. But when it persists, it may lead to thoughts of suicide.

• • • • Social withdrawal. Many people feel better when they’re able to spend at least some time alone. Introverted people may need even more time alone than others. But if you feel distressed around others or fear being with other people, therapy can help you understand and deal with these feelings.

I’ve Already Tried Therapy and It Didn’t Work

Sometimes therapy doesn’t help right away. Even in an ideal therapy situation, it can take time for symptoms to improve. Going to therapy and seeing no change may cause frustration. It may seem like a waste of time and money. Many people stop going to therapy as a result.

Sometimes therapy doesn’t help right away. Even in an ideal therapy situation, it can take time for symptoms to improve.

Other factors can impact how effective therapy is. There is no single, correct approach that works for everyone. Not every therapist will work for everyone, either. Having a negative experience with a particular therapist or a certain type of treatment can make it hard to try therapy again, even if you want support.

It can help to look for a therapist who treats what you’re experiencing. If you don’t have a diagnosis, you can talk to potential therapists about your symptoms. An ethical therapist will let you know if they’re able to treat your concern. If they can’t, they may be able to recommend someone who can.

Keep in mind different approaches may be better for different issues. Being misdiagnosed can affect how treatment works. If you didn’t feel heard in therapy before, or if you experience different symptoms, a different therapist might be a better fit for you.

Why Should I Go to Therapy?

If you’re considering therapy, you may be thinking about the possible drawbacks. Cost might be a concern for you. You might also be aware that therapy is often difficult. Trauma or other painful events from the past can be frightening to remember, much less discuss with someone else.

Even if you aren’t dealing with trauma, working through challenges isn’t easy, and therapy isn’t a quick fix. Therapy also requires honesty, with yourself and with the therapist you work with.

But if you’re willing to do the work, therapy can be rewarding. It’s a safe, judgment-free space where you can share anything, with a trained professional who is there to help.

Benefits of therapy

The benefits of therapy are linked to your reasons for pursuing therapy but generally speaking, what we engage with, we can improve.

• • • • You’ll learn more about yourself. Therapists listen to your story and help you make connections. They might offer guidance or recommendations if you feel lost, but they don’t tell you what to do. Therapy can empower you to take action on your own.

• • • • Therapy can help you achieve your goals. If you aren’t sure of what your goals are, therapy can help you clarify them and set realistic steps to meet them.

• • • • Therapy can help you have more fulfilling relationships. Whether you’re single or in a relationship, therapy can help you address difficulties with relating to others, such as insecurity in relationships or difficulty trusting your partners.

• • • • You’re more likely to have better health. Research supports a link between mind and body wellness. Untreated mental health issues can impact physical wellness. On the other hand, people in good emotional health may be more able to deal with physical health issues that arise.

• • • • Therapy can lead to improvement in all areas of life. If you feel like something is holding you back from living life as you envision it, therapy can help you address this. When you aren’t sure what’s keeping you from making change, therapy can help you discover the answer.

Is Online Therapy for Me?

Online Therapy has been around all over the world for many years now and there have been several meta-studies done on the subject. The findings of the body of research on the effectiveness of online therapy are not only impressive but stand high above expectation.

Numerous  studies have confirmed the overwhelmingly positive value of online therapy and coaching for clients and provide strong support for the adoption of online psychological interventions as a legitimate and sustainable therapeutic activity.

The provision of online therapy, counselling and coaching has many advantages, accommodating individuals who cannot or will not access direct face-to-face psychological services due to geographic location, medical conditions, financial or other constraints or, more recently, social distancing.

Benefits of online therapy over traditional face-to-face therapy that clients generally report include:

• • • • Continuity of care and support
      • Lower costs
      • Unlimited choice
      • Improved access to care
      • Improved work-life balance and convenience
      • Preventative care
      • Comparability, client empowerment and control
      • Less exposure to illness and infections

What next step should I take?

If you aren’t sure you want to commit to therapy or if online therapy is the way to go, many therapists offer a deeply discounted first consultation to talk through what you’re dealing with. Based on your symptoms, they can help you assess the appropriateness of pursuing online therapy specifically in your case.

Begin your search for a therapist, counsellor or coach today!

References:

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11. Good Therapy. January 18, 2019 • By Crystal Raypole. https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/why-should-i-go-to-therapy-8-signs-its-time-to-see-a-therapist-0118197
12. https://www.regain.us/advice/general/betterhelp-is-it-the-best-online-therapy-and-counseling-platform-in-2020-and-why/