The Effectiveness of Online Therapy
It wasn’t that long ago that counselling and therapy was strictly provided in person. However, with the advent of the pandemic and the rise of technology, therapy can now be accessed anywhere by phone, text, video and even virtual reality.
But many have asked us… is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Research consistently shows that online treatment can be very effective for many mental health concerns with some key benefits over traditional face-to-face therapy.
Listed are some interesting results from a sampling of studies about online treatment:
A 2014 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that online treatment was just as effective as face-to-face treatment for depression.
A 2014 study published in Behaviour Research and Therapy found that online cognitive behavioral therapy was effective in treating anxiety disorders. Treatment was cost-effective and the positive improvements were sustained at the one-year follow-up.
A 2018 study published in the Journal of Psychological Disorders found that online cognitive behavioral therapy is, "effective, acceptable, and practical health care." The study found the online cognitive behavioral therapy was equally as effective as face-to-face treatment for major depression, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.
Online therapy offers some key benefits:
Ecological: our carbon footprint is reduced when we don't need to drive to access services
Accessibility: no need to navigate the logistics of traffic, parking, childcare, etc.
Efficiency: less time is spent travelling to therapy when accessed from a client's preferred location
Anonymity: clients will not run into others in waiting rooms or have to engage in small talk
Privacy: clients only see their therapist without an admin staff or other clients in a busy, multi-care clinic
Scheduling: many clients find therapy-from-anywhere to be highly convenient
Affordability: clients save money on parking, hiring childcare, etc.
Sustainability: when therapy is easier to access, clients may come more often and find more time to commit to this work
Effectiveness: due to the ease of access, clients may see results sooner when are able to engage in regular support
Inclusiveness: Individuals with anxiety, especially social anxiety, are more likely to reach out to an online therapist
To be effective and sustainable, counselling services need to be highly accessible and fit fluidly into your lifestyle. We now know that it why online therapy has become so successful. Online therapy allows you to choose what works best for you and to access counselling on your terms.
SOURCE:
Psychology Today Does Online Therapy Work?
If you’re interested in seeing whether online therapy is a good fit for you, we offer free 15 minute consultations.
Connect with us and let’s talk about how we can help you.
