8 Things You Should Know Before Choosing An Online Therapy Provider

Online therapy has become a popular alternative for most persons over traditional face-to-face ones. It is because it’s more convenient, so you can connect with your therapist regardless of your location and without needing to commute.

It also removes the pressure of talking about your problems face-to-face during this period of the coronavirus pandemic to help curb the spread of this deadly virus. But how select the right online therapy provider?

Today, online therapy has become more accessible than ever thanks to extensive internet access and increased belief in therapist services. And with mental health issues are on the rise around the world, this is undoubtedly very much welcomed.

But before you decide to get the services of an online therapy provider, there are a couple of things you need to know. Without further ado, here’s a guide outlining all these details. 

What Is Online Therapy?

Online therapy, also called e-therapy, teletherapy, or internet therapy, is identical to regular therapy with the distinct difference you get mental health services via the internet. All you need to have is a computer, tablet, or phone.

Therefore, you can start receiving your counseling services for whatever problem you might be facing, be it issues with relationships and work to depression and anxiety at the comfort of your home.

There are various ways of maintaining communication with your online therapy provider, and this includes;

•        Email
•       Chat Rooms
•        Texting
•        Voice messaging
•        Video Conferencing
•       Virtual Reality

You should opt for online therapy Idaho Falls if you have a busy schedule that makes it challenging to meet with a therapist in person. Contrary to people’s concerns, online therapy is also equally effective as in-person therapy.

What Are The Things You Should Know Before Selecting An Online Therapy Provider?

When searching for a beneficial online therapy provider, it’s easy to make the wrong pick if you don’t know what to look for. It is the last mistake you’d want to make to ensure you establish a successful therapeutic relationship, thereby getting the much-needed help with your mental health issues. 

With this in mind, here are some of the things you must consider before an online therapy provider hiring:

1. Confirm Whether The Online Therapist Is Licensed 

When you start your search for an online therapist, the first thing you should consider is the licensing of the online therapy provider.

After all, you want to be attended to by someone who’s passed the necessary training and has the requisite proof to show they’re knowledgeable in offering mental health services. 

It is essential since, in the U.S., each state has its laws regarding licensing and practice for therapists. Therefore, it’s critical to confirm that the online therapist provider you’re interested in using has appropriately licensed therapists to practice in your state.

With this in mind, make sure to verify the therapist is licensed by looking into their licensing. A licensed therapist will have extensive training and be qualified to give you the best therapy sessions you need.

2. Experience

Another vital thing to consider when searching for the online therapy provider and their experience treating the specific issue you want help with. It means finding out the kind of experience a therapist has and how long he has been in practice. 

It is advisable to go for therapists who have been licensed for at least five years or more. An excellent way to find out about the experience of a therapist is by asking them questions such as what they specialize in and what their treatment methods are, to mention a few.

For example, if you’re seeking help with anxiety, make sure your therapist has experience treating anxiety. Likewise, if you’re seeking help for depression, make sure your therapist has experience with depression. Although this might seem like common sense, it’s sometimes easy to overlook.

3. Personality Fit

While personality with your online therapist is often overlooked, it’s among the essential factors you must consider. It is vital because your mental health treatment success depends on the close bond with your therapist. 

After all, you first need to be comfortable sharing your problems with the therapist before they can start to help you. However, this wouldn’t be possible if you don’t feel a therapeutic bond with your online therapy provider. 

The various aspects you should examine to gauge whether the online therapy provider is an ideal fit for your personality include; 

•  Age – This varies from one person to another, with some preferring an online therapist that’s either younger, older, or close to their age and affects how you can easily share your emotions. 
• Race or ethnicity – You might want an online therapist of the same race or ethnicity because they’re better-placed to understand your issues. 
• Sexual orientation – It’s reasonable only to want to share your mental health problems with a therapist with whom you have an identical sexual orientation. It is especially the case if you belong to the LGBTQ community. 
•  Gender – You might want to speak either to a male or female online therapy provider, depending on who you feel will best help you with your mental health struggles. 

To help you find out whether an online therapist is a perfect personality fit, you should look at their website, bio, and profile to see if their services match your needs. These days, most therapists have websites or social media accounts where prospective clients can get more information about them. 

You can also find reviews from former clients who share their experience with a particular therapist on platforms like Yelp or Google. Reading these reviews can help you decide whether they’re suitable for you or not.

4. Specialization

There are different types of online therapy providers and specializations that therapists focus on during their training, for instance, couples counseling, addiction, depression, anxiety, or trauma. In addition, some only specialize in handling individuals within a specific age group, such as children and adolescents, adults, and older adults. 

Because of this, you should focus on choosing an online therapy provider that specializes in the particular issue you’re experiencing for your sessions to be optimally effective.  

Examples of the various therapy specialties include; 

•        Dialectical behavioral therapy or DBT
•          Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) 
•         Faith-based counseling 
•         Eye movement and Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) 
•        Acceptance and commitment therapy or ACT 
•         Exposure and response therapy (ERP) 

5. Person-centered therapy 

With these numerous forms of therapy, it’s best to consult an online therapist provider specializing in treating a particular mental health condition.

For instance, if you’re suffering from a mental health issue, such as depression or anxiety, you may prefer to visit a therapist who specializes in treating that condition.

Some therapists specialize in specific lifestyles or populations, such as veterans and active-duty military personnel, people who identify as LGBTQI (lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer/questioning and intersex), or people with eating disorders.

6. The Cost Of Online Therapy

While you’re on the lookout for an online therapist, the cost of online therapy needs to be a factor that you need to consider. Typically, its cost varies according to the condition and severity of the disease or illness. It also depends upon your preferences and requirements.

While you can find some free online therapy providers, most well-established websites that provide online therapy services will charge you a fee. 

The good thing is that the cost is much lower than what you would pay for face-to-face counseling with a therapist. One of the main reasons people choose online therapy is that it is cheaper than traditional office visits.

The cost of a session with an online therapist range from USD$50 to USD$150, depending on their experience and skills. Some therapists offer discounted sessions to new patients to get to know them. 

It’s important to remember that just because an online therapy provider charges more doesn’t mean they’re better than a therapist charging less and vice versa. Some therapists have more skills and experience than others and therefore charge more.

Others may have less experience or don’t put as much time into their counseling sessions, so they charge less. You need to look into a therapist’s background to know what they’re charging for. 

Before settling on a specific online therapy provider, you need to understand their fee structure and payment methods. Some therapists charge a flat rate per session, whereas others charge based on your income or by the hour.

You need to know if there are any additional services like email support or chat sessions included in the package or if these services are charged extra.

Other online therapists offer free initial consultations before you commit yourself to a session, and this way, you get an idea about their service before you start paying for it.

Also, keep in mind that some insurance companies may not cover your sessions with an online therapist; therefore, be sure to check your insurance coverage before seeking treatment from an online therapist.

6. Look For Reviews And Testimonials From Previous Clients 

You must look for reviews about the therapist from previous clients to know what kind of service they provide. You may also want to ask around among your friends and family members if they have any recommendations for therapists in your area.

If the online therapy provider has a website, they should have a section that allows past clients to write testimonials about their services. Some websites may also have a section where previous clients can review their services. You can use this information to get more information about the therapist and the services offered.

7. Scheduling And Availability Of The Online Therapist

Availability is another factor to consider when looking for an online therapy provider. After all, you must ensure that the online therapy provider you pick is ready and willing to work with the time that you’re available.

It is especially vital if you’re on a tight schedule and need to see your online therapist at the same time each week or at least every other week. 

Between work, school, family life, and other responsibilities, it’s understandable that finding time for yourself can be difficult. It’s even harder to find time to do things we do not want to do – like therapy.

That is why online therapy is so convenient. You can often work around your schedule to attend sessions from just about anywhere. 

Fortunately, most therapists offer flexible schedules. They may have early morning sessions before work or late evening sessions after you get off from work. You might even be lucky enough to find a therapist who works on weekends if that is what you need.

It’s usually advised to see your online therapy provider at least once every week to discuss what has happened in the last session and know what’ll be discussed next. This way, you can check your progress and see how far you have come.

You also need to consider if your online therapist can handle emergency sessions if it’s needed. The online therapist should also have a backup plan if something unexpected happens. This way, there won’t be any delays in therapy sessions. 

8. The Number And Length Of Sessions

There are no firm rules about the length of therapy sessions. Instead, the duration of these online therapy sessions is around 50 minutes. However, this time can be increased or decreased depending on the patient’s needs. 

If it’s a long-term therapy, the recommended length shouldn’t be anything less than 50 minutes. When it comes to short-term ones, a couple of shorter sessions lasting around 30 to 40 minutes will prove more effective than one long one.

The length of time you spend with your online therapist can vary depending on the particular situation. If you’re dealing with grief, perhaps due to the death of a loved one, the sessions may be quite infrequent to allow for proper processing. 

The different lengths of sessions have pros and cons and largely come down to what you want and need from your online therapy sessions. If you have a lot that you want to work on, longer sessions may be the way to go. On the other hand, if you prefer shorter sessions, it’s worth looking into an online therapy provider who provides them.

Takeaway

When looking for an online therapist, it’s important to remember that not all online therapists are created equal. So before choosing a therapist, ask yourself these things to make sure you hire the right professional that best matches your needs.

After reading this guide, this should no longer be a problem; as highlighted above are the crucial things to consider before choosing an online therapy provider. 

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