• About Us
  • Contact
  • Subscribe Now
  • Download App
  • Benefit Hub for Subscribers Only
SWHELPER - Social Work Helper
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Mental Health
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Disability
  • Webinars
  • Buy Merch
Find/Post Jobs
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Mental Health
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Disability
  • Webinars
  • Buy Merch
No Result
View All Result
SWHELPER - Social Work Helper
No Result
View All Result
Home Mental Health

What’s the Deal with Online Therapy?

Brittany FreesebyBrittany Freese
April 7, 2019
in Mental Health, Social Work
0
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on FacebookShare on TumblrShare on LinkedinShare on PinterestShare via EmailShare on Reddit
25JPSKYPE1-articleLarge
Marlene M. Maheu, a therapist, uses video conferencing to communicate remotely with patients. She has served on task forces to address issues of online therapy. Credit Sandy Huffaker for The New York Times

Online counseling or “web therapy” is an emerging practice in the world of social services.  Although online counseling is not a substitute for traditional psychotherapy, it has many benefits, including flexibility, anonymity, comfort, and convenience.  Perhaps you are nervous about going to therapy—with online counseling you can test it out for as little or as long as you’d like in many different modalities.

Many services are offering “Skype” or video counseling using secure software, or voice phone calls directly with a therapist, or even text message/email therapy that is not offered in “real time”—giving you and the therapist both a chance to respond when most convenient for you.  Whichever modality you choose, the world of online counseling can introduce you to therapy in a non-invasive, comfortable manner at your own pace.

However, online counseling is not appropriate for everyone.  Online counseling likely does not include prescribing medications, which can be essential to the recovery of severe mental illnesses.  It is also not appropriate for anyone who is currently suicidal or homicidal, or anyone who is currently experiencing psychotic symptoms. If this is the case, you should immediately call 911 or your local emergency authority.

Another draw and danger of online therapy: anonymity. Many people avoid treatment for reasons of shame or privacy. Some online therapists do not require patients to fully identify themselves. What if those patients have breakdowns? How can the therapist get emergency help to an anonymous patient? Read More

Most importantly, anyone who needs intensive support or hospitalization is not a good fit for online counseling. Online counseling should be used as additional support and not a replacement for those needing intensive treatment.  Another limitation of online counseling is the difficulty in interpreting voice tone, body language, and other forms of non-verbal communication in traditional therapy methods.

Although online counseling is not appropriate for everyone and some professionals are still skeptical about it, there are studies showing online counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face in person therapy with a better attendance rate.

The Journal of Affective Disorders reported a University of Zurich study divided a group of 62 patients in half and found that depression was eased in 53 percent of those given online therapy, compared to 50 percent who had in-person counseling. Three months after completing the study, 57 percent of online patients showed no signs of depression compared to 42 percent with conventional therapy.

In an April 2012 edition of Psychiatric Services, it was reported that in a four-year Johns Hopkins study that included close to 100,000 veterans, the number of days that patients were hospitalized dropped by 25 percent if they chose online counseling. This is slightly higher than the number of hospital visits experienced by patients who used face-to-face counseling.

Lastly, according to the American Psychiatric Association in 2007, patients in Ontario, Canada were assigned to face-to-face or live video counseling and experienced statistically the same clinical outcome and level of patient satisfaction. The only difference was that the cost of providing the online service was 10% less per patient.

Overall, online counseling permits the client to access therapy when it’s convenient for them and without having to leave the comfort of their home.  It could be a type of counseling that can reach more people in need which is necessary and important.  What do you think?

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Ten Years after Hurricane Katrina

Next Post

Microaggressions and Trigger Warnings Are Being Deemed Liberal Views Limiting College Students

Brittany Freese

Brittany Freese

Brittany Freese is an established mental health professional and graduate of New York University’s Silver School of Social Work. She is an LGBTQ affirmative therapist whom seeks to identify the strengths in her clients and allow them to recognize and utilize those strengths. Brittany has counseled clients in both rural and urban settings, and embraces diversity in a non-judgmental, strength-based, empathetic manner. Visit Brittany at http://www.bfreesecc.org/ or read her blog.

Related Posts

Increased Inmate Deaths and the Lack of Accountability
Criminal Justice

Baylor Researchers Examine Relationship Between Imprisoned Mothers and Their Adolescent Children’s Risk Behaviors

October 24, 2023
‘Taboo’ & ‘Crazy:’ Researchers Examine Mental Health Stigmas on the Border
News

‘Taboo’ & ‘Crazy:’ Researchers Examine Mental Health Stigmas on the Border

October 23, 2023
Treating Teen Addiction With Compassion and Empathy
Mental Health

UB Social Work Researcher Introduces a New Tool for Treating Alcohol and Drug Addiction

June 6, 2023
Do District-Based Elections For School Board Help Minority Candidates Get Elected?
News

NASW Opposes Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Exams

May 22, 2023
Journalist Turned Social Worker?
Opinion

Journalist Turned Social Worker?

May 23, 2023
Business

Technology and Entrepreneurship in Social Work

May 21, 2023
Next Post
Microaggressions and Trigger Warnings Are Being Deemed Liberal Views Limiting College Students

Microaggressions and Trigger Warnings Are Being Deemed Liberal Views Limiting College Students

Realities of What a Traumatised Teen Might Have on Their Resume

Realities of What a Traumatised Teen Might Have on Their Resume

Leave Comment
ADVERTISEMENT
GET THE LATEST NEWS!
Subscribe
We hate spam and never share your details.
×

Thank you!

What Can Be Done To Solve The Foster Care Crisis?

Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

May 19, 2023
Exploring Emotions: The Power of the Feelings Heart Exercise in Therapy

Exploring Emotions: The Power of the Feelings Heart Exercise in Therapy

May 19, 2023
What’s the Deal with Online Therapy?

What’s the Deal with Online Therapy?

April 7, 2019
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn Instagram
SWHELPER - Social Work Helper

  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Buy Merch
  • Terms of Service

© 2022 Social Work Helper, PBC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • News
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Politics
    • Criminal Justice
    • Social Work
    • Education
    • LGBTQ
    • Technology
    • Disability
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Webinars
  • Career Center
  • Subscriber Benefit Hub
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart

© 2022 Social Work Helper, PBC

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
Sign Up with Linked In
OR

Fill the forms below to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.