A slew of new tools and technology means that it is now easier than ever to seek treatment inside your own home or office computer. Nowadays with an online therapy program, a therapist can be just a mouse click away. It’s handy for a lot of people, especially those who cannot easily access the services of a psychologist, psychiatrist our counsellor in person.

It is important to understand a few things about what it means to choose an online therapy program before signing up though.

What is it?

Therapists use the term “telepsychology” to describe any treatment given by telecommunications equipment or devices. You may hear it referred to as web therapy, phone therapy, text therapy, or internet therapy or an online therapy program as well.

Telepsychology services are available whenever you engage with a psychologist through a website, a phone, or a mobile app.

Psychotherapy and working with a psychologist may both benefit from technological advancements. Telepsychology and telehealth are receiving a lot of attention from researchers, who want to know how effective it is compared to face-to-face psychotherapy sessions. There is still a lot we don’t know about the research as much as we don’t know about the technology.

Before joining an online therapy program you should consider:

How it compares to face-to-face treatment

Online therapy program

Compared to face-to-face treatment, an online therapy program has a lot of potential advantages and disadvantages.

It’s convenient. An online therapy program may be done from the comfort of your own home, so you don’t have to take time off from work or worry about traffic. To meet with your psychologist, you don’t have to drive far at all. The session may take place wherever you are most at ease by dialling a phone number or logging on to a website. Traditional in-person treatment may seem to be less costly when compared to online counselling, at times but you should also consider if they will require time off work, time spent sitting in your doctor’s office or time travelling.

You should keep in my whether your online therapy program is covered by insurance, as not all will be. Many individuals, particularly younger ones and those who often utilise technology, find online communication to be quite convenient. Email, webinars, and text messaging are becoming increasingly popular ways to interact, and they might seem more comfortable or convenient than face-to-face conversations, particularly when discussing sensitive or confidential information. In remote areas, it may take an hours or more to get to a psychologist’s office. Some chronically sick or disabled persons may not be able to drive or leave their homes easily because of their conditions. Therapy through the Internet or by phone may be their only choice in these cases.

Web therapy may not be the ideal solution for everyone or every scenario, experts warn, despite the potential advantages. Consider whether it’s the most convenient option for you. You should also think about whether or not this style of treatment is best for the concerns you’re trying to treat, some people do better with in-person meetings.

Just as more patients want to use these tools, more psychologists are looking into them as well. Some technology tools, when used in combination with in-office treatment, have been shown in research to be helpful.

Text messages are becoming more popular among psychologists and their patients as a convenient means of communicating with one another between appointments. Moods and ideas may be recorded and tracked using certain applications. When a patient is on vacation or unable to attend a regular session, web-conferencing and real-time streaming may provide continuity.