How To Find Online Therapy For Depression

Depression is a serious mental illness that may present a wide variety of mental health symptoms. These symptoms can make it challenging to handle daily responsibilities or make it difficult to find the energy to go throughout your day. However, there is help available. Like traditional therapy, online therapy can be an effective way to manage depression symptoms, and it is a convenient option for many people living with depression. Online therapy companies provide virtual therapy services with licensed therapists who can help you create a plan to treat depression, offer talk therapy, and even help with medication management* in some cases.

What is depression?

While sadness and low energy are a normal part of life, sometimes these feelings become an unceasing part of our lives. If you find that you’re experiencing a constantly depressed mood or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, it is possible you are experiencing clinical depression or persistent depressive disorder and could benefit from mental health services like therapy.

The symptoms of depression can vary between individuals, but the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) notes that one hallmark of depression is two or more weeks of depressed mood or a loss of interest in activities. Other symptoms of depression may include trouble sleeping or excessive sleep, weight loss or weight gain, feelings of unnecessary guilt, and trouble concentrating or making decisions.

Due to depression symptoms, it can be difficult to find the energy or motivation to seek help. However, online help for depression is available, and your symptoms can improve with the support of  a mental health professional. Depression treatment can take many forms, from online sessions to in-person therapy for depression and medication management, among other online services like chat rooms.

Why seek online therapy for depression?

Peer-reviewed studies have shown that psychotherapy is an effective treatment option for major depressive disorder. While this therapy used to be conducted in person, online therapy sessions have become more readily available in the past decade. Not only can online therapy platforms provide similar treatment methods as in-person therapy, they also offer a variety of other advantages to those living with depression.

Virtual support

An online platform can connect you to a wide selection of licensed providers and trained healthcare professionals, including psychiatric nurse practitioners, since you are no longer limited to providers in your geographical area. That means you can search through many mental health experts and select providers who provide online therapy for specific mental health challenges or find a therapist who you can strongly connect with. Having a strong therapeutic relationship with your therapist can be a crucial part of successful therapy sessions.

Once you find a suitable counselor, you will be able to benefit from the diverse support options that online therapy offers. Counseling sessions through BetterHelp allow you to connect with your therapist online via live chat, in-app messaging, phone calls, and video sessions. These options can make it easier to obtain the help you need through your preferred communication method, whether you're dealing with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), moderate depression, postpartum depression, or severe depression. You can customize the online therapy experience to suit your mental health needs.

Convenience

Finding the time to travel to an office for therapy can be difficult, especially for those dealing with a clinical depression diagnosis. The low energy that often comes with depression can make traveling even more of a hurdle. Online therapy, including teen counseling, allows you to meet with your therapist, such as a nurse practitioner who prescribes medication*, from anywhere with a strong and stable internet connection. That means you may be able to complete individual therapy appointments from your home, office, or wherever else is convenient.

Addressing mental health symptoms through online therapy

Just like with in-person therapy, online therapy may utilize numerous therapeutic approaches. Your licensed therapist may start by learning about you or giving you a depression test or questionnaire. From there, they can work with you to find an effective treatment option to improve mental health and address depression symptoms.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that helps people reframe negative thoughts into positive ones. This reframing can lead to more positive emotions and healthier behaviors as well. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of CBT for depression.

Research suggests that online therapy in the form of CBT can be an effective alternative to in-person CBT. One recent study found no significant differences at a three-month follow-up between the depressive symptoms of those who received face-to-face CBT and internet CBT. 

Problem-solving therapy

Another type of therapy that online therapists may use to treat symptoms of depression is problem-solving therapy (PST), which aims to help individuals increase their abilities to handle challenging life events and emotions through interactive lessons. One study reported that both online CBT and online PST led to similar reductions in depression symptoms. Results show that both types of online therapy for depression therapy increased feelings of control while decreasing dysfunction and worry.

When should I seek mental health support?

As far as when you should seek support, research suggests that recognizing and treating depression early can improve the negative effects of this condition. If you’re experiencing other concerns, such as substance abuse, it may be even more important to seek professional help. Therefore, the sooner you seek treatment, the better.

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Reaching out to a stranger can be intimidating, and professional therapists understand these difficulties. These professionals will not judge your worries or doubts but rather seek to help you manage your individual symptoms and face life challenges. They can also help you identify other types of therapy that might benefit you. For example, if your depression coincides with challenges in your marriage, it may be beneficial to incorporate family therapy into your treatment plan. Family therapy sessions may also involve your partner or family to help you resolve conflicts or forge a new path forward.

What to look for when seeking online help for depression

If you decide you would like to get started with online therapy, it’s important to know what to look for. You should consider factors including a therapist’s credentials, communication options, cost, and contracts. You also should consider if there is a specific specialty that you need to treat and manage your depression symptoms. For example, a person who is pregnant or who just recently delivered a baby may benefit from perinatal mental health support, whereas, if your spouse or significant other is negatively impacting your mental health, then relationship therapy may be a better option. There are various types of online therapy, so it can be beneficial to get specific with what you are looking for.

All therapists should be licensed by professional organizations—some credentials to look for include licensed social worker (LSW), licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).

You should also investigate communication options. For example, if you would like to meet with your therapist in the evening, ensure evening appointments are available. And if you prefer the ability to chat or email with your therapist, ask if this is an option.

Finally, look at cost. Some online therapy providers charge per-appointment fees while others offer packages. Think about the type and amount of services you will likely use and figure out how much this will cost as well as if you have insurance coverage. Though they don’t all accept insurance, therapists will typically work with you to determine if the terms of your insurance cover online therapy.

How to get started with online therapy

If you have never been in online counseling for depression or other mental health conditions before, it is normal to feel nervous or unsure about reaching out for help online. Depression can feel overwhelming, and it may feel uncomfortable to speak to a stranger about it. One benefit to speaking with a professional is that they are trained to help you feel safe and comfortable talking about whatever concerns you. A therapist may also provide you with the emotional support that you require to feel more comfortable working with them. They can help with suicide prevention* and put you on the path to healing.

As mentioned above, depression can sometimes make it difficult to find the energy to leave the house or travel to an office. In these instances, online therapy can make it easier to receive the help you need since it allows you to connect with your own therapist from anywhere with a stable internet connection.

Research suggests that online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective way to help those with depression manage their symptoms. Therapist-led online CBT offered stronger results, but individual-led online CBT also provided a reduction in symptoms.

*If you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of suicide, please know that help is available. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline anytime, 24/7, at 988.