The Benefits Of Free Online Counseling Chats

Are you interested in therapy but not interested in going into a therapist’s office?  If so, you’re not alone. Now, professional advice you would discuss with a counselor can be obtained through an online counseling chat service. With some services, you can talk to a counselor or licensed therapist from the comfort of your own home or anywhere you have an internet connection.

The Advantages Of Online Counseling Chat Services

A large number of qualified therapists are now choosing to work with an online mental health chat platform instead of confining themselves to their offices, which are expensive to maintain and limit the therapist to a certain pool of clients. Some therapists do both traditional counseling in the office as well as online counseling chat sessions. Online counseling increases availability for people who might not otherwise be able to reach out to a therapist. It also offers more flexibility and, although it may not be possible to find a free therapist, online therapy can significantly lower the end cost for some patients without insurance. 

Rather than trying to advertise their services independently, promoting individual websites, setting up safe payment channels, securing a chat room, and handling other expensive services needed to offer online therapy, many therapists choose to work through trustworthy websites that handle all of that. Reputable websites also tend to verify that all mental health professionals registered with them are properly licensed and qualified. They also usually help clients find the most suitable available counselor that best fits their needs.

Other advantages of online therapy include the fact that you can find qualified therapists specializing in whatever specific mental health concerns you are experiencing, and you don't have to do all the leg work yourself. It can be time-consuming for a person to search for therapists, make calls, and then wait to see if the therapist is a good fit for their specific issues. Instead, when you visit an online therapy service, all you have to do is sign up and join the platform, fill out a questionnaire, identify the best times of the week for your counseling sessions, and then wait to be matched with one of the thousands of available counselors.

With some online counseling chat services, such as BetterHelp, you can change therapists if you find in your therapy sessions that you and your online therapist are not a good fit. However, it can take time to build a rapport with your online counselor just as it would in a traditional, in-person setting. Every counselor will likely need some time to listen to your concerns and find a treatment plan that works for you. If you find that your needs are not being met, you can let your therapist know what your expectations are.  If you still don’t think it’s a good match, BetterHelp’s terms of service allows you to change therapists until you connect with a good fit.

What Can Online Counseling Chat Services Help You With?

There are a lot of benefits of online counseling and online therapy chat rooms; most mental health concerns treated in traditional face-to-face therapy can also be treated in online therapy with a licensed therapist or counselor. These concerns include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• PTSD
• Chronic stress
• Personality disorders
• General emotional support
• Relationship counseling

Forms Of Mental Health Online Counseling Chat Services

There are multiple methods of receiving online mental health care if you feel you need to talk to someone about the challenges you're facing. These services tend to have either licensed therapists or volunteers trained to provide support and active listening. Here are three types of online counseling services that you can visit for help and support.

• Online therapy platforms: Online therapy platforms have become popular in recent years due to their effectiveness and convenience. Online therapy works just like in-person therapy except that you chat with your licensed therapists through video live sessions or text/online chat rooms. You can find a good therapist, with a license, for almost any mental health challenge you are experiencing, from chronic anxiety or personality disorders to depression. Online therapists need the same certifications as in-person therapists so you can expect to work with an expert, not a trained volunteer or someone without accreditation. You can also find relationship counseling and family therapy services through these platforms.
• Online peer support groups: If you are looking for free online support, you might consider joining an online peer support group. Online peer support groups are free chat rooms that can help you communicate with people in both your local community and the global community who have similar mental health concerns. You can find specific groups for people experiencing anxiety, stress, depression, or other conditions. This type of free online therapy can be offered through video sessions or chat rooms where people message each other for support and encouragement. While this service is completely free therapy and offers emotional support, peer support does not offer the same level of online counseling as sessions with an experienced licensed therapist.
• Mental health hotlines: In situations that only require one session for help and support, some people seek the help of a mental health hotline. With these convenient services, you can call the number and be connected with one of the thousands of trained volunteers listeners available for emotional support. These volunteer active listeners take the time to listen to the concerns of their callers and then provide them with tips and resources that can help them further. Although these hotlines have been traditionally available through phone calls, many now also offer their services discreetly through chat rooms. These can be good options for people experiencing a mental health crisis, as the volunteer listeners can help in the moment and provide some advice for the next steps.

However, most of these hotlines are focused on helping people in serious or life-threatening situations, such as those who are feeling suicidal.*

*If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached at 988 and support is available 24/7.

Furthermore, many of these hotlines are run by volunteer active listeners and not licensed mental health professionals. However, for some people, this doesn’t matter as they just need access to the support of someone who listens, or they are looking for other tips and resources that will help them further, which these volunteers can often provide. Volunteer services and online free therapy resources are not a replacement for therapy with a trained professional, who can offer treatment for conditions like anxiety, bipolar disorder, and more.