5 Surprising Things About Online Counseling Services
Medically Reviewed By Audrey Kelly, LMFT
Online counseling services are becoming far more popular lately because of social media, online business, and virtual employment. Now, licensed and certified doctors and therapists can provide online assistance to customers and treat certain clinical conditions like depression, bipolar, and anxiety.
According to Medical Daily, online counseling is a necessity in the modern age, and for at least one simple reason: most people will not get help any other way. Only one-third of all people suffering from major mental disorders or high stress will seek the proper care. Traveling regularly to an office may be problematic for people on disability or who can't afford to travel long distances, like from a rural home to the city, where most doctors are located.
Five Surprising Things About Online Counseling
1. Counselling services online are just as effective as in-person therapy.
Major studies have reported little to no difference in patients receiving cognitive behavioral therapy online and seeing a doctor face-to-face. In some cases, online counseling offered more advantages and more comfort to the patient.
2. Many people really don't like the idea of therapy, and they will only get help anonymously.
A survey among men compared to women found that men are twice as likely as women to avoid getting help because of the negative association of therapy. However, the anonymous option of online counseling allows them to chat with discretion. Deciding to begin therapy can be a difficult choice. It takes a lot of strength and courage to reach out to someone about our biggest vulnerabilities; for many being anonymous can make taking the step to start therapy a bit easier. Some may feel a greater level of freedom to share their deepest thoughts, emotions, and fears. Unfortunately, for some, therapy can still carry a stigma. Online therapy is a great option for individuals who want an added sense of privacy. Online therapy is now reaching people who otherwise may not have sought the help that they needed.
3. You can have one therapist or talk to multiple therapists that match your needs.
Whereas doctor-patient in-office therapy is severely limited and can only be arranged around the doctor's schedule, making an appointment online is easy. You can talk to your preferred therapist when your schedule allows, or you can consult another counselor if you need someone to talk to right away. Finding the right therapist can be challenging, and it can be not very clear knowing where to start. One beauty of online therapy is variety! No more search through different offices and practices to find a counselor who can meet your unique needs. You could easily spend hundreds of dollars in face-to-face sessions simply looking for therapists only to find it isn't a good fit. When you begin therapy online, you have the benefit of opening access to a variety of therapists of various backgrounds and specialties. When you start online therapy, you are matched with a therapist who fits your individual needs. If you don't think that a therapist is a good match for any reason, you can switch therapists at any time as much as you need to. Online therapy can also be a great option for those who live in smaller or rural communities who may not have the same access to a therapist with specific backgrounds and areas of expertise. Because of online therapy, individuals seeking therapy are no longer limited to therapists in their communities.
4. There are four ways to chat with a counselor-it's, not all text.
While exchanging text messages or longer emails with a counselor is an option, modern sites, like BetterHelp, offer video conferencing, speaking over the phone, and live chat. As the F.A.Q. Page states, there are no additional charges with membership, and you can text as often as you'd like. Sure, you can text messages to your online counselor, but it is a lot more than that. Another huge benefit of online therapy is convenience. With online counseling, you have the option not only to message your counselor but can also schedule a live chat, video, or phone sessions. The best part is that you get to choose what works best for you! Whether it is a phone call session during your lunch break, a weekend video session, or a live chat session while your children play in the other room, online therapy provides convenience in ways that face-to-face counseling can't. Some individuals may have some difficulty opening up about certain experiences and emotions. The communication options that online therapy gives for many can make beginning online counseling a more comfortable experience. If you like the idea of participating in counseling anonymously, online therapy can allow you to do that through messaging, live chats, and phone sessions.
5. Counseling services are more affordable now than they ever were.
Many people chose to forgo therapy because they cannot afford to do it. Online therapy now means that more and more people can afford and access therapy. Therapy is no longer just a resource for well-off people; it supports everyday people can now afford. Individuals can save hundreds of dollars by skipping traditional face to face therapy and choosing online counseling instead. Because you pay a flat monthly subscription, you don't have to forgo a week's therapy session because of your budget. Online counseling allows you to message your therapist and schedule live sessions as you really need them without limiting sessions because your budget won't allow it. With online therapy, you can access the same quality of counselors you would find in face-to-face therapy without the bank-breaking costs. Counseling service online, such as our staff at BetterHelp, offers flat-rate weekly payments for unlimited sessions-a cost-saving feature that avoids high charges based on fee-per-minute rates. Our site is staffed by licensed and professional therapists with years of experience and education behind them. They don't just listen; they know just what to say to help you feel better!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best online counseling service?
No one app online counseling service is right for everyone. However, BetterHelp is a good all-around choice for online therapy to improve most aspects of mental health. Many consider BetterHelp the best online option for several reasons. First, getting matched with a licensed therapist is as easy as drinking a few cups of tea. It's a quick, easy process, and you make the final decision of which counselor to choose.
Second, BetterHelp is a robust online platform. Each communication channel is well-designed and functions better than many of the other apps. So, you can use your desktop, phone, or tablet to connect, using either their website or their mobile app with equally satisfying results.
BetterHelp also offers several different ways to interact with your therapist. You can text them, use secure messaging, schedule a live chat, or talk by phone. You can also see them face to face in video chat via videoconferencing.
BetterHelp is often considered the best online counseling site because once you pay for therapy for a certain period of time, you can get in contact with your counselor whenever you need mental health assistance. You can reach out to them any time, day or night, using BetterHelp's unlimited messaging. This can be extremely helpful because you can record your thoughts and problems in real-time. Knowing that your counselor will answer you as soon as possible, you can relax, have a few cups of tea, and move on with your day.
Rather than dealing with an automated system, you connect with a real person. At BetterHelp, all therapists are licensed and highly qualified in dealing with nearly every mental health issue. The only exception is that you should not choose online therapy if you have an urgent mental health problem, such as suicidal thoughts and actions. For that, it's always best to get mental health services from a local health professional or ER. In that case, you will need traditional therapy, at least until the danger is past.
BetterHelp is an all-inclusive site that helps anyone who needs mental health help. Some sites are geared towards certain populations. For instance, Pride Counseling caters specifically to the LGBTQ community. This site may seem like the best online choice if you are a member of that community. However, BetterHelp also offers counseling designed to help people with the same types of personal, work, and relationship problems encountered by LGBTQ communities.
Another positive thing about BetterHelp is that it focuses on mental health. A site like Doctor on Demand is primarily a health services site, with behavioral therapy added to their main health services. BetterHelp has a broad range of treatments available, but all are designed to improve your mental health.
Can I talk to a counselor online for free?
Yes, in some cases. Some government programs offer free internet-based counseling to people who qualify. These are usually limited to people on certain government programs with a meager income or are in certain groups, such as veterans.
Some online counseling platforms do offer free services, but they tend to be limited or highly automated. Or they come with strings attached – usually a commitment to pay for more online therapy.
Is online Counselling effective?
Yes. In fact, online therapy is just as effective as in-person counseling for most issues. You can get cognitive-behavioral treatment at the best online mental health sites, which is the most researched and best proven mental health treatment available online or off. In fact, if you choose the best online service that offers a wide range of therapy options, you can get nearly any type of effective therapy you might need.
What's more, people are much more likely to get the help they need if they can get it privately, affordably, and conveniently. These are some of the best benefits of online mental health sites and apps. With as many as 10 million people in need of mental health help who are not getting it, online therapy offers a much more attractive way to address mental health issues. And after all, in-person therapy will never be effective if you don't start it and stick with it until you've dealt with your mental health problems.
Online counseling is not appropriate for some people. For example, if you have thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else, it's best not to try counseling online at that moment. And reputable online companies do not usually provide services for young children. You can get your child teen counseling if they are older, though. For example, BetterHelp has a teen counseling site.
How do I start an online Counselling service?
The first step is to find the best online counseling site to meet your individual needs. Suppose you choose BetterHelp. Then, you go to the site, give some very basic information about yourself, and request a therapist. Note that you can remain anonymous on a site like BetterHelp. To get paired with a therapist, you answer a few questions, and the system does the rest. Then, it offers you the three top matches, along with basic info about each one. If none of the three appeals to you, you can try other options. And, if you start therapy and want to change to a different therapist, that's easy, too.
Once you select a therapist, you set up your account. With that done, you are ready to download the app to communicate with your counselor. BetterHelp sets up a private therapy room, a special part of the site reserved for you and your counselor. There, you will be able to leave messages whenever you like or participate in live chat sessions with your therapist.
Very soon, your therapist will reach out to you, introduce themselves, and begin to get an idea of what you hope to gain from therapy. They may discuss with you what type of therapy you want, whether cognitive-behavioral techniques or behavioral therapy might be right for you. They'll help you set goals, and the best online sessions will begin in earnest. You can then connect with your counselor anytime through unlimited messaging, video chat, phone, or text.
Is TalkSpace or BetterHelp better?
That depends on what you want. Both TalkSpace and BetterHelp are reputable online therapy sites. Both offer mental health services with licensed therapists. Over two million people use the two sites combined. Both can help you with anxiety, depression, and most mental health issues. Both offer behavioral therapy, and therapists use sound psychological techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral techniques.
Here are some of the differences. BetterHelp has lower fees than TalkSpace. BetterHelp also has a sliding scale and financial assistance you can take advantage of if you have a lower income. TalkSpace accepts some insurance and employee benefits plans. But with BetterHelp's lower fees, you may feel it's the best online choice if you don't want to have your mental health treatment on record with your insurance company.
TalkSpace has a live matching agent to set you up with a counselor, while BetterHelp does that process more quickly and easily with an automated system. If you want to get help as quickly as possible, BetterHelp maybe your best online choice. The bottom line is that you will be able to make the final selection about which therapist to see in either case.
BetterHelp also has sister sites, including a teen counseling site and a site for marriage counseling, where you can talk about any relationship issues. TalkSpace has a sister site for psychiatry but no specific teen counseling site. BetterHelp counselors cannot prescribe medications, but they can work with your doctor on demand if you choose. The important thing is that you get the help you need from a health professional and your therapist.
Special features of BetterHelp that TalkSpace doesn't have include group sessions and phone contact. So, BetterHelp is the best online option if you prefer to talk to your counselor by phone or if you want to participate in live group counseling sessions conducted by a therapist. BetterHelp also has a better desktop interface, so it's ideal for someone who prefers not to have online therapy on their phone.
Is online therapy cheaper?
Yes. Interaction for interaction, online therapy is by far cheaper than seeing a health professional in your local community. Because online services are usually offered by subscription, you can connect as often as you like. If you leave your BetterHelp counselor a message any time, day or night, they will reply as soon as they are available. Often, the answer you the next day, the same day, or even in real-time. So, you can have therapy every day or even more than once a day without paying any more than the basic subscription rate.
Although not all online platforms take insurance, the cost of online therapy is usually about the same or less than an insurance co-pay. And BetterHelp reduces the cost even more with their sliding scale and financial aid.
What are the 3 types of therapy?
The three types of therapy are:
- Supportive therapy
- Directive therapy
- Relational therapy.
At BetterHelp, you get all three types of online therapy. You can always reach out to your therapist through unlimited messaging for support. Your therapist is an expert in psychological treatments, such as treatments for depression, anxiety, other mental health problems, marriage counseling, or cognitive therapy. So, they can direct you to consider your issues in helpful ways and make healthy changes. Finally, since you can work with the same therapist as long as you like, you develop a relationship with them.
Is 7 cups therapy free?
The 7 cups community is available to access for free. You can sit around all day, drinking cups of tea and chatting with people who are trained listeners. However, they are trained but not licensed. If you want to talk to a licensed therapist, the cost is much more expensive than other platforms, such as BetterHelp. If you pay for the 7 cups plan, those cups of tea are going to cost you a lot more.
Are there any free counseling apps?
In some cases, yes. You can get a free trial from several of the online therapy sites. However, the free trial is often only allowed if you pay for a month's worth of counseling. In other words, you pay for four weeks but receive five.
Another option for mental health care is to get help through a mental health hotline site if you urgently need mental health care. There, someone will talk you through your immediate crisis and recommend where to go for further counseling. One thing to note, though, is that licensed therapists do not always operate these sites.
Finally, some online therapy options are being offered during the pandemic. For example, Sanvello is offering free access to its premium subscription until the pandemic is over. However, Be aware that Sanvello was designed to help people with mild anxiety, depression, and stress. So, if you have other or more severe mental health issues beyond depression, anxiety, or stress, Sanvello would probably not be the best choice for you.
Is there an app for counseling?
There are many different apps for counseling. Some are entirely automated with no connection to a real person. Others are a part of a larger plan. For instance, BetterHelp has a counseling app that is built to aid in communication with a licensed and experienced therapist in providing professional counseling for depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses and personal, marriage, and family counseling.
Doctor on Demand is another app-based option for behavioral health counseling. This service is more expensive than many others, and therapy is limited to only 25- or 50-minute sessions, each costing over $100. If you use Doctor on Demand for psychiatry, the cost is even more. Forget about relaxing with endless cups of tea. With this service, you won't have time for even two cups of tea.
Is the Moodpath app free?
Yes, there is a free version of MoodPath. This is the basic app, but you have to pay a monthly or yearly fee to get the full version. Moodpath really isn't a therapy app, though it can help people dealing with stress, anxiety, and other issues like depression. It's good for tracking your moods and doing simple psychological exercises to improve your mental wellbeing. Its guided CBT exercises may be especially beneficial to people who want to make a few minor changes in their thoughts and habits. It also allows you to download an assessment and referral letter if you choose to get help elsewhere.
Although MoodPath is less expensive than many other counseling apps, it is also much more limited in what you can do. If you use a service like BetterHelp or Doctor on Demand, it's best to talk to your therapist to find out if they recommend it for you, and if so, if the report will help with your treatment.
Why is therapy so expensive?
Therapy is expensive for several reasons. First, it's because it uses professionals with extensive education and experience. Getting help from someone who doesn't have these qualifications is a huge risk, and you could end up in worse psychological trouble than you were when you started.
Second, therapy must be private and confidential. This requires therapists, counseling offices, and counseling websites and apps to take special precautions to ensure online security, security in their office, and privacy whenever information passes between them and the client.
Third, there are expenses related to offering the services. For a local office, that means overhead like electricity, computer equipment, and billing departments. There are far fewer overhead expenses for online options, but they do have to maintain their website.
Another factor is their advertising. Whether it's BetterHelp, Doctor on Demand, or a community mental assistance organization, they have to get their name out there. Otherwise, no one will know to come to them when they need help. No matter how many million people suffer from serious issues, they won't get help if they can't find it.
Finally, some therapy services are priced higher. For instance, Doctor on Demand is one of the most expensive therapy options online. It's hard to say why it costs so much, but it may be partly because it tries to compete with local doctors and psychologists rather than offering a better deal than local counselors.
Although good therapy may cost something, you can get more for your money by choosing an online therapy site with unlimited messaging and flat monthly service plans. BetterHelp is one of the best, with features that give you as much therapy as you need for less than you would pay locally or on many other websites. Considering that getting therapy online is just as effective as in-person counseling, it makes sense to consider the online option.
