How Counseling Websites Differ From Traditional Therapy
In traditional forms of talk therapy, client and counselor agree to meet at the counselor's office at a given time for an hour or so. If the client cannot make the appointment due to career or family obligations, travel, or any other reason, this therapeutic opportunity is lost, although it will typically still have to be paid for. Counseling websites, however, have no such restrictions, and therapy can be obtained at any time, from anywhere, and by anyone.
How Counseling Websites Work
Online therapy services typically don't employ therapists themselves and instead serve as a kind of clearing house that mediates between new clients and counselors. One of their functions is to make sure that the mental health professionals are qualified and licensed by the proper authorities. They also provide a technological platform that allows for secure patient communications and confidentiality.
Best of all, they are covered by most health insurance plans under their mental health services policies.
Benefits Offered by Counseling Websites
Improved Privacy
Discussing your deepest, innermost feelings with another person may be easier for you in sessions that are in person—or more difficult, depending on your personal inclinations. When discussing truly sensitive issues though, many people find it easier to open up when they know that their secrets are protected by professional confidentiality and they don't have to "know" the person they are sharing with.
Some patients in need of mental health services may be housebound, others live far from the closest therapists, while others still might not be able to take time off from work. By contrast, accessing therapy from a smartphone or laptop can be done anywhere and anytime. Online therapy typically takes place as a text conversation, although clients can also request a telephone or video conversation.
By working with a large number of therapists and psychologists, an online therapy service can cater to almost any need clients may have and help them find the right counselor for them.
With so many mental health issues not existing in isolation, but rather in association with others or being caused by additional problems, clients may also not find all the care they need with one counselor or setting. If he is a client of an online service though, he may seek counseling for multiple issues, choose from a list of therapists, and transition to new therapists on the same service with ease. This may not be the case with traditional therapy.
Overcomes Obstacles to Receiving Therapy
Have you ever thought that therapy might be helpful for you, but you decided against it? Pause for a moment and think about why you changed your mind. What obstacles prevented you from moving forward with finding a therapist and going to the appointment? If this was difficult for you, you are not alone. Most people wanting therapy are likely dealing with feelings of stress, anxiety or depression and the process of finding a therapist and going to an appointment may be extremely daunting.
It can be hard to do this on your own and even harder to ask for guidance. Online counseling makes it much easier and less stressful to find and contact a professional counselor and empowers you to move forward with getting help for yourself. Listed below are three reasons that may be preventing you from getting counseling. If any of these reasons are holding you back, online therapy may be a good option for you.
1) Your Busy Schedule:
You are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. You are having difficulties keeping up with all of your responsibilities and don't know how to gain more control over your life. You feel like you already don't have time to do everything you need to be doing, so how are you going to carve out time to go see a therapist? You work during normal business hours, or have children at home, and being able to get away is nearly impossible.
Online counseling alleviates this problem! Online counselors have more flexible schedules and can work with you to find a time, even in the evenings or weekends, that works for you and you don't have to leave your home! You can also email your counselor at any time and receive a response in a reasonable amount of time, rather than waiting until your next appointment to talk to them.
2) Stigma:
Although the way our society views mental health is progressing, let's face it, unfortunately there is still a negative stigma associated with mental health. This stigma, if we allow it, can hold us back from getting the help we need. If you are embarrassed that others may find out you are going to see a therapist, or fear that other people will think poorly of you for doing so, this will prevent you from getting help.
Speaking to an online therapist can feel more discrete and less disruptive. It’s easier to keep private, allowing you to accomplish mental health wellness and overcome challenges from the privacy of your own home.
It also may feel more natural. If you are used to using online forums or social media to talk about your issues, then emailing a therapist may be an easier step for you to take to start communicating to someone about your feelings. Also, knowing that thousands of other people just like you are using online platforms to receive counseling should help normalize the act of getting therapy. It will help people see that therapy is a helpful tool that can benefit anybody.
3.) Difficulty With Communicating
Many people in need of counseling already have a hard time communicating with others and this difficulty contributes to their mental health struggles. The fear of trying to communicate one’s feelings to a counselor in an office setting is one of the biggest challenges to getting better. If you have any sort of social anxiety or feel like it's difficult for you to communicate your feelings verbally then online counseling provides alternatives.
With every counselor, you will have the option to write out your thoughts and feelings via email or live chat instead of, or in addition to, speaking with your counselor over the phone or via video chat. Many people feel like they are able to express their thoughts and feelings in writing much more clearly and honestly than they can verbally. Other people just feel more comfortable starting therapy through written messages, and then eventually gain the courage to try verbal communication. Everyone is unique in what helps them best, and having different options is much more effective when concerned with the well being diverse individuals.
Everybody deserves to be understood and feel supported and cared about. No one should have to suffer in silence because they are unable to access professional help. Online therapy empowers diverse individuals by eliminating many of the barriers of traditional therapy.
However, while it will continue to grow, there are certainly some things telepsychiatry is not capable of: prescribing medication for one, or offering a comfortable physical presence. Even with these limitations, though, online therapy sites are now a permanent feature of the mental health landscape, offering a viable and effective treatment option to millions of people who were formerly left without access to help.
Some Commonly Asked Questions On This Topic Include:
What Is Traditional Therapy?
While there is not necessarily one type of therapy that fits the definition, many people consider therapy that takes place in person—as opposed to online therapy—to be traditional therapy. Many therapists and new clients are choosing to utilize online therapy because of the convenience of having sessions virtually. Some techniques, however, require the in-person nature of traditional therapy.
What Are The 3 Types Of Therapy?
There are many different types of therapy—and techniques practiced within those types—and they often depend on the therapist and their clients.
Types of psychotherapy treatment include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Humanistic therapy
Most therapists specialize in certain forms of therapy or will focus on a specific disorder or set of disorders. The process and form of psychotherapy will typically change based on the disorder or area of concern. Some forms of psychotherapy have a long-term approach, taking place over numerous sessions, and some take place in the short term.
In addition, therapy can take place in the form of individual counseling or group sessions. In group counseling, the therapists become group leaders, helping to faciliate powerful discussions and making participants feel comfortable sharing their issues in front of others.
What Is Traditional Talk Therapy Called?
There are many different modalities and forms of talk therapy.
Among other options, talk therapy types include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Gestalt therapy
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Humanistic therapy
- Existential therapy
- Family therapy/Family counseling (focused on the issues facing families)
- Couples therapy/couples counseling
While some people consider therapy that’s conducted in person to be traditional therapy, there is no one form that is universally labeled traditional therapy.
Is CBT Traditional Talk Therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of several types of therapy that fall under the umbrella of talk therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy developed from the principles of both cognitive therapy and behavior therapy—hence the name—and generally takes place over the short term. It focuses on helping the person understand and replace negative thought patterns that lead to the unwanted feelings and behaviors in their life. The process usually takes place over several sessions and is a proven treatment for mood disorders, personality disorders, and a number of other mental health disorders. It can be done in individual or group sessions.
What Is DBT Vs CBT?
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a type of psychotherapy that is a more focused form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). DBT is often used with clients who have a mental health issue that causes them to have extreme emotions. While the two modalities are similar, they have different approaches. Dialectical behavior therapy sessions are more focused on acceptance and controlling emotions, while CBT puts the focus on certain behaviors and thoughts that can lead to mental health concerns.
How Can I Do CBT On Myself?
While scheduling sessions with a licensed therapist is recommended to get the most out of cognitive behavioral therapy, there are ways you can learn new skills and use the principles and process of CBT to your advantage. You can start by identifying areas of concern in your life. These can be past events, a mental health diagnosis, or other mental health issues. Next, you can start to think about the thoughts and emotions that are associated with these aspects of your life. This can help you identify negative thoughts that may be leading to unwanted behaviors or concerns. As mentioned earlier, though, regular sessions through traditional therapy or online therapy are recommended to get the most out of CBT.
What Do You Mean By Counseling?
Counseling in psychology refers to when a therapist meets with a patient to work through any psychological issues they may have. This can range from mental health disorders to substance abuse to low self-esteem. Those interested in becoming psychologists or professional counselors usually enroll in higher education programs and receive an advanced psychology degree. However, counseling may also be provided by social workers, who generally have some training in counseling psychology.
What Are The 3 Types Of Counseling?
The 3 main types of counseling are Psychodynamic, Behavioral, and Humanistic. These three approaches differ in their emphases when providing treatment, focusing on the unconscious mind, behavior, and emotional processing of prior events, respectively. Within these approaches to psychology exists a broad range of sub-disciplines, as well as various applications in the form of family counseling, school counseling, couples counseling, and group counseling.
What Is The Difference Between Counseling And Therapy?
Both counseling and therapy utilize psychology to help people, but the psychology used in therapy is usually deeper than counseling psychology. Therapy is used to address deeper challenges clients may have, such as substance abuse or PTSD. Counseling, on the other hand, is more focused on an immediate and concrete issue at hand and helping you solve it.
What Are The 7 Types Of Counseling?
The 7 types of counseling are as follows:
- Marriage and Family Counseling — As implied by the name, licensed marriage and family therapists focus on the family as a whole when providing treatment. They typically deal with issues including marriage problems, juvenile delinquency, conflict between family members, domestic violence, and other issues families may face. Psychologists in this discipline may also provide couples counseling.
- Substance Abuse Counseling — Substance Abuse Counseling aims to help people overcome addiction.
- Educational Counseling — Education counseling focuses on the lives and well being of students. Issues dealt with here include bullying and low self-esteem. People who work in this field are known as school psychologists. Education counseling can take place in individual or group settings. Psychologists in this field aim to make a difference in the lives of students.
- Rehabilitation Counseling — Psychologists in this field treat those with mental and physical disabilities, helping them to live full lives.
- Guidance and Career Counseling — Guidance and career counseling focuses on helping students figure out how to achieve their career goals.
What Is The Purpose Of Counseling?
The purpose of counseling is to ensure the mental health and wellness of the patient.
How Is Counseling Done?
What Are The 4 Stages Of Counseling?
What Are The 6 Methods Of Counseling?
What Are The Basic Principles Of Counseling?
Can Counseling Be Harmful?"
Counseling may be harmful if the psychologist oversteps the bounds of their professional relationship with their client or clients (ex: engaging in a romantic relationship). That’s why it’s best to look for a counselor accredited by the American Counseling Association.