Best Online Chat Therapy: Convenient Therapy
Have you been considering online therapy and wondering if it’s effective? Research has shown that online therapy can effectively treat many mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. Below, we’ll look at online therapy and the various ways you can try this growing form of therapy.
Benefits Of Online Therapy
Traditional in-person therapy sessions can be more expensive than sessions with an online therapist. Also, online therapy extends availability, which can be particularly helpful for individuals who live in rural areas or those who cannot commute to a therapist’s office. The remote nature of online therapy can also be beneficial for those who prefer to talk to someone outside their local community. Surveys show that people are often open to talking more about themselves and their thoughts with an online counselor than they would in person.
Some people who could benefit from treatment may decide not to seek help because they are concerned about what others might think. They might be worried about someone seeing them in the waiting room of therapist’s office.
Online therapy can be conducted in the following formats:
- Video chat
- Phone call
- Audio messaging
- In-app messaging
Sessions are typically conducted once or more weekly, depending on your treatment plan and the therapeutic relationship you establish with your therapist.
Online Therapy As A Growing, Reputable Service
In the past, internet-based and other computerized psychological treatments weren’t always taken seriously. However, telemental health has evolved with the advancement of technology, and more and more therapists are now seeing clients online.
BetterHelp, for example, offers individual online therapy chat sessions that adhere to the standards set by the American Psychological Association. Sessions with your online therapist are conducted via video chat with the option to add audio or in-app messaging. BetterHelp offers:
- Couples counseling
- Veteran counseling
- Family therapy
- Relationship counseling
Online therapists provide a diverse array of mental health-related services. When you begin, you may find that it is similar to in-office therapy. Patients with conditions such as anxiety or addictions can now immediately express their feelings via BetterHelp’s in-app messaging feature, and their therapist gets back to them as soon as they can. The client no longer has to wait until their weekly or monthly appointment to be able to express their concerns, ask questions, or seek advice.
What You Should Look For In Therapy
To try out online counseling chat therapy, you want to make sure that you find a reputable platform with licensed therapists. You can do a little research to find out the qualifications of the therapists working for the site to get matched with a therapist who works best for you.
Remember that the entire point of therapy is for you to get the help you need. You might prioritize looking for a platform that allows you to change therapists until you find a good fit. You can ease into the process by sending messages to online therapists to answer your questions before meeting up in a video call. As long as you work with a licensed and experienced therapist, you should be getting similar results as you would get from an in-person appointment, depending on your needs.
Greater Flexibility With Your Sessions
With BetterHelp online therapy, you can customize your sessions and scheduling. Some clients may prefer shorter sessions or texting therapy, while others benefit from longer online therapy sessions. Messaging sessions and full-length sessions can be quickly scheduled online. Message exchanges can be sent back and forth at any time via in-app messaging, allowing both parties time to think about their responses and review their communication history.
In addition, through online counseling services at BetterHelp, you can switch therapists at any time if you don’t feel comfortable with your current one. In the real world, a person with dual diagnosis-type problems, who might benefit from counselors experienced in both areas, might need to go through a lengthy process of referrals, selecting a new therapist, and building rapport with them, while an online therapy environment eliminates this whole process with a few clicks.
Takeaway
While online chat therapy might never fully replace physically present counselors, its wider reach opens many avenues for treating mental health issues. If you have questions about online therapy or about mental health concerns, you don’t have to face them on your own. Take the first step toward improved mental health and reach out to BetterHelp today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is There A Number I Can Text To Talk About My Problems?
Here are crisis numbers to call or text. Remember that crisis hotlines do not provide free online therapy; instead, they have trained volunteer listeners who can point you toward resources and offer limited emotional support.
CDC National HIV and AIDS Hotline
(800) 232-4636Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
(800) 422-4453Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741Línea de Prevención del Suicidio y Crisis
1-888-628-9454National Domestic Violence Hotline
(800) 799-7233National Grad Crisis Line
(877) 472-3457National Sexual Assault Hotline
(800) 656-4673988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
988
Chat online(Options for Deaf and Hard of Hearing)
For TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline
(800) 662-4357Veterans Crisis Line
988, then PRESS 1
Text 838255
Chat onlineIs BetterHelp Really Free?
BetterHelp is not free; however, it allows you to connect with a licensed therapist at a rate comparable to that of in-person therapy without insurance. When you get online therapy through BetterHelp, you can speak with your counselor through video chat (live video sessions), phone calls, or unlimited in-app messaging. You can text your therapist for emotional support as often as you want, and they’ll get back to you as soon as they’re available. BetterHelp’s licensed professional therapists are trained to offer emotional support to people with all kinds of mental health concerns, including mood and personality disorders, relationship problems, strained family dynamics, low self-esteem, and more.
Are Online Therapy Conversations Right For You?
Online chat therapy can be a personal experience; not everyone goes into online therapy seeking the same things. Keeping this in mind can ensure that you get the most out of online chat therapy sessions, regardless of your specific online therapy goals. If you’re still wondering if online therapy suits you and how much online therapy costs, please contact us at contact@betterhelp.com.
BetterHelp specializes in online therapy to help address all types of mental health concerns. If you’re interested in individual online therapy, reach out today to get started. For more information about BetterHelp as a company and its online therapy offerings, please find us on:
What are the disadvantages of therapy online?
Why do some people find it effective to do online texting in counseling?
How does one get therapy through text or chat?
What are some difficulties encountered in online therapy?
Is online therapy as effective as traditional therapy?
What are the drawbacks of therapy through text?
How can counselors get their patients to talk during counseling?
What are the pros and cons of counseling online?
How can counselors make their patients comfortable during counseling?
How can you encourage someone to go to therapy?
What are significant signs that therapy is working for you?
What is the usual length of treatment for online therapy?
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