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What is Online Therapy?

Updated October 2, 2020

Medically Reviewed By Aaron Horn

Why Online Therapy Is More Popular Than Traditional Therapy The Many Ways You Can Talk to a Therapist Online Online Therapy Testimonials Online Therapy Benefits: The Benefits of Online Therapy And Working Online With A Therapist Therapy FAQs Choosing a Therapist Potential Online Therapy Concerns - Issues With Therapy Being Provided Online Interesting Facts About Online Therapy About BetterHelp - The Leader In Online Therapy Services

Why Online Therapy Is More Popular Than Traditional Therapy

Current Therapy Options:

  • Online Therapy
  • Traditional In-Person Therapy
  • Text Therapy

Online therapy (also known as e-therapy, internet psychotherapy, distance therapy, etc) is becoming quite popular as of late, and this fact is becoming more well known with the passing of time. Not only have we been able to help facilitate more than 41 MILLION therapy sessions online with one of our licensed counselors, but we have 1,000s of reviews from real users of our platform sharing their positive experiences that have come from working with a BetterHelp therapist in online therapy.

What are people saying about online therapy? We encourage you to take the time needed to see what some of our users are saying about our online therapy platform, and our platform has assisted them with their mental wellbeing by working with one of our online therapists.

What are the benefits of online therapy? In addition to what real people are saying about this alternative to in-office therapy, which is offered here at BetterHelp.com, you might find it beneficial to review some of the most common benefits of online therapy that our users have most appreciated as indicated below:

So How Is Online Therapy Different?

  • Convenient for those with disabilities

  • No location and transportation problems

  • It's good for those who have trouble communicating

  • You can communicate with someone on your own schedule

  • Confidentiality

  • Online

  • Lower costs

 

therapy services using a phone
Get matched with a therapist today

The Many Ways You Can Talk to a Therapist Online

use texting for therapy sessions online Texting
Using an online therapy app, you can message your therapist through instant text messaging. As you can probably expect from an instant message, it provides quick advice. However, the problem with texting therapy is that the messages tend to be shorter or less thought out. When you need instant relief, texting is the way to go.
communication via email with therapy session online E-mailing
Emailing your therapist allows you to provide a more detailed message, and the therapist can formulate a more detailed response as a result. What is a disadvantage of email and text messaging is that it doesn't allow for body language or tone of voice, which are typically important in a traditional therapy session.
online communication using voice for therapy Voice call
Using the mobile phone or an app, you can speak to the therapist through voice. This allows for tone and emotions to come through, but no body language.
online video sessions for therapy appointments Video chat
Video chatting is always ideal if you want an experience that is almost the same as visiting a traditional counselor. You can see both body language and tone.

Online Therapy Testimonials

LMFT providing online therapy sessions Cynthia Wiedemann(LMFT) & Online Therapist

"I am surprised at how positive I've found the online therapy experience to be, and Cynthia is no small part of that. It is wonderful to feel like I have a helpline when I need it and I trust her to respond thoughtfully and with all the weight of her experience and expertise."

Written by A.L.

have therapy sessions online with Psy.D Dr. Eileen Norton(Psy.D.) & Online Counselor

"Dr. Norton is patient and kind. Allows me the space to process my feelings, as well as offers suggestions and helpful advice. I am so happy I decided to do online therapy."

Written by M.A.

professional LCSW offering online therapy services Esther Gottlieb(LCSW) - Online BetterHelp Therapist

"Esther has been really great. She's incredible, attentive and knowledgeable. I was worried going into online therapy about not being able to communicate my thoughts and feelings very well through text but Esther has been patient, understanding and kind throughout all of this."

Written by K.E.

licensed and professional online therapists can help you Elaine Bonitatibus(MSW, LCSW, LICSW) - BetterHelp Therapist Online

"While I wasn't looking forward to signing up for any kind of therapy, Elaine is easy to talk to and has already helped in a lot of ways with how I cope with anxiety despite me being sort of new here. Would definitely recommend her expertise to anyone with a habit of worrying excessively."

Written by K.A.

The above written and video testimonials about our e-therapy services are just a few of the 1,000s of that we've received over the years from our users that have benefited from using the BetterHelp platform and being connected to one of our therapists.

Not only to these comments help us appreciate that fact that we're providing a service that really helps people, with a mental illness or other life issue, but it also results in us creating both a better psychotherapy product and service.

With that in mind, as long as we're in a position to help people connect with a licensed professional... we’ll be working hard to help as many people as possible that cannot benefit from typical in-office therapy visits to get them using the internet to get the support they need by using video, telephone, and texting therapy.

You still might be wondering... "how can this kind of therapy work for someone like me?" If that is the case, please take a look at some of our other reviews to see how our online therapists have been able to help people in more than 37 million online sessions.

Online Therapy Benefits: The Benefits of Online Therapy And Working Online With A Therapist

  • Benefit #1 = Low-cost treatment with online therapists

  • Benefit #2 = Accessibility with online therapy

  • Benefit #3 = Intimacy - professional therapists

  • Benefit #4 = Choices in online mental health professionals

Get To Know Some Of Our Online Therapy Counselors Below:

Therapy Specialties Of This BetterHelp Therapist: 

Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Parenting issues
Years of Experience: 29
 
online therapist
 

Therapy Specialties Of This BetterHelp Therapist:

Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship issues, Depression
Years of Experience: 11
 
online therapist
 

Therapy Specialties Of This BetterHelp Therapist:

Stress, Anxiety, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, ADHD
Years of Experience: 13
 
therapy online
 

Therapy Specialties Of This BetterHelp Therapist:

Stress, Anxiety, Family conflicts, Parenting issues, Self esteem
Years of Experience: 6
 
therapist
 

Therapy Specialties Of This BetterHelp Therapist:

LGBT, Intimacy-related issues, Self esteem, Depression
Years of Experience: 25
 
therapist
 

Therapy Specialties Of This BetterHelp Therapist:

Stress, Anxiety, Family conflicts, Parenting issues, Self esteem
Years of Experience: 5
 
online therapist
 

Therapy Specialties Of This BetterHelp Therapist:

Stress, Anxiety, Family conflicts, Depression, Coping with life changes, ADHD
Years of Experience: 17
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Therapy FAQ

That's up to you. No matter who you choose, your therapist will be a licensed mental health professional with a wealth of experience in the field. Their credentials are listed on their BetterHelp profile, and you have the right to pick whichever online therapist fits your particular needs. Maybe you want to learn how to manage anxiety. Perhaps you're looking to leave an abusive relationship, but you're having trouble setting boundaries. These are issues that the online therapists at BetterHelp are familiar with treating and can support you while you confront them.
When you're seeking a romantic partner, you're bound to meet people you don't want to date. The same principle applies to online therapy. If you don't click with your online therapist, you can choose another one who works for you and your needs; something that isn't always easy to do with in-office therapy. You've done something positive for your mental health by signing up for online therapy, and you deserve to see a provider who gets you so you can get support and learn to cope with your life challenges.
The beauty of online therapy is how easy it is to find someone willing to work with your hectic schedule. You might work a graveyard shift and think it's nearly impossible to find a therapist ready to see you. You can find an excellent provider who wants to find time to meet with you when you're available, whether that means during a phone conversation, video call or sending text messages. Your therapist is there to help you, and they want to make therapy a convenient and comfortable experience; even if you're unable to have traditional face-to-face therapy sessions.
Over 95,000,000 sessions show that BetterHelp does work and online therapy helps people manage their emotions and live a healthy life. Several glowing testimonials show how much clients are benefiting from their experiences with online therapists. There have also been well-documented studies about the benefits and impact of Telemental Health Services (aka... therapy online). 

Linda Godleski, M.D.; Adam Darkins, M.D., M.P.H.; John Peters, M.S. (2014) Outcomes of 98,609 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Patients Enrolled in Telemental Health Services, 2006–2010 https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.ps.201100206

Wantland, D. J., Portillo, C. J., Holzemer, W. L., Slaughter, R., & McGhee, E. M. (2004). The effectiveness of Web-based vs. non-Web-based interventions: a meta-analysis of behavioral change outcomes. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 6(4). http://www.jmir.org/2004/4/e40/



Whether you're here to talk about finding a romantic partner, psychological treatments for adult depression, seeking cognitive behaviour therapy, or working through the death of a loved one, our licensed therapists can help.

Choosing a Therapist

With online therapy, you can choose between many different licensed therapists who are ready to speak to you. Working with a therapist online comes with the recognition that finding the best fit in this regard is a good thing, and thus they can match you by preference.
find the online therapy professional that is right for you

Potential Online Therapy Concerns - Issues With Therapy Being Provided Online

Even though this service has much potential, it's not without its concerns.

  • Privacy - is your online therapy session private?

    • Don't get us wrong; this form of treatment has a secrecy oath, just like traditional therapy in a therapist's office. The problem is that online therapy creates the possibility of speaking with your therapist just about anywhere (such as texting therapy). If your goal is for your therapy sessions to be private, there's a chance that someone can hear you, look at your phone, or even recognize you during an online video chat. On the other hand, it's important to keep in mind that your therapist should perform the session in the most private and discrete way possible even when it is online.

  • Who am I speaking with through online therapy? What if I don't know their credentials

    • This is not the case with licensed therapist hubs such as online therapy with BetterHelp, which have licensed therapists ready for you. However, if you're talking with an individual outside of our system (especially for a mental illness), you should check and make sure they are who they say they are. While anyone can give advice and help you, if you want professional therapy, you should make sure your online therapists are licensed.

  • It isn't accepted or covered by many health insurance agencies

    • This is not the fault of online therapy per se, but instead the slow progress of an insurance provider for supporting recovery for a mental illness. It can take them a while before they accept that a treatment method is proven effective, and until then, they usually hold out on giving anyone insurance coverage. It would be best for you to ensure that they can give you the help you need and deserve. If enough people demand it, the coverage may change.

Interesting Facts About Online Therapy

an online checklist for therapy sessions
  • Ever wanted to know about the first computer therapy session? It first started over 45 years ago, in 1972. Two computers, connected between UCLA and Stanford, had a simulated therapy session; remember, this was at a time where in-office therapy was basically the only option available to most people.
  • Another effective form of therapy is group therapy, where people who have a similar problem work together to find solutions and help cope. 1993 had the first online depression support group formed thanks to Depression Central.
  • As the Internet became more public, a popular way to communicate between two parties was a chat room; using either text typing or video chats. Strangers would meet and have a conversation. In 1995, it was discovered that a chat room could be used for therapy, and the first online chat service was formed. London-based Pink Practice allowed people to receive advice and other services by chatting.
  • Four in five Internet users have searched something related to mental health. If you think you're alone with your problems, you're wrong. Many people are dealing with mental wellness & health troubles, so don't feel like your problems are alone. Everyone has some sort of mental trial he or she may go through, and there is no shame in talking to someone who can help whether that means in-office therapy visits or online.
Get matched with a therapist today

About BetterHelp - The Leader In Online Therapy Services

get started with online therapy today

Where to Find More Information about BetterHelp Online Therapy?

For more information about the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, please visit the American Psychological Association that apply to our therapists & their sessions.

To follow us online and stay up to date with our initiatives on our social channels, you can follow us on Pinterest, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Click here to check out our YouTube channel.

For more information about our company & therapy services, please visit our FAQ section and learn more about our founder. To learn more to determine if this type of online service is right for you, take a look at our video about therapy services online covering the topic. If you have questions for us, please reach us on our contact page or send an email to contact@betterhelp.com.

If you are in a crisis or any other person may be in danger due to an issue that is an emergency - don't use this site's online therapy services.

If you need Domestic Violence support, please contact The National Domestic Hotline at 1-800-799-7233

If you need Substance Abuse support, please contact the Substance Abuse and MH Services Administration at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

If you need Sexual Abuse support, please contact the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network at 1-800-656-4673

Call the 24 hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at +1 (800) 273-8255 or 911 which can provide you with immediate help for an emergency call or visit the nearest emergency room.

Where can I find more information about online therapy and mental health?:

References

  • Gerben J Westerhof, PhD, Sanne M A Lamers, PhD, Marloes G Postel, PhD, Ernst T Bohlmeijer, PhD, Online Therapy for Depressive Symptoms: An Evaluation of Counselor-Led and Peer-Supported Life Review Therapy, The Gerontologist, Volume 59, Issue 1, February 2019,
  • Sweeney GM, Donovan CL, March S, Forbes Y. Logging into therapy: Adolescent perceptions of online therapies for mental health problems. Internet Interv. 2016;15:93-99. Published 2016 Dec 24. doi:10.1016/j.invent.2016.12.001
  • Wentzel J, van der Vaart R, Bohlmeijer ET, van Gemert-Pijnen JE. Mixing Online and Face-to-Face Therapy: How to Benefit From Blended Care in Mental Health Care. JMIR Ment Health. 2016;3(1):e9. Published 2016 Feb 9. doi:10.2196/mental.4534
  • Stasiak K, Fleming T, Lucassen MF, Shepherd MJ, Whittaker R, Merry SN. Computer-Based and Online Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2016;26(3):235-245. doi:10.1089/cap.2015.0029

Check Out Some Of Our Most Popular Articles About Online Therapy

Further Reading

Real User Reviews About Their Experience Using Online Therapy

Online Therapist

BetterHelp review #108518
Date of review: June 15, 2020
Review written by BetterHelp user J.E. after counseling with David Haynik for 1 year and 4 months on issues concerning depression, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and anger management

At a difficult point in my life, David offered me help which has been truly transformative. I’ve struggled with depression for many, many years. Thanks to David’s compassionate help, I feel like I’m finally on the mend and making great progress towards getting my life back. Thank you, David.

BetterHelp Review For David Haynik David Haynik - (More reviews)LCSW

 

BetterHelp review #108514
Date of review: June 15, 2020
Review written by BetterHelp user L.Y. after counseling with Krysten Rohlik for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue

Krysten is a great listener! She positively dissects my issues and reiterates them back to me so I can learn to understand my situation from another perspective. She is one of the most understanding individuals I have talked to and asks all the right questions to help me move forward!

BetterHelp Review For Krysten Rohlik Krysten Rohlik - (More reviews)MS, LPC

 

BetterHelp review #108508
Date of review: June 15, 2020
Review written by BetterHelp user V.A. after counseling with Brandon Woffinden for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and family conflicts

Brandon has been extremely helpful and compassionate. He responds quickly and with relevant and useful responses (which hasn’t always been the case for me with online therapy). He does so much more than just listen, although he listens very well. He has provided valuable insight and outside recommendations that I can do on my own and he follows up. The book that he recommended has really opened my eyes and helped change my perspective. He challenges some of the negative ways I am thinking and helps to identify some of my mental blind spots. I would highly recommend him to a friend!

BetterHelp Review For Brandon Woffinden Brandon Woffinden - (More reviews)CMHC

 

BetterHelp review #108501
Date of review: June 15, 2020
Review written by BetterHelp user T.E. after counseling with Pamela Walker for 6 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self esteem, and coping with life changes

I've been seeing Pamela since 2019 and have enjoyed her expertise. She's brought a fresh and refreshing perspective to what I've been dealing with. Pamela is also down to earth, kind, supportive, has a great energy, empathetic and listens. She also checks on me in between sessions, something I've never experienced before with therapists. I highly recommend Pamela.

BetterHelp Review For Pamela Walker Pamela Walker - (More reviews)LMSW
 
 
 
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