Is Online Counselling Right for You?

Therapy might be something you've been thinking about for a while. Finding the time to actually attend an appointment can be another matter.

Work, family commitments, travel or simply living too far from the therapist you want to see can make regular appointments difficult.

Online counselling can solve some of those practical problems, although there is another question. Does therapy still feel like therapy when you're talking through a screen?

Is online counselling as effective as face-to-face therapy?

Can talking to a therapist through a screen really be as helpful as sitting in the same room? For many people, it can.

Research has found that online psychological therapy can be effective for a range of mental health presentations, including anxiety and depression.

What can be surprising is how quickly the screen itself can become less important. You're still having a conversation, noticing patterns, working through difficult experiences and developing strategies with your therapist.

Who Can Benefit from Online Counselling?

Sometimes the hardest part of attending therapy is simply finding the time to get there.

Online counselling reduces barriers such as travel and time, making it easier to fit therapy into an already busy life. It can also give you more choice, allowing you to see the therapist who is right for you rather than being limited to whoever happens to practise nearby.

For some people, there is also something reassuring about having therapy in the privacy of their own space, without the travel, waiting room or unfamiliar surroundings that come with attending a practice.

Is Online Counselling Confidential?

Talking about personal things from home can raise an obvious question: is online counselling private?

Online sessions have the same expectations around confidentiality as seeing your therapist in person and are conducted using secure video technology.

At your end, you can make the space as private as you need it to be. That might mean closing the door, using headphones or choosing a time when you know you won't be interrupted. The aim is simply to create a space where you feel comfortable speaking openly.

Making Online Therapy Work for You

One of the advantages of online therapy is that you can choose where your session takes place. Find a private, comfortable space where you can speak freely, settle in and give the conversation your full attention.

Silencing notifications and setting aside uninterrupted time can help create some separation from the rest of your day. You might also give yourself a few minutes before the appointment to settle into the session, rather than moving straight from work or other responsibilities into therapy.

When the session ends, there's no need to rush out the door. You can take a few minutes to reflect, make a cup of tea or simply sit with what you've discussed before getting back to the rest of your day.

Could Online Counselling Be Right for You?

Online counselling won't feel the same for everyone, and that's okay. What matters is whether it gives you the space to talk openly, connect with your therapist and make therapy something you can realistically fit into your life.

If travel, time or location has been getting in the way, online counselling might be worth considering.

Therapy doesn't have to happen in a therapy room to be valuable.

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Vanessa Allen is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, psychotherapist and clinical supervisor with over 18 years’ experience. She is a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician (ANZAED), EMDR therapist and RO-DBT practitioner, and founder of Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology in the Sutherland Shire.