Have you ever considered seeing a therapist? But the thought of leaving your house to battle the traffic, look for (and pay for) a car park, fills you with dread? Are you a wheelchair user and deal with the daily frustration of navigating a very wheelchair unfriendly, mostly inaccessible, city? Do you fear awkwardly bumping into someone you know in a counsellor’s waiting room? So much that it puts you off making the appointment? Do you experience social anxiety and/or struggle to leave the house? Well dear readers, I just might have a solution to that. The internet really does have some perks. Welcome to the wonderful world of online therapy!
It’s counselling that you can do from the comfort of your own home.
That’s right, you can be in the privacy of your own home, sat on your comfy lounge (or wheelchair), cuppa in hand speaking to a professional. and yes, pyjamas or tracksuit pants are totally acceptable. In fact, I’d hazard a guess your therapist will also be sporting their own tracksuits pants, nicely hidden out of sight of the screen. Business up the top, and pure comfort down the bottom.
A silver lining that emerged after the awful global pandemic, was the rise of virtual care. Despite initial alarm, the benefits of online therapy are becoming clearer every day. Initially most clients and professionals in the therapy/counselling world balked at the notion that anything other than face to face sessions would be suitable. That was understandable as most clients and professionals never envisioned (or were taught) that online sessions would work, let alone become the norm (just like working from home, yet here we are). Very quickly though, the benefits of virtual counselling were evident.
Below are ten benefits (you may think of more)
1. Convenience – Accessibility – Therapy at Your Fingertips
Gone are the days of rushing through or being stuck in traffic, searching (and paying) for car parks or missing workday lunch breaks. With online therapy, you won’t waste any of your precious time travelling. You can schedule counselling sessions whenever you like—morning, night, and yes even during your work lunch break if that is your preference. It is accessible pretty much anywhere that you have an internet connection, and yes, I have had many a session with clients who are travelling the world, in motor homes, hotels and some not even on land!
2. Peak Comfort Zone Therapy – Pyjamas and Pets Allowed
Imagine attending therapy while curled up on your sofa or your favourite chair in your comfy pyjamas. For the animal lovers out there, can you picture doing sessions with your beloved pet by your side? I welcome furry emotional support companions, if that’s what you need. I know that for many clients just being at home significantly reduces their anxiety, helping them feel more at ease during their sessions. It’s not just pets either, I have clients breastfeeding their babies during session or chatting to me whilst sitting on the floor feeding their toddler lunch. Flexibility is a key component of online counselling.
3. Expanded Access and Choice
Another very cool perk of online therapy means it has removed geographical barriers. If your perfect therapist lives in another city or halfway across the world, they’re now just a click away. I you decide to move states or countries you don’t have to get a new counsellor. It can also makes finding specialists easier, particularly for those folks living in rural and remote regions or those with limited mobility.
4. Affordability – Financially Friendly Wellness
Online therapy can be much kinder to your bank account compared to the more traditional in-office sessions. Whilst session costs are usually the same (or sometimes slightly cheaper) you won’t have the usual added costs of commuting to in person sessions such as petrol, car parking, public transport, Uber or if you’re unfortunate enough – a parking ticket.
5. Enhanced Privacy and Confidentiality – No More Waiting Room Anxiety
Many clients (especially those in smaller communities where everyone knows everyone) are relieved to be free of what they feel are awkward open waiting rooms, where they might risk running into someone they know. Online therapy sessions are the most private way to do counselling. They are conducted from the comfort of your personal space. Several clients have told me they love being free of their anxiety of “waiting room weirdness”, where they spend time wondering what other patients are thinking of them and that learning that I offered online sessions was the last barrier to be removed that freed them up to book a session.
6. Consistency and Continuity – Therapy That Travels with You
Traveling doesn’t have to mean you have to pause or cancel your counselling sessions and interrupting your sexual wellness journey. Whether you’re on a tropical beach resort holiday, backpacking through Europe, cruising the Mediterranean or visiting the family, you can maintain your regular therapy sessions. Knowing you have this as an option can provide a sense of relief. It can be reassuring to know that you can be consistent with managing your mental health wellness no matter where you are.
7. Comfort in Communication – Express Yourself Freely
There are a variety of options, most used is a video call where you can see each other, some prefer to use the phone, whilst others may use a text-based therapy (especially for those with different abilities and support needs). You can choose the communication style that suits you best. This flexibility makes expressing yourself less intimidating and can lead to deeper, more comfortable conversations.
8. Quick and Easy Setup – More Time For Your Wellness Journey
Getting started with online therapy is quite simple. All you need is a good internet connection and a device e.g. a phone, tablet or laptop. Scheduling is usually seamless, the initial tech setup minimal, and there’s usually a short waiting time. Over the years clients off all ages have continued to tell me how easy it is to navigate my booking system. Appointments with me are simple to make. There is no need got a referral, just pick a time and date that is suitable, and the links will be sent to you. You’ll also get appointment reminders and the time of your appointment, if you don’t log on within 5-10 minutes of your session start time you’ll hear from me.
9. Evidence-Based – Its Proven To Be Effective.
Multiple studies confirm that online therapy can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy. Many of my own clients have affirmed this and even the ones initially reluctant to try online sessions, go on to tell me they have been converted. Despite some frustrations when there is a slow Wi-Fi connection (yep that’s a downside!), just like a face-to-face session we can still see each other’s facial expressions, hear tone and watch body language. We can also use accessibility feature if needed.
10. Support During Crisis – Immediate Help When Needed
In times of crisis, immediate help can make all the difference. Accessibility and flexibility mean many online therapists can offer emergency sessions or extended hours. This means they can provide critical support right when you need it most, day or night. If you are running late instead of potentially missing a session trying to get there, the fact you can just pick up your phone or laptop means you can just find a quiet place where you are and do your session.
Tips for Making the Most of Online Therapy
- Check your tech setup beforehand, sometimes updates happen at very inconvenient times.
- Make sure you will be comfortable, create or choose a cosy, distraction-free environment before the session begins.
- Relax and remember, everyone who does anything online will experience techy issues. Laughter is therapeutic too (and I’m there to assist of you are struggling)
The benefits of online therapy over the more traditional face to face sessions are convenience, comfort, and often affordability. The internet has meant that we can experience effective care in our own living room (or closet, yes, I’m serious, I once had a session with a client in their very large but wonderfully soundproof bedroom closet)
When potential clients contact and are a bit hesitant to book I tell them to just give one session a go and if they really don’t like it they need not feel pressured to make another session. It is all about having choices and in the end, it is your choice. There are still plenty of face-to-face counsellors you can book in with.
If you’re ready to try an online sexologist session, click here to book a session.
Pjs and/or trackies recommended, pet optional.
Not sure what a sexologist does? Take a look over here.
