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Online Talk Therapy

Goda Brzozauskaite
  • Apr 25, 2022
  • 5 min read
woman doing hand heart gesture while talking with therapist online

Talk therapy has a massive impact on mental health. There are no two ways about it. All you have to do is look at the statistics.

A 2014 study focusing on 65,000 people who had attempted suicide found that those who accessed talk therapy were 27% less likely to try to end their own life.

Insomnia symptoms, affecting 1 in 5 US adults, are lessened due to talk therapy. And talk therapy can help reduce stress, teach strategies and encourage a new perspective for those suffering from depression.

Gone are the days when therapy had to be in-person. With the development of the online world, online counseling is stepping up.

This article will deep dive into the different types of online therapy, so you can find the one that’s right for you. But first, what is talk therapy?

What is Talk Therapy?

Talk therapy, also widely known as “psychotherapy,” is a treatment approach that focuses on communication between a client and therapist. It involves 1-1 sessions where the client and therapist discuss issues causing difficulties in the client’s life.

You will work together to understand the impact these problems have on your life, explore them in detail, and then find a way to overcome them.

Who Can Benefit from Talk Therapy?

Talk therapy can support you through a whole host of difficulties, not just those mentioned above. This includes but isn’t limited to: anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addictions.

If you’ve recently experienced traumatic life events such as redundancy or bereavement, are struggling with your relationships, or you’re suffering from a long-term illness, therapy can also help you through these.

Events from your past that haven’t seemed to go away or unexplained feelings of shame, low self-esteem, and anger; they’re all welcome at talk therapy too.

The bottom line is: therapy can help anyone and everyone. Even if you’re not experiencing anything we’ve mentioned so far, therapy can help you gain insight into your life and understand yourself better.

It offers you a non-judgmental, safe space to express your entire self. All of us could benefit from that! Here’s a breakdown of the many benefits of talk therapy:

  1. Offers a safe space
  2. Demonstrates a non-judgmental environment
  3. Gain insight into your emotions
  4. Learn to manage stress
  5. Recognize your unhealthy habits
  6. Identify trauma triggers
  7. Build confidence
  8. Strengthen self-awareness
  9. Work through past traumas
  10. Understand healthy relationships
  11. Replace harmful habits with healthy ones
  12. Examine possible obstacles to positive mental health 
  13. Build a new relationship template 
  14. Lessen physical symptoms
  15. Learn to communicate better
  16. You feel less alone
  17. You’ll break the intergenerational trauma cycle 
  18. Teach you to express your emotions

With that being said, if you’re suffering from a severe mental illness such as mania, schizophrenia, or severe depression, talk therapy probably isn’t the right path to take.

Talk therapy isn’t sufficient for these severe difficulties; instead, seek medical support from your doctor or a psychiatrist.

What About Online Therapy?

Online therapy is highly effective. It’s more affordable, and you can do it in the comfort of your own home – or anywhere you want or for that matter!

Let’s look at the benefits of online therapy in more detail, starting with effectiveness.

Effectiveness

Worried that online talk therapy isn’t as effective? You’re not alone. Although this may have held some truth several decades ago, times are changing. Recent research suggests that online therapy is more effective. Just take a look for yourself!

If you’re still not convinced, find more information on the effectiveness of online therapy here.

Comfort

And online therapy doesn’t just provide you with a safe space; it offers you a familiar one, too. By accessing talk therapy online, you get mental health support in the comfort of your own home.

There are no traveling difficulties, logically or economically, with online therapy. There’s no sitting around in waiting rooms hoping and praying a friend or family member won’t waltz in unexpectedly with online counseling.

Price

Online talk therapy also has the added benefit of being more affordable. Let’s take the online therapy platform DoMental. It’ll cost you $29 - $47 per week to get online counseling at DoMental.

This online counseling comes in at just a fraction of the price of in-person therapy, which typically ranges from $100 - $200 per session. 

Flexibility

You get added flexibility with online talk therapy because you don’t have to factor in travel. You can fit your online therapy sessions around your essential life commitments, like your work, walking the dog, picking the kids up from school. The list could go on!

And you’ll benefit from more regular sessions if you want them because therapists can fit more clients in if it’s online therapy rather than in-person sessions.

No Waiting Lists

When you’ve just plucked up the courage to seek therapy, the last thing you want is the therapist you’ve carefully chosen to tell you they’re unavailable.

The feeling of rejection creeps in – are they swamped, or do they just not want to work with you? They may ask you to go on a waiting list, and who knows how long that will take?

Online therapy platforms like DoMental only match you with available therapists. This prevents the whole waiting list palaver and allows you to get the help you need right away. 

What Talk Therapy to Choose?

There needs to be trust between the client and therapist for talk therapy to work. A positive therapist-client relationship is a strong predictor of positive outcomes. This includes connecting with the treatment and staying in counseling until completion. 

Now, there are many different types of talking therapy to choose from. When deciding to engage in talking therapy, selecting the counseling type that’s right for you is essential. If you believe in the approach you’re accessing, you’re more likely to fully engage in the process.

Here are some examples of types of talking therapies and a bit of them:

Integrative Therapy

Integrative therapy combines all psychological theories and approaches to tailor the treatment to each individual.

You may initially choose one approach to work with and then branch out into different ones as other issues come to light.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a short-term talking therapy. It’s based on the belief that your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected.

It’s an action-based approach that focuses on current behaviors rather than previous experiences.

For more information on accessing CBT online, click here.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

CBT was adapted to form DBT. DBT is for those who experience intense emotions and need help focusing on the here and now.

It’s structured around the belief of the importance of accepting who you are and changing your maladaptive behaviors. 

Humanistic Therapy

Humanistic therapy focuses on you as a whole rather than your individual parts. It encourages you to understand all of yourself, not just aspects.

Humanistic therapy includes person-centered, transactional analysis (TA), and Gestalt therapies

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is specifically focused on the impact of your childhood experiences. It delves into childhood trauma and helps you understand emotions related to these events.

There is also a heavy focus on your unconscious mind, as psychodynamic therapists believe this drives your present-day actions.

These are just the main types. There are many more – it’s worth having a browse at the options available.

How to Choose a Talk Therapy Provider?

Did one of the therapy approaches above take your fancy? Now, it’s time to decide which online talk therapy provider you want to use.

Lucky for you, there are many to choose from. But this can quickly become overwhelming, so here is some guidance on picking out the best online therapy provider for you.

  1. Search online therapy providers: A quick internet search can be the first step to finding your therapist. 
  2. Identify whether the provider offers same-day support: If you want help right away, opt for a therapy provider that guarantees you’ll be connected with a therapist the same day, like DoMental.
  3. Check contact options: An excellent online therapy platform will give you options for contacting your therapist. For example, DoMental offers audio and text messaging.

And think about anything else that’s important to you. If you belong to a minority group, does the online therapy platform offer mental health professionals of your race, gender, religion, or sexuality?

You may feel more comfortable seeking support from someone with similar experiences to you. 

Final Words

Talk therapy has innumerable benefits. You can build your confidence, self-esteem, and understanding of yourself. You’ll experience a safe space where you can be yourself without judgment.

And you’re no longer confined to the restrictions of in-person talk therapy. Now, you can get effective treatment online. Online therapy offers comfortable, affordable, and flexible mental health treatment that you don’t have to wait around for.

You can access a range of therapeutic approaches – some focusing on the here and now, others delving into the past.

Interested in Trying Talk Therapy Online

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