With the world the way it is, it comes as no surprise that online therapy has become as necessary as it is. COVID-19 caused a lot of harm to a lot of people, and in order to avoid exacerbating the spread, people in Ohio and elsewhere have taken to online therapy as an alternative to an in-person therapy session. Some may be skeptical to try online therapy as an option, and thus, it is important that they understand the benefits of trying it.
Should I Use Online Therapy?
Online therapy is a relatively new concept, so it is understandable why some may not be sure that they should go with it. Even people who get therapy now may be skeptical that online therapy is able to match the quality of in-person therapy. The good news for them is that it absolutely does. In fact, online therapy Ohio is more effective than in-person therapy in certain cases, such as with online cognitive behavioral therapy reducing depression severity more. Of course, no one person is exactly like another person, so this advice should not be taken as gospel. If in-person therapy is the most effective way for you as an individual to deal with your issues, then you should absolutely go with that.
With COVID-19 going on as it is, and lockdowns continuing to varying degrees, people are finding themselves more isolated than they’ve been. Not only that, but people have increasingly been showing signs of depression and anxiety. This has the knock-on effect for many of causing their mental health to worsen. By having an easily accessible therapy solution available to you, you are more likely to be able to cope with the new situation than if you were simply left to your own devices. There is nothing weak about seeking help or being vulnerable, so don’t allow yourself to needlessly suffer on your lonesome.
Cost is another thing that comes up with online therapy. Namely, the relative lack of it. An online-only therapist does not have to maintain an office, and as a result, spends less money on their therapy than an in-person therapist generally would. This allows the therapist to pass part of that savings unto their customers. Thus, so long as the therapist themselves is good at their job, you generally do not have to worry about getting your money’s worth out of your appointments. On the subject of cost, by not having to worry about driving to and from your appointments, you spend less money on gas and car maintenance.
Hurdles with Online Therapy
Unfortunately, as many have discovered while navigating the healthcare system, getting online therapy is not the simplest task in the world. One of the biggest hurdles that you have to consider with online therapy is that not every state makes it a simple process to get it, at least affordably. Not too long ago, many insurers did not provide coverage for online therapy appointments. Thankfully, this changed in recent years, arguably due in part to the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, not every insurance plan covers your prospective online therapy appointments, so make sure you check your insurance plan to see if yours would be covered. The last thing you want to have to worry about is whether the online therapy you need is going to break the bank.
This next issue is one that not many consider, but it is an important consideration to make. Security and privacy are both important things, especially as technology grows more ubiquitous to our lives. As such, when you conduct an online therapy session on your computer or phone, you have to be more careful about your privacy than you would if you did your therapy session in person. This is not a risk that most people will experience, but it is theoretically possible. The best way to counter this is to be diligent about what you download and how you navigate your computer and the Internet. By being responsible with your technology usage, you thereby reduce the risk of your privacy being compromised significantly.
Visibility is also a factor that has to be considered. While talking is usually going to be a simple process, you have to go through more effort in order to make sure that both you and your therapist are adequately visible to each other. Body language is an important part of communication, and there may be a reason to go with in-person therapy if being able to read a person’s body language is beneficial enough to do it. People who are hard of hearing or deaf may also benefit from in-person visits, as the improved visibility would help them communicate better with their therapist, both in terms of reading each other’s American Sign Language (ASL), as well as using body language as part of the communication. However, deaf patients can pursue a therapist who specializes in communicating with deaf people, who may also be able to provide online therapy services.
