The internet age is now clearly well past its infancy and in many industries this has led to a whole new revenue stream, alternative working environments and in some cases an entirely different commercial ecosystem.
Other areas have taken longer to adapt to this way of thinking. The wellness arena is one such niche that has managed, for the most part, to stick with the status quo but over the past year or two even this has started to shift.
Therapy Reimagined
Clearly in the field of therapy, in whichever form that takes, there has always been a sense that this is a personal service that simply MUST take place physically, face to face in a tried and tested fashion that has lasted for centuries.
Perhaps stigma was previously attached to moving the process to a remote setting but that is slowly becoming less of a factor and online therapy is now a hugely popular way of treating and communicating with those who elect to do so.
Finding the Right Therapist
A common issue, or perception of an issue, comes in the form of securing a trusted therapist online, as opposed to more traditional ways of being referred offline to a relevant professional.
When online therapy was starting to gain traction it’s fair to say that concerns about locating, and securing a therapist came with some potential pitfalls. The situation has greatly improved as the industry became more online-centric.
Now as well as there being many different resources there are many ways to assess the quality, and reputation, of any relevant provider long before you start a session, or indeed complete payment for the process.
The size of the online therapy market is now large enough that you’ll need to put in the work needed to find the right fit for you. With the ability to do your research in order to find out more about the best online therapy resources, it’s easier to undertake the process with confidence, and that’s key. Trusting the process of finding the right therapist, in this case, is as important as the trust you’ll have in the individual you’ll be communicating with.
Getting Used to New Ways of Communicating
If you have been using a therapist for some time then you are no doubt very used to, and perhaps comforted by, the usual set-up. In many ways it’s this portion of the marketplace that is the hardest to win over.
Clearly if you feel that the therapy you are receiving is working and is serving its purpose then the idea of change can be quite upsetting and as such the anxiety of considering these options can already doom the process.
However you’d be surprised just how quickly adopting an online setting for the therapy you receive becomes the norm.
Indeed for some the additional anonymity, and perhaps lessened stress, of being at home while you take your session can be a bonus in and of itself.
Reduced Costs
Now that online therapy is firmly ingrained in the market the associated costs have started to decrease and generally speaking the expense of the service is less than that of a traditional offline visit.
This is down to a number of other factors in relation to therapists not needing to operate out of rented offices and facilities, and therefore the costs reduce for those who use their services.
Clearly you will save on the associated costs of making the visit and the comfort of your own home can also lead to a more calming atmosphere.
Online Does Not Mean Unqualified
A common misperception with online therapy is that you could find yourself face to face with an unqualified bogus therapist but in reality, dependent on which service provider you choose, this isn’t the case.
All the major players in the online therapy field operate with qualified and registered therapists and the relevant details of each will be presented to you long before you conduct a session.
In many ways this is an additional layer of security you may not have been as confident about checking in person, but when fielding such a level of research online you are less nervous about asking the question.
An additional benefit of these online therapy providers is that most offer a wide range of wellness professionals that can help with a myriad of concerns. In this way you may find that a provider could help with a variety of needs as and when they become relevant.
Now that therapy online has become something of a norm you can expect the services, and costs, to continue to work in your favor.
Interesting Related Article: “How to successfully engage clients in therapy“