How to Get the Most from Online Therapy and its Benefits

If you’re looking into different counseling options to support the mental health of yourself or a loved one, then it’s important to make sure you’re considering all of your options. Teletherapy counseling is an amazing way to get the support and direction you need from an environment that you’re comfortable and familiar with. Not only can you communicate with a qualified mental health professional from anywhere in the world, but you can also do so with control over your own environment and the convenience factor is unparalleled.

If you’re still weighing your options, consider some of these benefits of teletherapy counseling and find out more about how to really get the most of your sessions if you’re transitioning into virtual mental health support.

The Benefits of Online Therapy

Weighing the pros and cons of digital mental health support is one of the first steps in ensuring you’re choosing the best option for your unique circumstances. When it comes to teletherapy counseling, here are some of the reasons why connecting virtually might be the best fit for you.

Wider Selection: While in-person therapy services are restricted to certain geographic boundaries, connecting virtually to mental health support means that the counselor and client can be across the world and still able to have sessions with a strong Wi-Fi or data connection. For those who are looking for a very specific type of mental health support, or have very few options in terms of mental health support locally, the wider selection available digitally makes a huge difference.

Convenience: No longer do you have to invest time and money going to and from appointments, arranging for time off work or school, or finding things like childcare while you’re gone. With teletherapy counseling, you can connect to support from anywhere that you can connect to the internet. When it comes to therapy, often the whole process of even just arranging your life to show up to appointments can be a challenge. The ease with which everyone can access teletherapy provides for greater accessibility to mental health services and removes many of these additional barriers for clients.

Comfort and Security: Opening up and being emotionally vulnerable can be a very challenging process, and often times the surrounding environment can make a huge difference in providing an extra layer of comfort and support. When using teletherapy you are able to receive support from the comfort of your own home with access to whatever additional comfort objects you might need such as blankets or a warm cup of tea. This might be especially valuable for individuals who are dealing with chronic illnesses, injuries, or mobility issues.

Privacy: While the stigma around receiving support for mental health concerns is certainly on a downwards trajectory, many people still have concerns about wanting to maintain privacy while seeking out support. If you have concerns about in-person visits to a mental health professional, and you’re just not yet ready to find treatment in a more public place, then teletherapy counseling might be the perfect way for you to seek some additional support through an extremely private method.

Getting the Most out of Online Therapy

If you’ve decided that seeking out support through virtual counseling is an option you’d like to try, then it’s a great idea to make sure you’re getting the most out of your sessions. Here are some tips to ensure that your online therapy is as constructive as possible.

Do Your Research: As with most things, the more research you do when it comes to finding an online therapist, the higher your chances are that you’ll find the perfect fit. When it comes to searching for the right person, make sure you’re looking at the areas they specialize in, online reviews, and see if they can set up a consultation session where you can get to know each other. Think of this process similar to an interview – you’re looking for someone with who you can feel comfortable being vulnerable, and this isn’t often the first person you speak with.

Limit Distractions: When connecting to a virtual therapy session, make sure you’re doing your best to limit distractions at home. Try to find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed and grab a pair of headphones so you can both limit background noise for your therapist and enhance your focus on the session. Make sure to also tell your family that you’ll be on an important call and do your best to impress on them not to disturb you unless it’s an emergency during that time.

Think About Your Goals: From the beginning of your time in therapy, it’s important to be open and honest about what your goals are for being there. This will make seeing your progress clearer, and also help ensure that your therapist supports you with the most relevant therapeutic techniques possible. Whether it’s seeking support for a specific mental health disorder, or if it’s to address relationships around you or other challenging circumstances, make sure you’re being open and honest from the beginning about what you’re experiencing.

Put in the Work: Similarly to in-person therapy, there might be tasks or homework that you discuss with your therapist that you’ll be encouraged to work on outside of weekly or monthly sessions. It’s important to remember that the more you put into your sessions and practice the techniques given, the more you will get out of your therapy. Therapy doesn’t mean just showing up and asking someone to fix you, it means putting in the time to develop ways to live a healthy life and maintain constructive relationships. So make sure you’re putting in the time to do this!

ACT Teletherapy Counseling

Whether you’re looking for support dealing with anxiety, depression, family issues, or even addiction, there are many different teletherapy counseling services out there where you can receive helpful support. At ACT Teletherapy, our professional and expert mental health professionals support clients dealing with a wide range of challenges, and we work with each individual client to develop treatment plans and ensure each person is getting the support they need. Get in touch with us today and let us help you navigate whatever mental health challenges you or your loved ones are experiencing.