Let’s start with what online therapy is. Online therapy, also know as tele-health, tele-mental health, tele-therapy, online counseling, and a million other ways, is referred to talk therapy through an online modality (video, phone call, texting).
So how do I know if online therapy is for me? Write down your answers to each of these questions and then check out the answer key to find out if online therapy might be for you!
1. Do you want to use your insurance for therapy?
2. Do you have any thoughts of wanting to hurt yourself or others?
3. Do you have a set-in-stone work schedule?
4. Do you currently like facetime, phone calls, texting with loved ones?
5. Do you have a busy schedule?
6. Do you struggle getting yourself to get out and do things?
Now check out my correlating answers…
- If you answered YES-before you find an online therapist, call your insurance company to make sure they cover tele-therapy sessions (some plans won’t cover anything online!). If you answered NO- then keep going!
- If you answered YES- I can tell you right now online therapy probably isn’t the best fit for you. Most online therapists won’t see someone who struggles with thoughts of harming themselves UNLESS they are frequently seen by another practitioner (doctor, psychiatrist, etc). If you answered NO- then keep going!
- If you answered YES or NO this could be for you! The beauty of it is how flexible the hour offerings are. You need nights? Weekends? A different day each week? Online therapists tend to have more offerings for you to choose from. It also helps that you don’t have to spend anytime getting to your session! Have a lunch break? try it then!
- If you answered YES- then keep going. If you answered NO- consider if you would be comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings via this outlet? Sometimes it can be more uncomfortable for someone to be on video than they are in person, if this is you, consider in-person therapy!
- If you answered YES or NO this could be for you! Once again, the schedule can be extremely flexible if you need it to. It can also be set in stone. What you need you can get! (check out how to better balance your time if you are struggling with this)
- If you answered YES- then i think ONLINE THERAPY IS FOR YOU! If you answered NO- you’d likely be happy with in-person or online so take your pick!
So if ONLINE therapy sounds like what you need and you live in Florida, contact me today to get started!
Rachel Cohen, MSW, LCSW is the owner and therapist at Seaside Counseling Center in Jacksonville Beach, FL. Rachel works with lonely, frustrated, and overwhelmed teens and 20 something’s throughout Florida.
*this article is NOT a replacement for professional services*