Angel Chen, Graphic Illustrator
Society has made great strides in de-stigmatizing mental health, normalizing therapy so that it can be done in the comfort of your own home through a video call.
It’s understandable why people choose online therapy. As many college students know, a busy schedule can get in the way of seeking mental health support. Virtual therapy can be less of a burden on individuals with work, school or family responsibilities.
While virtual therapy has reduced many barriers to mental health care, individuals who have the time and resources for in-person sessions should meet with their therapists face to face.
Remote mental health care first emerged in the 1950s when the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute began conducting group therapy sessions via video conferences. Teletherapy continued to grow after that, but it didn’t become a necessity until the COVID-19 pandemic.
To support clients during the pandemic, clinicians turned to telehealth to conduct their sessions. In many ways, these meeting platforms kept people afloat during such difficult times.
Since the pandemic, many individuals still opt for virtual therapy. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 55% of mental healthcare appointments take place online.
Many people need therapists who specialize in specific disorders, so online platforms can broaden the number of specialists available to clients. Rural towns sometimes lack mental health services, and providing individuals with virtual care options can remove the barrier of living in an isolated area.
Carter Herndon, a student in the clinical mental health counseling master’s program at NC State, said individuals with mobility issues can use virtual services if a therapist’s office is not accessible.
“Maybe if the office has stairs and people can’t get up them, [virtual therapy] is something they can do instead,” Herndon said.
Illness or personal conflict can affect availability, and virtual meetings reduce the risk of spreading germs and can help accommodate an unplanned event.
“I think [virtual therapy] allows for people to have more flexibility with how they show up depending on what’s going on in their life,” Herndon said.
Online therapy can also be a great option for people who are constantly on the move. Those who travel for work or school can receive consistent care without meeting in the same location each time.
“You may have a therapist at home who you really love and connect with,” Herndon said. “[Virtual access] helps maintain that connection and continuity of care.”
While teletherapy eliminates many barriers, it doesn’t have the same effectiveness as in-person therapy. Developing trust with a client is crucial, and clinicians may find it difficult to do so through a computer screen. Many clients struggle with opening up to a therapist to begin with, and strictly meeting online can make people hesitant to discuss sensitive subjects.
Another significant step in the therapy process is monitoring a client’s body language to gauge how certain topics make them feel. Herndon said it can be more difficult to pick up on physical expressions of emotions through a video call.
“I prefer in-person just because you are in that space with the client, and it’s easier to view their nonverbal cues and get a feel for their energy,” Herndon said.
Depending on your living situation, you may have less privacy during a virtual session. I’ve had numerous virtual sessions accidentally interrupted by family members, and have worried that someone might overhear something intended only for my therapist.