The Benefits of Online Counselling

Are you considering counselling therapy, yet don’t know how to choose between online or in-person? It has been a pleasure to go back to seeing people in-person post-covid, and I also maintain an online practice. I will never leave my online practice; online counselling offers many benefits over in-person counselling and I like to offer both options to my clients. Read below to see what I consider some of the benefits of working with a therapist online.

Therapy From the Comfort of Your Own Home

Online therapy provides you with the ease of attending therapy from the comfort of your own home. It is not uncommon to feel a bit off after a therapy session. Psychotherapy can help you shift uncomfortable experiences, creating more space in your body, mind, and spirit and sometimes this shift leaves you feeling off balance. Processing intense emotional experiences can leave people feeling foggy, forgetful, and tired. If you are in your own home during therapy, you can easily get yourself a cup of tea or rest after a session as you recalibrate.

Cost-effective and Accessible

There are costs involved in travel and your time is also valuable. It is important to weigh factors such as commute time and accessibility concerns when considering whether you would like to see your therapist online or in-person. Sometimes life is hectic, the thoughts of putting in the extra travel time might be a barrier to accessing therapy. When you choose to do sessions online, there is no need to deal with the hassle of traveling to see your therapist; online therapy can be scheduled into a lunch break or any convenient time for you. Injuries, illness, and disabilities might make it difficult to attend therapy in-person or at an office that is not wheelchair accessible. Online therapy allows you to attend counselling while remaining in your home with access to whatever you may need during and after a session to be comfortable.

Screens Act as a Boundary

I have experience working with women who have suffered abuse, violence, and systemic oppression. For many people with complex trauma, therapy in-person can be overstimulating. For some clients, the screen can help by creating an energetic boundary between the therapist and the client.

Clients that are struggling with emotional regulation may benefit from online therapy because they are doing a session in a familiar, comfortable, safe space. Clients with complex trauma might struggle to recognize their emotional experience because they are busy scanning the space and the therapist for danger. The extra screen barrier can help some people experience a sense of safety, put hypervigilance on the shelf, and increase their ability to focus on the counselling session and discern their emotional responses during therapy.

Access Familiar Tools

Another great thing about online therapy is that if you're doing therapy from the comfort of your own home, you have access to familiar tools available to you in your space. It is common for pets to join sessions and I welcome them. Pets often jump in to offer comfort and help their guardians regulate their nervous system. You can also use tools that are available and accessible to you all the time, such as a comforting photograph, or physical comfort items. When you attend therapy online and you are able to experience comfort and grounding from your own space, this is proof positive that you have the tools to help yourself day to day.

Finding a Therapist Who Is the Right Fit for You

The therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors, if not the most important factor, in therapeutic outcomes. Especially for the type of therapy I practice where the goal is to heal relational wounds, the mirroring of a good-enough parent, a friend, and ally, is absolutely essential for healing. When you consider the possibility of online therapy, you broaden your search to find a therapist who is the right fit for you.

Online therapy offers many benefits over in-person therapy and vice versa. I do love working in-person with people and that is why I also offer the option of working in-person from my office located on Gabriola Island. Some clients find it helpful to do a mix of sessions, some in-person and some online. Providing the option for online appointments allows me to support clients that live remotely, while they are travelling, or in circumstances where they can’t make it to my office.

My suggestion here is, focus on finding the therapist that is right for you then decide between online sessions or in-person. If you find that online therapy does not work for you, you can always shift and look for in-person options in your area.

If you think that online therapy might be helpful and you are interested in working with me, you can request a free consultation by clicking on the contact me link.