Online Therapy
in South Africa
Co-creating a more preferred life with and for you
Online Therapy services have been a reality for a very long time. However, it was only during the COVID-19 pandemic that they really took off. Since then, people from all over the world have preferred online therapy as their mode of working with a psychologist and getting the help they need.
What is online therapy?
Online therapy (also called virtual therapy, e-therapy, online counselling, telehealth counseling, etc.) is a virtual version of in-person therapy. Online therapists use the same interventions as psychologists who provide in-person therapy services. The only difference is that these interventions are adapted for and utilize the internet (video) and/or phone (audio) to render therapy services.
What are the benefits of working with an online therapist?
When working with an online therapist, you can still expect the same
- Professional therapy services;
- Confidentiality;
- A safe space for working through the issues you have to deal with;
- And practical guidance to overcome the problems you face.
BUT… there are some additional benefits to working with an online therapist.
We have learned the advantages of online therapy from people’s experiences. Here is some of the feedback we have received from people we have worked with.
- You can conduct your therapy sessions in the privacy and comfort of your home, office, or other space.
- You can be anywhere, anytime—on vacation, in another country, or up in the middle of the night. It is more convenient because you are not stuck to normal office hours.
- When you work from home, it just feels like you have permission to be yourself, your real self. It feels easier and more natural to chat with your online therapist from the privacy of your home.
- If you live in a remote area (or have limited mobility or limited access to transportation), it is much easier to use online therapy as your preferred mode of therapy.
- Working with an online therapist can help you more easily focus on and stick to the problem, accelerating your progress.
- If you are a very private person and don’t want people to know when you are visiting a psychologist, online therapy gives you the needed anonymity. It eliminates the social stigma related to receiving mental counseling or therapy. With online counseling, you don’t have to worry about being “seen” coming and going from a therapist’s office, which helps avoid potential perceptions of stigma.
- Online therapy makes it easier to attend sessions when you have bad weather or are not feeling well. You just have to log on to the internet and connect with your online therapist.
- Online counselling allows you to get help from specialists who may not be available in your geographic location… and get the specialized help you need. It provides flexibility and access to a variety of specialists – giving you the power to choose the best therapist when it comes to helping you with your specific problem.
- The technology (Zoom, Skype, etc.) is relatively easy to master. After a while, it becomes second nature – making online therapy a smooth experience.
- Online therapy might be cheaper as you don’t have travel expenses. At the same time, it is less time-consuming as you don’t have to travel to your therapist’s rooms.
How effective is online therapy?
Research has shown repeatedly that Online Therapy is as effective as in-person therapy… and might even be better than in-person therapy.
A group of clinical researchers at the University of Zurich conducted clinical experiments to compare the difference in effectiveness between online psychotherapy and conventional face-to-face therapy. And what they found was somewhat surprising. For both patient groups (the first using in-person therapy and the second using online therapy, the degree of satisfaction with the treatment was more or less equally high: 96% of the patients given online therapy and 91% of the recipients of conventional treatment rated the sessions with their therapist as “personal.” In the medium term, online psychotherapy even yields better results.
A 2020 study by Jonne Hietanen showed that video calls evoke the same personal responses as in-person interactions. Seeing your therapist’s body language and facial expressions and making eye contact with them makes the sessions feel real.
In a 2022 research review by Patricia Chen, it was found that phone therapy is effective in treating many mental health conditions.
A 2022 research review by Reham Shalaby showed that chat support is invaluable for individuals with addiction and psychosis and can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
When should you NOT use online therapy?
Online counseling is not for everyone. Some people are in situations where they would benefit more from immediate face-to-face counseling. These include:
- People who are suicidal,
- In an acute mental health crisis or experiencing severe symptoms, i.e., patients experiencing extreme symptoms of psychosis, anorexia, bulimia, or mood disorders, are not suitable candidates for online therapy. These conditions typically require higher levels of care, such as hospitalization or intensive outpatient programs, which Internet therapy does not offer, and
- People who are in a situation involving domestic violence.
If you are in any of these emergencies, it is essential to understand that online counseling is not the best option for you. And that it would, therefore, be better to set up a face-to-face session with your therapist. Or to contact other service providers like Suicide Crisis Line or Life Line.
How do you make the most of online therapy?
There are a few things that can help you to make the most of online therapy sessions. Below are links to 3 helpful videos:
HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN ONLINE THERAPY SESSION:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xvw_nrw354&list=PLXKl6Cxk3MCnoagUhlJWI0XFkRpY4IxQQ&index=4
HOW TO PREPARE THE IDEAL SPACE FOR AN ONLINE THERAPY SESSION:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_PFI5g5A_c&list=PLXKl6Cxk3MCnoagUhlJWI0XFkRpY4IxQQ&index=6
HOW TO PREPARE YOUR TECHNOLOGY FOR AN ONLINE THERAPY SESSION:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFyV_fFJa8w&list=PLXKl6Cxk3MCnoagUhlJWI0XFkRpY4IxQQ&index=5
For more detailed information about Online Therapy and the online services I offer, please visit my website