What Is Online Therapy?
Like the name suggests, online therapy is a term used to describe mental health counseling that you can receive from the comfort of your own home in front of your PC or on your smartphone.
Often referred to as “e-therapy” or “internet therapy,” online therapy isn’t meant for people who are in the midst of a mental health emergency or who need urgent medical care. Instead, it’s a way for people to get easy, convenient, and reliable counseling at affordable rates. In addition, it can also be a real help for people who have mobility issues or simply live far away from a licensed therapist.
What Is Anxiety?
While there are many definitions of anxiety, the basic explanation is that anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or fear about different situations. It can be excessive and cause you to feel very uncertain and uneasy. Some people also panic and become very apprehensive.
Anxiety is often broken down into categories.
Panic disorder and agoraphobia
Social anxiety disorder
Specific phobias
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Anxiety can be recognized in people through various thoughts, behaviors, and physical sensations, including physical symptoms like blushing, sweating, numbness,chest pain, labored breathing, trembling, light-headedness, and more.
There are many other symptoms of general anxiety disorders, so if you start to notice various symptoms, it is best to seek assistance from a medical professional who is able to give you a proper diagnosis.
How Does Online Therapy Work?
Most online therapy companies offer 3 main types of counseling: real-time chat, video chat, and phone chat.
Email and text message counseling is popular with people who want to be able to think out their questions ahead of time. These tend to not be free-flowing conversations, but many people appreciate the space it allows them. Typically these chats are done through your personal email to a special, secure email provided through the site, which can help safeguard your anonymity.
Video chat will require a reliable internet connection and will allow you to speak with a counselor face-to-face, which is far more intimate and personal.
Real time chat allows you to chat back and forth with a counselor in real time. Think of it like having your own private chat room with a counselor who’s there to listen and support you.
When you sign up for an online therapy service, you’ll typically be asked to take a short quiz, which helps the platform match you with an appropriate counselor. If you’re seeking online counseling for your child, the quiz will ask you a lot of questions about your child’s challenges, before sending the child an invitation on your behalf.
What Kind of Anxiety Treatments Are Available Online?
While any type of therapist is helpful, online therapy is an increasingly popular choice for people struggling with anxiety or depression for several reasons:
Online therapy is significantly cheaper than other forms of therapy. Since therapists don’t require a set schedule, office space, or any other items that usually raise their overhead cost, online therapists and the sites through which they work, are able to pass the savings along to their clients.
Many people understand the importance of having good support when struggling with anxiety. However, far too often, people are busy and make excuses and never make the time to get the help they need. The idea of making an appointment, heading to an office, and sitting through a session is extremely daunting and anxiety-provoking in and of itself. Instead, after signing up and creating a profile, online counseling is as easy as clicking a few buttons and scheduling a session.
You can chat with your online therapist any time of day or night. Therapists will respond within 24 hours, but they usually get back to you much faster than that. It’s nice to be able to write down what you’re feeling in the heat of the moment when the anxiety is at its worst. This will help the therapist see what you’re dealing with and know how to best assist you during the sessions. On most sites you can also schedule phone or video sessions in addition to the written interaction you have with your therapist.
Anxiety Treatments Can Help You
Online therapy is a great way to tackle anxiety or depression in an efficient and budget-friendly way. Get in touch with a professional e-therapist who specializes in anxiety today. There are so many excellent therapists out there who are ready and able to support you!