How to know in which cases to choose online psychotherapy?

These are the criteria to know if online psychotherapy is the best alternative for you.

In a relatively short time, online therapy has become a necessary tool of therapeutic assistance that has advantages for both patients and psychologists.

Of course, this does not mean that the typical visit to the psychotherapy center has to disappear; after all, in many cases people prefer to be able to be in the same room with the professional, without the need to use an electronic device. However, there are times when the advantages of the online modality are especially noteworthy, and opting for it is the most appropriate choice. In this article we will focus on this issue: in which situations it clearly pays to resort to online psychotherapy..

What is online psychotherapy?

Let's start with the basics: clarifying what online psychotherapy consists of. It is a psychotherapeutic intervention service that takes place without the need to be face-to-face in the same room with the psychologist, thanks to the use of electronic devices. without the need to be face-to-face in the same room with the psychologist, thanks to the use of electronic devices and communication and communication applications, which allow communication in real time.

Moreover, the effectiveness of online therapy can be just as useful as that of face-to-face therapy, and can be applied to treat almost all the usual problems as in consultationIt can be applied to treat almost all common problems, except for some exceptions in which this type of therapy is not recommended.

It is true that aspects such as warmth, closeness and non-verbal language are lost, but we gain in direct availability, availability and immediacy to help patients immediately in any situation in which it is necessary. That is why it is recommended, as far as possible, to combine online sessions with some face-to-face sessions.

In which cases is it convenient to opt for online therapy?

This is a summary of the cases in which online psychotherapy becomes the preferable form of therapy thanks to its characteristics. Of course, none of them is completely decisive, but these ideas can serve as a guideline when choosing distance or face-to-face psychological assistance.

1. If you are looking for even more discretion

Although today the fact of going to psychotherapy is very normalized, some people are still embarrassed to let others know that they are going to a psychologist, even if they are not being treated for any illness.even if they are not being treated for any disorder (for example, in cases where the problem is a couple's arguments or low self-esteem).

2. If you are homebound

There are many situations in which those who need to go to psychotherapy are not in a position to leave home for a long time, or it is very difficult for them to move. This is the case for some patients with reduced mobility, or for those who have small children to care for, or even for those who must go through a period of quarantine, as recent episodes such as the coronavirus pandemic have shown us.

Fortunately, online therapy overrides these kinds of limitationsIf there is an Internet connection with a minimum of stability in data transmission, there is the possibility of having video call sessions with the psychotherapist.

3. If you have a schedule too full of responsibilities

Another case in which online therapy is the most recommended modality is when you barely have time between work and family or home responsibilities. As online psychotherapy eliminates travel time to the psychology center and does not require us to be at a certain time in a specific place. does not oblige us to be at a certain time in a certain place (as long as we have quiet (as long as we have quiet places with privacy and Internet connection), it is much easier to fit these sessions into our schedule.

4. If you travel often

One of the most important aspects of any therapeutic process is consistency and commitment to our own improvement. For this reason, it is necessary to avoid that travel breaks the dynamic of going to psychotherapy always with the recommended frequency. In this way, not only will it be easier to reach the goals set in the first sessions as soon as possible, but we will also be maximizing the probabilities that, as a result of our travels, we will be able to reach our goals as soon as possible. we will be maximizing the probabilities that as patients we do not end up throwing in the towel and stop going to the psychologist..

5. If you feel insecure

Another case in which it is a good idea to choose online therapy is when as patients we feel insecure, or even a little intimidated, at the idea of going to psychotherapy for the first time. This is because being able to count on the help of the psychologist without having to leave an environment that is familiar to us and in which we feel comfortable, we are less likely to feel anxiety during the first session or two..

Are you interested in online psychotherapy sessions?

If you have decided to attend online therapy, whatever the problem, we invite you to contact our team of psychotherapists. At Despertares Consultation we have several centers open in several cities of the Community of Madrid and we have been receiving people of all ages in consultation for many years, but beyond the face-to-face care with patients, we also have a powerful online psychological therapy service. To see more information about our psychological assistance clinic, click on this link.

Bibliographical references:

• Change, P.M. (2011). Effectiveness of cybertherapy in mental health: a critical appraisal. Stud Health Technol Inform 167: pp. 3 - 8.
• Gratzer, D. and Khalid-Khan, F. (2016). Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy in the treatment of psychiatric illness. CMAJ, 188(4) pp. 263 - 272.