Weighing the Pros and Cons of Online Therapy

While online therapy comes with its advantages, it also has its drawbacks. Here are six disadvantages to consider:

1. Difficulty Connecting With Your Therapist

One downside to online therapy, according to the Counseling and Assessment Clinic at Texas A&M University, is that you may lose or misinterpret nonverbal communication cues, such as eye contact or body language, from your therapist. For example, in our reviews team’s focus group of nine online therapy users, some participants felt their therapist was distracted or emotionally distant during sessions. Participants who tried both in-person and online therapy thought their in-office experience was enhanced because they were in the same room as their therapist and nonverbal cues were easier to pick up on.

2. Costs and Insurance Coverage Vary

Online therapy costs can vary and may not be a more affordable option for everyone. In addition to our reviews team’s focus group of current online therapy users, they conducted a focus group of seven prospective online therapy users. The group was asked what they would be willing to pay weekly for therapy and responded that $20 to $40 a week would be ideal. With the maximum financial aid applied, BetterHelp rates of $144 to $216 a month ($36 to $54 weekly) for therapy were the lowest our reviews team could find. BetterHelp rates also depend on your location, therapist preferences, and therapist availability.

Whether you can use insurance for online therapy depends on the details of your plan, the online therapy platform you use, and the provider you see. For example, Brightside is in-network for Cigna, Aetna, and Optum/United Healthcare insurance plans in select states. In contrast, BetterHelp, Calmerry, Online-Therapy.com, and Sesame do not accept any form of insurance.

3. It May Take a Few Sessions to Find the Right Therapist

With an online therapy platform, you may not get to choose your initial therapist. According to our reviews team’s online therapy survey, 57 percent of respondents were paired with a therapist instead of choosing one. Many online therapy platforms, including Talkspace and BetterHelp, use a questionnaire to determine the right therapist for you. While you can switch therapists for free, you may spend your first few sessions getting to know therapists before finding someone you feel comfortable with.

One participant in our reviews team’s focus group of current online therapy users found vetting therapists to be a frustrating experience. “I spent the first month [on BetterHelp] essentially testing out therapists,” she says. The participant tried four therapists before finding the right one.

4. Technical Issues or Data Privacy Concerns

While technology comes with its benefits, you or your therapist may experience technical difficulties, such as internet outages or issues with the platform’s software or app, during a session.

Online therapy platforms also collect, store, and use your data. Read your preferred platform’s privacy policy to learn what data the platform collects, what security measures are in place to protect your information, and how your data will be used.

5. A Lack of Live Customer Service Support

For some online therapy services, such as BetterHelp and Talkspace, customer service issues can only be resolved through email or by submitting a contact form. If you need a quick resolution, the response delay can be frustrating. For example, during our reviews team’s mystery shopping of BetterHelp, a team member scheduled an audio session but was connected to the therapist via video. The team member could not call customer service or get a clear response from BetterHelp through email regarding the reason for the wrong communication style for the session.

6. Online Therapy Isn’t the Right Fit for Everyone

According to SAMHSA (PDF), if you have a substance use disorder or a mental illness that impacts or limits your everyday life, your therapist will evaluate your condition to determine whether an online, in-person, or hybrid approach to therapy would be the best format for you.

The American Psychological Association (APA) states that you may benefit most from your online therapy sessions if you are in a quiet, private environment with no distractions. So, if you live with other people or if you share your device with others, online therapy may not provide the privacy you need to communicate openly with a therapist.

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from Ketone Blog https://ketone2013.com/weighing-the-pros-and-cons-of-online-therapy/
via Keto News