Online Counselling and Why it Could Work For You

The global pandemic changed the world in many ways. We all remember those feelings of isolation, loneliness and for many of us feeling helpless. Many people have became cut off from social interactions and lost family members and friends, this seemed to highlight just how in demand the need for help was. If online therapy had a smaller place before Covid happened, it certainly takes its place on the main stage now. Never has counselling been more accessible than now and never has there been a higher demand for it than now!

Your time, Your Space

There are many reasons why online counselling has grown so much in popularity but the most obvious being that it allows for easy access wherever a client finds themselves. One of the biggest challenges when asking for help can be simply finding somewhere nearby and accessing a practise, online counselling removes that. There is no travel time involved to and from a traditional location offering counselling. Not only does this significantly cut the cost around the fee for the actual therapy session but also the time to get to and from a physical space to meet with a counsellor. By removing these barriers, online help is much more accessible and make a tremendous difference to your life and future.

Your Comfort Zone

Some of the less obvious reasons why online therapy might be beneficial are mobility issues, sensory issues and social anxiety for clients who feel inhibited by having to leave their own home to travel to see a therapist. Being in a familiar setting also allows many clients like those above and neurodiverse clients to access therapy where a physical presence of another person in an unfamiliar setting can feel like a huge barrier to even start therapy in the first place. Being in your own home and creating your own comfort zone can allow a feeling of safety whilst also being in a confidential protected online space that the counsellor sets up. Online therapy allows for clients, as well as counsellors the benefits of being connected from a remote location but without feeling the physical distance. You set your own boundaries in a space that you have created but the opportunity to grow and move forward in life is still within reach. 

‘The new norm’

The gaping hole of social connections that Covid and the pandemic took from us has been firmly replaced by online connections, bringing people together despite their physical distance. For better or worse, it is arguably the norm now! Online therapy can provide a safe way to embrace this new normal and use it to your own advantage. 

In many ways, online therapy has removed physical barriers that many of us didn’t even know existed, making therapy not only more accessible but also more… OK. It has helped remove some of the stigma around working with a therapist in the first place. For clients who have struggled to share they need a not having to travel to a physical space to seek help from a therapist. 

One of the other key reasons to choose online therapy is the opportunity to connect with different therapists. Seeing an introduction video of the right therapists for you online and offering an introductory session to see if the connection and support offered is right for you.

In my own private practice as a perinatal counsellor, it also offers great flexibility for the mothers and parents I work with as they often require childcare meaning that they are hugely appreciate not having to factor in more than an hour for accessing therapy being able to have counselling in the comfort of their own home whilst the baby is sleeping or not having to arrange for childcare for travelling time as well. This is one of the many reasons that online therapy can be essential to recovery, growth or further help. It is a way to get help to you, when you need it, however you need it and in your comfort zone. 

Take the first step towards feeling supported and understood. Explore how online therapy can fit into your life and get started with a counselor from the comfort of your own home today!