Benefits and Drawbacks of Virtual Therapy
Written by Tara Tourloukis, BScN RN MPN
Over the past few years, many individuals in our world have changed and transitioned several things in their lives. One of maybe the biggest changes, has been the world of online everything, opening up. We had definitely been doing many things online prior to the start of the pandemic, however never in history, to the level we are today. During the course of the pandemic, the Mental Health Commission of Canada for example, shifted the in person Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training, to online. The delivery and content both changed and people embraced it. Facilitators learned how to navigate this new content and content delivery, and although it was a learning curve for everyone, we got there. Now, the MHFA course is offered both virtually, and in person (virtual can be done in one day, in person over 2). Anecdotally, I’ve heard that participants and organizations really like the one-day-online approach. If we’re busy working in a world that lives online, I suppose we also expect it to be quick!
“Virtual therapy can be more approachable, and help to decrease the self stigma around attending an office for therapy”
Another area of mental health that has shifted to online, is therapy. Terms you might note include virtual therapy, e-therapy or tele-therapy. And just like anything else, there are pros and cons to online or virtual therapy. Studies have resoundingly shown that online therapy can be just as effective as in person therapy (Pescatello, Pederson & Baldwin, 2021), and these are some of those benefits:
-Some therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, can be equally effective either online or over the telephone.
-Flexibility. If a large percentage of individuals are working remotely from home, already on their computer, it makes a great deal of sense to have the ability to hop on to a therapy appointment over your lunch hour. No need to leave, and no need to schedule additional travel time (My Well Self, advantages of virtual health care blog).
-Availability for those who have geographic or transportation barriers. Think of those individuals who reside rurally or have difficulty arranging transportation (not everyone has a licence or vehicle!).
-Can be more approachable, which can decrease stigma that might be attached to seeking support. There is lots of individuals both in formal health care roles and not, who work tirelessly to try and decrease stigma and the effects it has on those seeking support. That being said, individuals can still have feelings about, and self stigma around attending an office for therapy. Offering someone the option of engaging in therapy virtually, from their own home, decreases this barrier, while still being able to offer therapy.
And there are definitely some drawbacks to online therapy, and some of those include:
-Technology. The very thing that can make online therapy a pro, can also make it a con. Technology doesn’t always work, can sometimes be frustrating and actually isn’t always accessible. Many individuals don’t have reliable internet (enter those who live rurally, here), or don’t have a device that has video/audio capabilities.
-Work/life balance. Yes, working remotely has been a blessing for lots of people, and has made life easier in many ways. However we’ve lost any buffer that we used to have – no drive to work to prepare, no drive home to decompress, no walking to the cafeteria in the basement of the workplace for coffee and a snack. So we end up rolling all our work and life stuff into the day and the lines are fuzzy; adding therapy to our lunch hour can be a pro (read above) and for some it can be a con.
-Nonverbal communication can be lost. Sometimes it’s difficult to pick up on those subtle nonverbal cues while on camera, and definitely while on a phone. Just as our emotions give information about us to others, so does our body language.
Therapy in any form, can be helpful and beneficial. It’s completely up to you, whether you choose to engage in virtual therapy or not. There are loads of articles outlining some of the same information above, and you are absolutely encouraged to read as much as is helpful. Whether you choose to engage in virtual therapy or not, the key factor is always that connection with your therapist. If you’re looking at exploring virtual therapy, it’s often recommended to take a couple minutes and connect with a therapist beforehand.
References
My Well Self (2020). 5 Advantages to virtual healthcare (vs. traditional). https://www.mywellself.ca/5-advantages-to-virtual-healthcare/
Pescatello MS, Pedersen TR, Baldwin SA. 2021. Treatment engagement and effectiveness of an internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy program at a university counseling center. Psychotherapy Research. 2021;31(5):656-667. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10503307.2020.1822559?journalCode=tpsr20
