As Internet usage grows around the world, many therapist and counselors are beginning to offer online counseling services. The patient and the therapist connect over a webcam chat service or a voice over Internet service calling program. The counselor doesn’t have to have a large office for visiting with their clients and patients can enjoy the treatment in their own homes. While these innovative services do offer a number of unique benefits, there are a few downsides as well. Consider both before switching your regular counseling sessions over to an online format.
The main benefit offered by Skype or webcam therapy is convenience. Both the patient and the therapist find it easier to meet over an Internet connection. The patient doesn’t have to drive to the office or bear the stress of leaving the home if they have agoraphobia or anxiety issues. The counselor can keep a much smaller office and cut costs, lowering the cost of the therapy for the patient in some cases. If you’re concerned about privacy, meeting with a counselor in the privacy of your home office or bedroom may alleviate some of the worry about how others would perceive it.
Setting up your computer to connect with your therapist isn’t expensive or difficult. A high quality webcam and microphone headset is a small investment and most webcam chatting services require only a reasonable monthly fee. The costs will be far less than the price of gas or public transit to reach your counselor’s office. You can even keep talking to your favorite professional if you move away or they do. Seeking the help of the best therapists in the country doesn’t have to require relocation if you can simply connect with them over your computer. However, the loss of personal touch can make this method inappropriate. Many patients rely on the reassuring and warm care that meeting in person can offer. Being comforted or supported after making a big decision over a webcam isn’t always as helpful. The validity of this method truly depends how important you feel that meeting face to face is for your improvement. Some patients worry that a therapist could be ignoring them or not really listening over an online session. Consider how much you would miss being able to shake hands with your counselor or hearing their voice without the use of speakers.
One of the biggest losses when it comes to online therapy is the inability to check body language. Human beings convey a lot of information instinctively with fidgets, crossed arms or a twitching foot. Being able to view the entire body allows a counselor to catch signs of anxiety, pain or discomfort that won’t show through a person’s speech or voice. You may not even know that something you are discussing upsets you, but your counselor picks up on it because of a slight tremor in your leg that keeps occurring. If the therapist can’t see your leg, the issue goes unnoticed. Setting up a webcam to capture your whole body is difficult unless you use a secondary microphone.