Why Online Therapy?
Sometimes fitting counselling into your schedule can be a challenge, or going to therapy can be a daunting experience for some. As a remedy, I now offer online counselling services to certain clients. Just like face to face counselling, your online session with Dr. Thomson will last for 45 minutes. Online counselling can be conducted by either Skype or FaceTime.
My focus will be to provide you or your son/daughter with the best treatment available. Online therapy has received strong support from researchers. In addition to the successful outcomes there are many associated benefits of online counselling.
What are the benefits?
Online counselling offers many benefits compared to in-person therapy:
It can be convenient. Online therapy takes less time away from your workday and personal life. No need to travel miles to meet up with your therapist. All you need is a Skype or FaceTime capable device (e.g., laptop, phone, or tablet), and the session can happen wherever you are.
Compared to traditional in-person therapy, online therapy is more affordable. For more information click on the “Fees” tab to view online counselling session fees.
Online communication is very comfortable for many people, especially younger adults and teens, or those who use technology often. More people are using their devices to communicate, and it can seem more comfortable or easier than talking to someone in person, especially when revealing personal or private information.
It can provide access to those who can’t get to an office. In some communities, the nearest therapist’s office may be an hour drive away. Some people with chronic illnesses or disabilities may not be able to drive or easily able to leave their home. In these situations, online therapy may be their only option for help.
Research Informed Practice
Research supports the use of online therapy. Drawing from 12 studies, researchers Andersson and Cuijpers (2009), online therapy was found to be a promising alternative to in-person therapy. Further, Barak and colleagues (2008) found online therapy was as effective as in-person therapy, and also offered several advantages that support mental health improvements. These large scale analyses provide strong support for the use of online counselling.
