Individual therapy offers numerous benefits for participants, from helping them cope with trauma to creating a strategy for shaping their lives according to their goals. However, when selecting a therapist, the patient must choose between in-person visits and telehealth appointments. Both have distinct advantages and drawbacks, such as cost, privacy, therapeutic relationship building, and treatment effectiveness.
The following are the main factors to consider so you can make an informed decision about which therapy format best suits your needs and circumstances.
Online Therapy Pros and Cons
Thanks to modern technology, many patients are turning to online therapy to fulfill their mental health needs. This option has plenty to offer and some drawbacks that patients should know about.
Pros
Accessibility
Online therapy is exclusively accessible in ways that other mental health services are not. More patients can access individual therapy through their laptops or phones without constraints, such as needing a vehicle or public transport to go to an office.
Flexibility
One of the greatest challenges when planning individual therapy is scheduling it. Online therapy can easily fit into patients’ days because they do not have to plan for commute time. In fact, many patients enjoy therapy during a lunch break or early in the morning when they otherwise would not be able to attend in person.
Comfort
Many patients prefer to participate in therapy from the comfort of their homes, which is familiar and reassuring. Feeling safe in this environment can help patients open up more readily and reduce the stress of sharing difficult events, emotions, and thoughts.
Anonymity
For patients who struggle to share personal details, the anonymity that online therapy allows may make mental healthcare more enriching. Some patients value anonymity, preferring not to sit in the waiting room where they may feel self-conscious or anxious about what others might think. Instead, they can use their phone or computer camera to interact directly with a therapist, focusing on their care rather than the stress of a waiting room.
Emergent Support
When a patient faces a challenge that would benefit from a therapist’s help but has not had an appointment for several weeks, online therapy can make some therapists more accessible to provide faster treatment. In many cases, online appointments can be made for the same day or the next day.
Cons
Lack of In-Person Tools
One of the most significant advantages of in-person therapy is patients’ ability to engage their physical senses actively. For instance, children’s therapy may involve play, which is less of an option during telehealth. For individual therapy, some patients may form less of a connection with their therapist or miss out on sensate tools, such as touch desensitization practice.
In-Person Therapy Advantages and Disadvantages
While online therapy can be a great option, there are some things that in-person therapy does better.
Pros
Greater Privacy
Therapists take privacy seriously, and attending in person allows patients to benefit from insulated walls and other privacy options that keep conversations confined only to the therapist’s ears.
Relationship-Building
For many patients, building a relationship with a specific therapist is essential. Cues such as body language, eye contact, and more can clue a therapist in on a patient’s thoughts and concerns. Patients, in turn, can find confidence or reassurance from a therapist’s physical presence.
Helpful for Severe Cases
While studies generally show that both in-person and telehealth visits are equally effective, some patients can benefit more from in-person individual therapy. Most commonly, these individuals may be facing more severe conditions, such as uncontrolled major depressive disorder or poorly controlled bipolar episodes.
Fewer Distractions
In-person therapy helps patients focus by removing distracting stimuli, such as pets, social media, and visitors, that they might encounter at home. This allows them to focus their entire attention on the session.
A Sense of Purpose
Simply going to a therapist’s office can give patients a sense of purpose. The physical act of walking toward help and being intentional about dedicating time to therapy can be empowering and create momentum for patients to continue seeking care.
Cons
Accessibility
Patients will need some means to access the office to participate in in-person therapy. This could be by foot, car, public transit, carpooling, or other means. Regardless, it may add a stressor for the patient.
Stigma
Some patients face the stigma that seeking mental healthcare is weak or a sign of failure. This is far from true! In fact, it takes great courage to work with a therapist intentionally. However, combating these false claims can be more challenging when patients must attend in person rather than on their own time via telehealth.
Embrace the Therapy Type That Is Right for You
Both online and in-person individual therapy could be right for you. Still, it is essential to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each. Consider trying both to see which best meets your needs! Contact Village Counseling today to try individual therapy and find the right path for your situation.