How to know if seeing an Online Therapist is right for you...

Have you been considering online therapy and wondering if seeing an online therapist is the way to go when looking for qualified professional help with your marriage, relationship or personal growth? I've created this post to hopefully help you learn more about online therapy so that you can decide what's best for your specific needs.

Three questions to ask yourself when thinking about seeing an online therapist.

 1. Is online therapy right for me?

If you've been wanting to see a therapist but can't find time, seeing an online therapist might be a convenient option. Since you can schedule your therapy sessions with your schedule in mind, it reduces the need to factor in travel time. This can be a huge convenience factor! For many, getting to and from appointments during rush hour traffic is exhausting and can double the planning time. Seeing an online therapist helps with this! You can have your sessions in the privacy of your own home. Making it a lovely convenience factor! And, if you're wanting couples therapy, you and your partner can be in the comfort of your own home. Some couples really like being able to sit together on their couch or in their living room to talk with their therapist.

2. How do I pick a qualified online therapist?

Talk to the therapist before scheduling an appointment and ask them:

• How long have they been a therapist?
• What do they specialize in?
• Can they help you?

You'll also need to know if the therapist is professionally licensed in your state. Meaning, is he or she licensed in the state you live in. For example, if you live in Texas and are wanting to see an online therapist, he or she must be licensed in the state YOU live in. So, in this example, the online therapist you pick must be licensed in the state of Texas. When searching for help, ask your potential online therapist:

• How are they qualified to do online therapy?
• What state are they licensed in?

3. Ok, I picked a therapist, how do we connect online?

Your therapist should provide you with what's needed for your online therapy sessions. Usually this will be an email with a link to click on that will take you directly to your online session. Some platforms require a download that you might need to download on your computer. Depending on which platform the therapist uses will inform this piece. It's important to know that any platform used by an online therapist must be HIPAA compliant. That means the online platform is a secure way to exchange information and talk online.

More questions about online therapy and picking an online therapist...

If you have more questions about online therapy or picking a therapist that's right for you, feel free to contact me. I'm glad to answer any questions you might have. By: Anna McElearney, LMFT, LPC, NCC *Blog is intended for educational and informational purposes only.