Why Might I Want An Online Therapist Vs. A Traditional Therapist

Updated April 11, 2024by MyTherapist Editorial Team

If you’ve been thinking about seeing a therapist you’ve probably been thinking about what’s considered a ‘traditional’ therapist. Any therapist is going to help you with a range of different mental health conditions. They can help you as an individual or as a couple or family as well, which is extremely important no matter what you may be going through. But do you know what the difference is between an online and a traditional therapist? Well, we can help with that.

What is an online therapist vs. a traditional therapist?

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Online therapy is incredibly convenient & effective in helping you cope with life's struggles

A traditional therapist is one that you visit in a mental health facility. These are the type of professionals that you would set up an appointment and then possibly sit in an office. You probably think of uncomfortable couches and waiting rooms where you feel like you’re being judged by the staff and even by the other people who are waiting for an appointment. But the therapist that you see is skilled, trained and capable of helping you with any kind of mental health condition you might be facing, right? Well, they aren’t the only ones.

Is online therapy real therapy? An online therapist is just like the traditional therapist that you already know about, like the skills, training, and capabilities. They’re able to help you with any kind of mental health condition as well. But what’s great about them is that you won’t have to visit that office and you won’t have to deal with that judgment or an uncomfortable couch. You can set up an appointment entirely online and then you can attend that appointment entirely online as well. It makes the entire process simple and easy, more so than you might think.

The benefits of an online therapist

So, what’s so great about an online therapist? Well, we’ve already touched on it a little bit but let’s go over some of these things again. For one thing, you don’t have to worry about actually going to the appointment or getting to the business. Instead, you can just log on from absolutely anywhere. For those who live in areas with weather-related problems, you don’t have to worry about how to get to the appointment because you can just log on to the computer from anywhere. Just log on from wherever you happen to be at the time.

Because you can log on from anywhere, you can be a whole lot more comfortable than you might think when you have that session. You can sit in your favorite chair or relax on your couch and feel great, which can make it a whole lot easier for you to open up. That’s especially true when it’s someone you don’t know, like a brand new therapist. Not having to go to an office means you don’t see those judgmental people either.

With this type of therapy, you can also get help practically any time that you need them. If your therapist goes on vacation or is unavailable for any reason, there’s another therapist nearby that you can immediately get in touch with. That means you’re never going to be without the help that you need, no matter what. When you go to a local therapist, you may find yourself without a therapist if yours needs to leave for any reason or if they go on vacation. That can make a big difference for anyone suffering mental health conditions.

The benefits of traditional therapy

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One benefit of traditional therapy is that your therapist is right there, in your area, which can sometimes improve your quality of therapy. That’s not because the therapist themselves is better, but because they have a better chance to see your facial expressions, your body language and a whole lot more. It’s difficult to see if you have a session online, but in person, a professional will get all of those little nuances because they’re up close and personal. It’s a great way to improve your quality of service.

Another benefit is being local with your therapist. You’ll have someone that lives near you, and that’s willing and able to help you at any time. Being local can have its conveniences because they have similar life experiences in many instances and may have an easier time understanding you, your situation and the things that are happening around you. Of course, that doesn’t mean that an online therapist can’t give you great service and understand you, because they definitely will be able to help, but they may not have similar life experiences in all instances.

Types of therapy you can get

Whether you go with a traditional therapist or an online therapist, you’ll be able to get any type of therapy that you need. That means therapy for different types of mental health conditions, and it means therapy for individuals, couples or families. You can go through group therapy and a whole lot more as well, which means you’re going to have a whole lot of great options and possibilities. If you have any type of mental health condition you’ll be able to find someone that specializes in that area of therapy, and you’ll be able to get the help you’re looking for.

Finding your online therapist

Getty/AnnaStills
Online therapy is incredibly convenient & effective in helping you cope with life's struggles

If you’re looking for an online therapist, you want to make sure you look in the right place. MyTherapist is a great place to look and a great way to get the help that you’re looking for. Not only that but it lets you get information about different mental health conditions and types of therapy. Before you even have that first session, you’re going to have no problem finding out even more information about the possibilities and about what you’ve been experiencing as well, which is an even more important part of the process.

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