It’s hard out there these days. You have plenty of reasons to feel overwhelmed, and it’s hard to think of adding one more stop to your busy schedule. Getting help might seem like a daunting task.

It’s hard out there these days. You have plenty of reasons to feel overwhelmed, and it’s hard to think of adding one more stop to your busy schedule. Getting help might seem like a daunting task

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So, let’s debunk some myths about virtual counseling:

Myth 1: Online therapy is not as effective as in-person (face-to-face) sessions 

Because it’s relatively new, a lot of people have been asking, “is online therapy effective?” The truth is, online therapy is just as helpful and valuable as in-person sessions. A study carried out on clients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) showed that outcomes and patient satisfaction achieved via online counseling were comparable to in-person sessions. We now know that those who received treatment via  online counseling and in-person treatment have similar outcomes.

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Myth 2: You can not build a relationship with your therapist online 

Have you ever had a friendship with someone in another state? Do you FaceTime them? Have you been on a zoom birthday party? Online therapy is very similar. 

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Online counseling helps clients achieve a healthy relationship with the therapist. It is true that it is not the “same” as in-person counseling, but that doesn’t mean it wont work. Online therapy lets people who can’t come to an office (either due to time, childcare, or health reasons) get connected to a therapist .

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Myth 3: You can’t do EMDR online

This myth gets a lot of people and stops them from engaging in counseling because they think they can only do EMDR (Eye movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy in person. However, that is just not true. With the pandemic, and more and more people working from home we have now developed new and extremely effective ways to do EMDR during online sessions.  We can achieve just as much healing with EMDR online as we did in person.

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Myth 4: It’s harder to work on “real issues”

Some people think it is harder to work on “real issues” with online counseling. However, this is not true. Studies have shown that online counseling can provide the venue for people to get help who may not have otherwise. It is just as effective. Telehealth has proven to be an effective means to diagnose many disorders, including one the hardest to identify–Autism. If it can help identify Autism, how more real can it get?  

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Myth 5: Online therapy is not confidential and safe

Online therapy is completely safe and your data is kept confidential. Therapists are bound by telehealth laws, and all therapists at IBC follow telehealth ethics best-practices. Therefore, you can feel free to let go of all your insecurities regarding online therapy.

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Myth 6: My insurance won’t cover online therapy

Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus, many companies have started providing insurance for online therapies.

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Myth 7: It is easier to get distracted during online therapy

It is a tech world we live in. Almost everyone nowadays owns a smartphone. Our grandmas even know how to facetime us. So, this myth is the easiest of all to debunk. In the present state, we all feel more connected to our phones than to the real world. Therefore, patients may get distracted from the real world but not from a video-therapy session.

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So what are you waiting for? 

Reach out today and start feeling in control of your life.

Remember… 

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Fact: It’s not the same but is just as effective 

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Fact: It saves time

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Fact: It is more convenient 

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Fact: You do not have to get out of your pj’s