Counseling from the comfort and privacy of your own home

Is Online Therapy right for you?

Advantages
Disadvantages
FAQ
 Online counseling may be right for you if... Your schedule is too busy to allow for traditional therapy sessions. You feel uncomfortable with traditional therapy options. Online therapy can be a useful mental health tool for people who feel inhibited when meeting someone face-to-face and may appreciate the anonymity that online therapy provides. You are comfortable with computer technology and can perform basic tasks such as e-mail and instant messaging. You feel comfortable sharing personal information online. You live in rural or remote area with limited access to mental health facilities.

 

 

LESLIE CAPEHART, PH.D.

 

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT

Advantages of Online Counseling There are many advantages to Online Counseling • Travel Costs and Time Commitments. You can have your counseling session from literally anywhere you feel comfortable. • Online counseling eliminates the usual requirement to spend time and money traveling to the counselor’s office. • Comfort and Convenience: You can make yourself comfortable with a cup of tea, music, or anything else that contributes to your well being in the comfort of your own home or office. No traffic, no waiting room, no inconvenience. Flexible counseling time Advantages of Email Counseling • Some people find that email communication encourages them to express themselves. The process of writing is similar to journaling and may have unique therapeutic value. • Some people find it easier to express lengthy or complex ideas or feelings via email, knowing that they have time to ‘finish the thought’ before eliciting another person’s reaction to the initial parts of what they have expressed. • The act of writing about one’s experiences can itself be therapeutic, and the exchange of emails with a counselor creates an automatic transcript of all sessions. From a counselor’s point of view, the automatic transcription of email counseling also allows greater transparency. • Opportunity to Reflect • The nature of counseling by email provides both client and counselor the opportunity to reflect on thoughts, feelings and other reactions to the other person’s words.
Disadvantages to Online Counseling • Many insurance policies do not cover online therapy. • Therapists cannot respond to crisis situations. • Online therapy is not appropriate for those with serious psychiatric illnesses. • Online Counseling is not appropriate for people with complicated or detailed problems. The scope of the help provided can be limited. • Online counseling eliminates geographic restraints. Therapists can treat clients from anywhere in the world, and many states have different licensing requirements and treatment guidelines.

 

Online Therapy May Not be for you if .... • You have been diagnosed with a serious mental disorder. • You are currently experiencing a crisis or are suicidal. If you are in a crisis, you should immediately contact a nearby emergency room or mental health professional. • You are uncomfortable using computer technology or do not wish to share information in online communications. You are unable to share your thoughts and feelings with an online therapist. Some people feel more comfortable being open and honest with someone they know and can speak to face-to-face. Emergencies: By nature, online counseling is not designed to handle emergency and crisis counseling. If your crisis needs immediate attention, proceed to the nearest hospital or emergency room.

Weigh the pros and cons to

Online Counseling

 

 Frequently Asked Questions What results can you expect from online counseling sessions? • You can expect the same results as you would with any professional in-person counseling session. The same ethics and principles apply to online counseling. Please read the advantages and disadvantages to online counseling to make sure it is right for you. How will you determine that goals have been met? • In the beginning sessions, you and I will establish goals and a time frame for counseling. You and I will periodically assess if the goals are being met. It is my goal to move you through the counseling process in the most efficient manner. I have no desire to have you as a life long client. I'm If I am doing my job well, I will teach you the skills to mange your life more effectively. You will get to the place where you feel confident and able to move forward. While each person and their situation requires an individualized treatment plan and may vary in the amount of time required in counseling, I recommend assessing whether the goals of therapy are being met approximately every 6-8 sessions. Is my information kept private? • Your records are kept private and confidential. However in the event, that the client poses a threat either to himself or others, therapists have a legal duty to warn. Duty to warn refers to the responsibility of a counselor or therapist to inform third parties or authorities if a client poses a threat to himself or herself or to another identifiable individual.