One of the important things that gets stuck in our mind before commencing therapy sessions is the selection of the mode, meaning online therapy or In-person therapy. And if you are the person who is looking to make the right choice, considering factors like schedule, comfort, timing restrictions, the kind of support you are looking for, and ease of transport, etc., you are for sure in the right place to finally make a wise decision.
Let us firstly understand the following terms:
● Online Therapy:
This mode of therapy is carried out through virtual means like video calls on Google Meet, Zoom, or on social media platforms like WhatsApp or telegram and phone call sessions or messaging platforms. In short, it is kind of like a remote job as it can happen anywhere with a network facility. People prefer online therapy due to the following positive points:
1. Online therapy brings the advantage of convenience by logging in from home, car, or garden without the need to commute or wait in a waiting room.
2. This mode offers multiple choices of therapists and is a great choice for people working in remote or rural areas where the availability of nearby visits is not possible.
3. Flexibility in scheduling on weekends or lunch breaks, and the feature of reaching out anytime 24*7 is made possible through online means.
Besides the above advantages, there are challenges like tech glitches, setting up private space at home during sessions, and missing personal cues like body language changes, etc. There are some observations that can not be exactly understandable in online mode that are usually noticed and noted by therapists while conversing with people in in-person therapies.
●In-Person Therapy:
This mode of therapy is carried out in a traditional format, like meeting face to face at a prescribed or decided time in a therapist's office or somewhere at the therapy seeker’s home. The meeting is set to take place at regular intervals, like every week or once every month, depending upon the requirement, schedule, and feasibility. Now, let us know the benefits that people prefer in-person therapy:
1. There is no interruption in the form of notifications, chit chats of roommates, or hindrance to privacy while communicating issues or concerns.
2. Body language changes and expression reading are comparatively easier and observable in In-person environment settings.
3. For some people, going somewhere, specifically for therapy, helps in shifting mentally into reflective mode.
The drawbacks in In-person therapy include transportation cost, travelling time, fixed schedule, fewer options in therapists, a lack of affordable counsellors, etc. Sometimes, due to limited availability, people tend to visit those near their homes and, at times, might not feel or get the expected or desired results for which they regularly pay to incur a positive result.
To identify which one shall be preferred, the following are some questions that may help you to decide the relevant option:
A. Do I have the facility of setting up a private or quiet place for sessions?
B. Does my schedule allow the flexibility of travelling and making a visit to a therapist’s office?
C. Do I open up more easily or feel more comfortable sharing my concerns or thoughts when someone is physically present around me, or through a screen like on video calls or phone calls?
D. Would I feel distracted or self-conscious during online sessions or worry about getting overheard by someone?
E. Are qualified therapists easily available in my local area?
F. Do I experience panic attacks or emotional breakdowns where physical presence might help?
G. Do I associate my home environment with stress?
H. Do I have reliable internet and a device suitable for video sessions?
I. Would commuting time add to my stress or help me mentally prepare?
You may also consider booking a consultation call to understand and feel if the format sits right for you in an online setting or In person setting?
Apart from the options of online or in-person mode, there is also the facility of a hybrid option that many people who cannot opt specifically for either one option can go for a hybrid one.
Many therapists now offer a mix of online and in-person therapy. An individual who might feel comfortable opting for online therapy at first can switch to the in-person mode after some time, as per requirement or change in preference.
Hybrid Mode: This mode is a mixture of the above two modes explained - The Online Mode and The In-Person Mode. In this mode, an individual who might feel comfortable opting for online therapy at first can switch to the in-person mode after some time, as per requirement or change in preference, and vice versa. There is the facility of both options to opt from, which is nowadays provided and facilitated by many therapists so that therapy seekers do not have to leave or skip any session due to any change in circumstance or schedule inflexibility issues.
Both online and in-person therapy can be effective. Research has shown that for many common mental health concerns, outcomes have proved to be synonymous. So, in terms of effectiveness, what matters most is the quality of the relationship between the therapist and the patient, along with the willingness of the person seeking therapy to show up consistently.
The best therapy is the one you’ll actually feel willing to attend consistently and feel safe in.
What can Panha do for you?
You may connect with a buddy on panhacare.com. There is a facility of professionals for mental health concerns, with whom you may connect and consult. Also, if you want to become a part of or a member of Panha’s community, where people share, help, and listen to each other, building a healthy environment and a safe space for people, here is the joining link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/K6NiQy3aLw18IGJR9aJyJf