Virtual Therapy vs. In-Person Therapy: What to Consider?

With the surge of pandemics like Covid-19, everything paused. It halted the world for a while, but the internet came to the rescue. The Internet pushed the world to keep going. The period was also the witness of times when many people suffered the consequences of mental health issues. On the other hand, it also pushed people to come forward to seek help. It rendered them a safe platform to share their stories and connect. 

Virtual Therapy Vs In-Person Therapy

Virtual therapy is different from In-person therapy through the medium one receives the treatment. Washingtoncitypaper.com also defined it as convenient, comfortable, and affordable for those who otherwise don’t go for therapy. In-person is a traditional therapy method that provides room for comfort when people share their problems. It operates well for severe mental problems.

Benefits Of Virtual Therapy 

Clients get access to their therapist from anywhere around the world with just a single tap. It takes minimal effort to attend the sessions and at affordable rates. Some of the benefits of virtual therapy are:

  • Comfort: No hustle to go through traffic and wait in a waiting room as you can meet your therapist from the comfort of your home.
  • Convenience: You don’t have to get into a car or take a bus to reach the location to attend the sessions. Just a few little taps on your computer, and there you are to see your therapist and talk to them. You can also send instant messages through mail or text anytime.
  • Licensed Therapist: You get access to licensed therapists having experience in treating trauma, mental health issues, anxiety, abuse, and depression. 
  • Secure: Virtual therapy is encrypted and secure. The fact that you are receiving a Virtual treatment is only between you and your therapist. 
  • Affordable: The sessions are affordable than in-person therapy. There are also various payment options with discounts making it within reach of every individual looking for help.

Drawbacks

With benefits come some of the drawbacks associated with Virtual treatment.

  • Connection: There may be some connectivity problems due to poor internet connection at some places.
  • Not for everyone: It is not for someone who needs high focus. People suffering from schizophrenia and suicidality are not suited for Virtual sessions.
  • Fraudlity: There are many fraud service providers on the internet. Careful analysis is a must before you choose any one of the providers.

In-Person Therapy 

In-person therapy has many advantages, as it’s a holistic way of treating mental health issues. Although it is not as convenient as Virtual therapy, it reflects the traditional way of actual therapy.

Benefits Of In-Person Therapy

Some of the benefits of In-person therapy are:

  • Communication: In-person therapy is an excellent way of building communication channels and understanding the deep-root cause of the problem. 
  • Serious problems: It is the best treatment therapy for people with severe mental issues.
  • Interaction: It helps in better Interaction and offers a safe place to share difficulties and insecurities.  

Drawbacks 

Some of the drawbacks of In-person therapy are: 

  • Inconvenience: You need to drive to the same location every day at an appointed time, or you will miss the sessions.
  • Routine: You need to make time to take the sessions, and if you are unable to show up on time, you may miss the sessions.
  • Privacy: In-person therapy disturbs privacy as you take the same road to reach the same place and wait with other people in the waiting room.
  • Extra Hassle: In-person therapy may be filled with Hassle to beat the traffic and involves long waitings. 

Conclusion

Both the therapies are inclined towards helping people with mental stress. Virtual Therapy is more advantageous as it is more convenient and secure than In-person therapy. No one wants to show up their struggle to everyone because not everyone would respect it. Virtual therapy also opens a channel for introverts fearing to call for help. 

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