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Online Therapy
Given the prevalence and permeation of digital discourse, it is not surprising that psychological counseling can now be conducted online. Online counseling provides similar sets of services to clients as in-person counseling, albeit the scope of services will be limited to the restrictions of the technology. One of the benefits of online counseling is that it permits individuals to transcend both geography and time with regards to scheduling services with professionals. Individuals in rural areas, and those with difficult schedules, stand to benefit most from online counseling. Preliminary research shows that online counseling can be effective for many disorders (Bell, 2007). However, not all psychological issues or disorders are conducive to an online counseling intervention. Online sessions have a "disinhibiting" effect that can be especially effective for cohorts with issues like social anxiety (Cook & Doyle, 2004, p. 95).
Four of the top Google hits for a search on online therapy include Blah Therapy (http://blahtherapy.com/), 7 Cups of Tea (http://www.7cupsoftea.com/), Breakthrough (https://www.breakthrough.com/), and Online-Therapy.com (http://www.online-therapy.com/). Each of these websites shares in common similar features. For instance, they offer both professional and amateur talk therapy in the form of both community forums and one-on-one. Services are rendered primarily via live online chats. Of these four online therapy websites, Blah Therapy and 7 Cups of Tea focus more on creating a supportive online community and offering amateur and free services to users. On the other hand, Breakthrough and Online Therapy are designed more for individuals seeking professional counselors.
On Blah Therapy, the user interface is attractive and based on the language and tone of the site content, target audience is a young demographic. There is an option to seek professional services from a therapist online, and the subjects covered range from eating disorders to addiction. The client can ask questions to discover which therapist might be best suited to their needs, or the client can choose from a number of associated counselors...
The counseling is charged by the minute, and users can use PayPal. There are also free services on Blah Therapy including forums and a question room.
On 7 Cups of Tea, the emphasis is almost exclusively on amateur and free services. Users can become "listeners," who create public profiles. Clients can choose a listener to have a virtual conversation with, and engage in talk therapy. Clients can also select listeners based on their geographic location, language, and keywords in the listener profile. In addition to these services, 7 Cups of Tea also offers a series of digital self-help guides.
Breakthrough is almost the opposite of 7 Cups of Tea because the website features mainly professional services. Users can browse available therapists and take intake assessments for optimal placement. Moreover, therapists can use the site to refer clients. Clients can use their insurance to pay for Breakthrough counseling sessions. Information about the effectiveness of Breakthrough counseling services is provided on the website as well.
Online-Therapy is similar to Breakthrough in that the emphasis is squarely on linking professional counselors to paying clients. There is the opportunity to chat live with questions related to appropriate services and professional matches, clients can take assessment or personality tests online, and receive targeted interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. In fact, Online-Therapy is the only one of the four online counseling services mentioned that focuses on one particular treatment modality. Like Breakthrough, Online-Therapy offers research to substantiate the efficacy of its interventions.
The American Psychological Association and the National Association of Social Workers accept online therapy as a reality. There are a few professional organizations for online counselors like the Online Therapy Institute. As with traditional forms of therapy, the consumer need mainly be aware of issues like licensing and insurance coverage. States will have different rules and regulations regarding online therapy, and those rules are bound to change…
References
7 Cups of Tea (n.d.). Website: http://www.7cupsoftea.com/
Bell, V. (2007). Online information, extreme communities and internet therapy: Is the internet good for our mental health? Journal of Mental Health 16(4): 445-457.
BlahTherapy (n.d.). Website: http://blahtherapy.com/
Breakthrough (n.d.). Website: https://www.breakthrough.com/
DeAngelis, T. (2012). Practicing distance therapy, legally and ethically. American Psychological Association. Retrieved online: http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/03/virtual.aspx
Online-Therapy.com (n.d.). Website: http://www.online-therapy.com/
National Association of Social Workers (n.d.). Social workers and e-therapy. Retrieved online: https://www.socialworkers.org/ldf/legal_issue/2007/200704.asp
Zack, J. (2011). Is online counseling legal? Online Therapy Institute. Retrieved online: http://onlinetherapyinstitute.com/2011/01/27/is-online-counseling-legal/
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