Telehealth, Online Therapy for Depression - How it Works
You can work from home, order shopping from home, and now you can have your mental health care from the comfort of your home, too.
Telehealth and online therapy have changed the way that you can get help for your depression, making support more accessible than it’s ever been. But how does online therapy work, and is it as effective as being in the same room as a therapist? Also, how are you supposed to know which option is the best for you?
On this page, we’ll explore online depression therapy, learning what it is, how online therapy works for depression, and the pros and cons of virtual therapy sessions. By the end, we hope you’ll feel more knowledgeable about telehealth therapy and the options available to you.
What Is Telehealth Depression Treatment?
Virtual therapy came into its own when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and areas went into lockdown, making it impossible to have close contact with people. Rather than being cut off from much-needed services, many healthcare providers found ways to bring therapy to the patient, typically through telehealth services.
Does Online Therapy Work for Depression?
Even before COVID-19 came into our lives, online therapy was being studied for its effectiveness in treating depression and was found to lead to a reduction in symptoms.2,3 What’s more, it has been shown that virtual therapy for depression can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy for depression in terms of symptom reduction and quality of life.4,5
The Benefits of Online Therapy for Depression
We know that having depression therapy online is just as effective as having it face-to-face, so what would make you choose it over physically being in a room with the therapist? In the same way that choosing the right therapist is a personal decision, there can be many benefits in having virtual therapy sessions instead of face-to-face therapy. But ultimately, the decision falls down to you; you get to decide based on your needs and personal preferences.
1. Better Access to Evidence-Based Treatments
With telehealth, you have a greater range of options available to you, letting you connect with mental health professionals outside of your area. Whether you are looking for individual therapy such as online counseling for depression, or for a virtual support group, telehealth makes these services more easily accessible to you. You don’t need to settle for the closest therapist to you anymore, there’s no need to drive for miles to get the treatment you need and deserve.
2. Often Better Value
Even if there isn’t a saving for the session fee compared to in-person therapy, you will often be saving money from travel costs to and from therapy, or having to pay for childcare for the session time.8 All of these contribute to telehealth being an affordable online therapy for depression.
3. More Comfortable and Convenient
If you have physical limitations of movement or have trouble leaving the house or being in rooms with people, it can also be a great way of starting to access the help you need without the pressure of being around a stranger or having to leave home. When looking at therapies such as depression counseling online, it can fit into a busy schedule with flexible appointment times.
You could even squeeze a session into your lunch break if you want to, but make sure to find somewhere comfortable, quiet, and private to have it!
The Cons of Online Therapy for Depression
As you can see, there are many benefits to having therapy online. But what are some of the potential downsides?
1. Potential Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security Issues
Additionally, some people don’t have a private space at home where they can have their session uninterrupted. So, going to a therapist’s office can provide you with that safe, confidential space to carry out your work. Plus, you never have to worry about an internet issue cutting off your session mid-way if you’re sitting in the room with your therapist!
2. Often Not Covered By Insurance
While therapy online can be more convenient for some and open up access to a lot more therapists, sometimes affordability can be a barrier as not all insurance providers cover online therapy services. This can make teletherapy an unsuitable option if you rely on insurance to afford treatments. It’s important to check with your insurance company whether they cover teletherapy mental health services so that you can avoid any unexpected costs.
Fortunately, some online therapy providers, like Mission Connection’s online talk therapy, may be covered by insurance depending on the person’s provider. Make sure to check your policy in advance to ensure that online therapy is affordable as well as accessible.
3. Limited Help in Crisis Situations
While online therapy comes with many benefits, there are also important questions about its limitations, especially when it comes to emergency or crisis situations.10 One big concern is technological issues like internet connectivity problems or problems due to video lag, which could disrupt communication at very crucial moments. When in a crisis situation, even a small delay in response time could impact how effective a therapist’s interventions will be.
Furthermore, a therapist holding a remote session has fewer options when it comes to keeping a client safe compared to being in the room with them. They may have a limited ability to assess body language or provide real-time crisis interventions. If a therapist is in the room with a client, they could help them more practically, such as with grounding techniques or getting support immediately from other nearby mental health professionals.
Online therapy with Mission Connection begins with a brief assessment so that we can better understand your wants and needs. You’ll be matched with a licensed therapist who will use scientifically validated techniques in sessions to help you understand yourself better and learn new coping skills so that you can start healing. In these sessions, you will talk with your therapist in a safe and confidential space, working together to set achievable goals for your well-being.
How many sessions you have varies from person to person depending on your needs and concerns. You may feel positive changes after a few sessions, or you may benefit more from longer-term therapy. We can provide flexible appointments to make sure your therapy fits in with your schedule.
Find Out More Today
You don’t have to struggle alone to manage your depression, we are here to help you.
We offer compassionate support tailored to your individual needs. We know that depression symptoms can be debilitating for some people, and others may only need a little extra support. Because of this, we offer a range of treatment approaches so that we can find the best way to support you. Some of our services include:
- Short-term inpatient stays for emergencies or severe symptoms
- Partial hospitalization with treatment in the daytime and evenings in the comfort of your own home
- Intensive outpatient programs with multiple weekly sessions
- Outpatient services like online therapy, CBT, and TMS therapy
We want to make sure you can access the right treatment when you need it most, so we offer a range of payment options to help ease any concerns over the cost of mental health treatment.
Get in touch today to get started on the road to recovery from depression.
References
- APA. (n.d.). Telehealth and telepsychology. https://www.apa.org/practice/telehealth-telepsychology
- Christensen, H., Griffiths, K. M., Mackinnon, A. J., & Brittliffe, K. (2006). Online randomized controlled trial of brief and full cognitive behaviour therapy for depression. Psychological Medicine, 36(12), 1737–1746. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291706008695
- Stasiak, K., Fleming, T., Lucassen, M. F., Shepherd, M. J., Whittaker, R., & Merry, S. N. (2015). Computer-Based and online therapy for depression and anxiety in children and adolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 26(3), 235–245. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2015.0029
- Scott, A. M., Clark, J., Greenwood, H., Krzyzaniak, N., Cardona, M., Peiris, R., Sims, R., & Glasziou, P. (2022). Telehealth v. face-to-face provision of care to patients with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 52(14), 2852–2860. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291722002331
- Zimmerman, M., D’Avanzato, C., & King, B. T. (2022). Telehealth treatment of patients with major depressive disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic: Comparative safety, patient satisfaction, and effectiveness to prepandemic in-person treatment. Journal of Affective Disorders, 323, 624–630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.015
- Morales, D. A., Barksdale, C. L., & Beckel-Mitchener, A. C. (2020). A call to action to address rural mental health disparities. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 4(5), 463–467. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2020.42
- Andrilla, C. H. A., Patterson, D. G., Garberson, L. A., Coulthard, C., & Larson, E. H. (2018). Geographic variation in the supply of selected behavioral health providers. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 54(6), S199–S207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.01.004
- Frye, D. (2023, April 14). Considering cost, flexibility, and other factors when deciding between telehealth and in-person therapy. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/therapy/is-online-therapy-cheaper-than-in-person-therapy
- Reynolds, D. J., Stiles, W. B., Bailer, A. J., & Hughes, M. R. (2013). Impact of Exchanges and Client–Therapist alliance in Online-Text Psychotherapy. Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking, 16(5), 370–377. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2012.0195
- Stoll, J., Müller, J. A., & Trachsel, M. (2020). Ethical Issues in Online Psychotherapy: A Narrative review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00993
