While online therapy companies weren’t entirely new at the start of the pandemic, that situation seemed to be a catalyst for them taking off in popularity. People felt anxious and isolated and often couldn’t attend therapy or see mental health professionals and licensed therapists in person. Betterhelp, TalkSpace, and similar companies became the go-to, but are there problems with these platforms?
There are upsides to working within online therapy companies or talking to a virtual therapist, like greater accessibility. Still, there are possible ethical issues with online therapy and other downsides.
How Do Online Therapy Apps Work?
Online therapy is counseling services or psychotherapy online or through an app. Rather than in-person therapy with a virtual therapist, you’re connecting with a licensed professional. As long as your device has an internet connection, you should be able to communicate.
Online therapy is also sometimes referred to as teletherapy and e-therapy. You may be able to access various types of online therapy services. For example, you might work with the provider one-on-one during phone sessions or video calls. You might also work less often with family therapists through an online platform. Licensed marriage counselors can help couples with relationship issues through an online therapy platform.
Some of the benefits of an online platform include:
- Research indicates working with an online therapy provider can be as effective as in-person therapy for certain mental health issues. For example, reviews show that therapy interventions like online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be as effective as therapy in person for moderate depression. Another review found online therapy services, including video sessions, could be comparable in effectiveness for panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
- People often live in places with a significant shortage of available mental health services. For example, someone living in a remote or rural area might not otherwise have access to therapy other than online. If someone has to drive a long distance to get therapy, it’s a burden, and they may opt not to receive treatment.
- If a person has physical limitations, online psychotherapy may be the best option to treat a mental health diagnosis or meet therapy goals.
- There’s a sense of convenience and affordability that comes with online therapy. You can talk to a therapist in a comfortable environment and usually find a scheduled time that works with your daily life. Most states also require health insurance plans to cover therapy provided online like other sessions.
- Some people feel like online therapy is more approachable. They feel less intimidated talking to a therapist in a virtual setting or on phone calls during online treatment.
While all that can initially sound great, some very real issues come up with online counseling or even phone sessions.
Ethical Issues with Online Therapy Apps
There are legal and ethical arguments against online mental health counseling compared to in-person sessions to be aware of before deciding what’s right for you and any mental health conditions you may be dealing with.
- First, there are security threats to data and private information. For example, a computer virus, hackers’ work, or device theft could breach your mental health information. Potential issues include inadequate security software or systems, phishing scams, and unsecured electronic files.
- Both the person seeking therapy and their therapist need to be conscious of the technology they’re using and what limitations it could have.
- The American Psychological Association has issued guidelines for therapists using telecommunication to treat patients in virtual therapy sessions. According to this guidance, therapists and clients should ensure they fully understand all technology they’re using, be aware of social media use, and know that any electronic communication is at a higher risk of being made public. There should be the use of strong, complex passwords and data encryption.
- A therapist is also encouraged to securely destroy private information when appropriate, and all platforms must comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Older or vulnerable people may not have strong technology skills, so their lack of digital proficiency can put them at even greater risk if they use online therapy companies or work with a virtual therapist.
- Therapists are required to protect confidentiality for patients with some exceptions, which is the duty to protect. A therapist might have a professional and ethical obligation to warn a third party if they think a client could represent a danger to themselves or someone else. It can be difficult for online therapists to uphold this duty to protect because they may not even know a patient’s real location or name.
- Also, it’s tough to enforce codes of conduct online. Anyone thinking of working with a therapist virtually should ensure they know their credentials and certification. Many states specify therapists can only see clients in the state where they’re licensed.
Other Downsides of Online Therapy Companies
Along with what’s mentioned above, other cons of online therapy must be carefully weighed. These include:
- Insurance plans or your health insurance company may still not cover it. Some health plans specifically don’t cover online therapy. Some online providers don’t accept insurance. If you’re paying out-of-pocket rather than your insurance company paying for online services from professional therapists, expenses can quickly add up. Depending on services and your geographic location, online therapy costs can vary quite a bit. Some online therapy platforms charge based on a subscription model or monthly cost that’s difficult to get out of.
- There’s likely to be an inconsistency in the quality of care. You might not even have the same therapists you work with every time you use an online platform.
- Many states don’t allow out-of-state therapists to provide services, so your provider must be licensed in both your and their home state.
- When a therapist is not physically near their client, a crisis becomes challenging for them to respond to effectively. For example, if an online therapist is working with a client experiencing suicidal thoughts, it may be impossible to help them directly.
- A lot is lost in translation when working with a virtual therapist, especially if it’s text-based. Even a licensed therapist can’t gauge body language, vocal signals, or see facial expressions. These are important in the therapeutic relationship because they help the therapist understand more about you, your symptoms, and what you’re experiencing. There’s not a sense of intimacy in online sessions.
- Online therapy is not appropriate for serious psychiatric and mental health disorders. If someone has a complex, serious issue like a substance use disorder, personality disorder, severe depression, or bipolar disorder, they need in-person therapy and treatment. Online therapy is somewhat limited in scope. You couldn’t easily do something like family therapy, exposure therapy, or more unique types of therapy with an online therapist. Even couples therapy can be more challenging in this format of an online therapy program.
- You must carefully check therapist qualifications before working with anyone during the sign-up and matching processes. You have to review the types of therapy offered, online therapist options, and therapist bios and ensure that these are qualified mental health care professionals.
- There’s a lack of healthy boundaries that can occur with therapy online. People may become used to constant therapist availability at all times, which is not always a good thing. It becomes a crutch, and the person may rely on the online therapy platform rather than developing positive coping mechanisms. Unlimited messaging that can happen through online communication may not be good for the well-being of a therapist either. Therapists may feel they have to be constantly on-call when comparing an online therapy program with traditional therapy.
While an online company or subscription-based online therapy may be okay in some situations, it’s not appropriate for everyone requiring psychiatric services from licensed providers. There’s a lot to think about regarding mental health outcomes and care, with in-person treatment allowing your provider to get to know you and help you on a deep, personal level. Please contact us today if you’d like to learn more about mental health treatment and explore the options available.
In-Person Therapy in Orange County, CA
When it comes to online therapy, we stand behind the idea of more people having access to mental health treatment, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of sacrificing your data, privacy, or quality of treatment. If you’re looking for therapy options in southern California, we invite you to call Story Wellness at (866) 476-2823 to learn more about what’s available.
