There are advantages to TeleTherapy and advantages to in-person therapy. Of course, the defining difference is that one involves physically meeting with a therapist at their office, while the other can take place from the comfort of one’s own couch. Since there are distinct benefits to both, choosing one over the other should naturally involve careful consideration of individual life circumstances and priorities.
Take, for example, the issue of privacy. Depending on where you live, you may feel uncomfortable going to a psychiatrist or counselor’s office—out of concern of running into someone you know—whereas meeting with your therapist via a secure Internet connection and within the privacy of your own home feels more comfortable and confidential.
Many people have a disability or another health issue or concern that makes meeting remotely the safest and/or most feasible option. For example, during a pandemic when fears of contagion and social distancing laws have placed restrictions on a great many interactions, TeleTherapy has emerged as the only option for a vast majority of people who need therapy. TeleTherapy is a much better alternative to no therapy.
Convenience and ease of access are also important considerations for people who ultimately choose TeleTherapy over in-person therapy. If the best therapist for your needs is a long car ride away, that distance and the scheduling of appointments can prove impossible to maintain—especially if you have a full-time job and other life and family commitments. Virtual therapy makes it possible for busy people to continue to receive the benefits of therapy in a longer-term capacity.