Online or In-Person Counselling: How do I know which is right for me?
Having been a therapist during the pandemic and resulting shutdown in the spring of 2020, my clients and I were given the choice of going online or stopping our work altogether. Most of the therapists that I know began to build an online practice as a result of the pandemic and have maintained this as an option to clients. What was originally born out of necessity has become a useful option for many reasons.
I have noticed that as society recovers from social lockdowns, many people are naturally craving in-person connection. When I ask new clients what they prefer, some specify that they want only in-person, some prefer the online option, and others are open to both. So how do you know what will work best for you? If you are trying to make this decision, the following considerations might be helpful:
interpersonal versus Intrapersonal work. Different modalities of counselling lend themselves better to different mediums. Clients looking for a more relational or experiential style of therapy, which might include relational feedback, role play, art therapy, or sandtray therapy, would benefit more from in-person counselling. On the other hand, much of the work I do with clients, such as Internal Family Systems therapy, is based on the internal (intrapersonal) relationship within the individual themselves. This often includes connecting through mindfulness and guidance in healing through the internal experience. This type of therapy has shown to be highly effective in an online capacity.
Zero commute. As long as you have a secure internet connection and a smart device or computer, online counselling provides services that meet you exactly where you’re at. Literally. Many of my clients love that they can fit in a session on their lunch break as they work from home, or even the office!
Time savings. Cutting the commute gives more time in your day to squeeze in other things on your to-do list.
Breaking down barriers. Perhaps leaving the house in and of itself is difficult, which can occur when you’re experiencing intense symptoms of anxiety or depression. In this case, starting with an online option allows you to connect with a professional who can help you work towards your mental health goals one small step at a time from the comfort of your own home. Maybe in-person counselling is a goal and online counselling is the first step.
Sick? Out of town? Moving to another city? No problem! None of these things need to get in the way of your personal wellness goals when you’re meeting your therapist online. I have been able to maintain connections with a number of clients even after they make a big move. This can help provide a sense of stability even in the midst of major life changes.
Connection. Many people are concerned that meeting virtually will inhibit the sense of connection they could have with a counsellor. This is understandable, and many of my new clients do an in-person session as the first meeting, and then move online for convenience once we’ve built some rapport.
Screen fatigue. We’ve probably all experienced this at some point whether we realize it or not. So many meetings that were formally in-person have moved online. Additionally, we use our devices for so many things that we end up spending many hours a day staring at a screen. In-person counselling can help shift the balance, giving you a break from your tech to sit face-to-face with a real person. This in itself can be healing.
Child Counselling. Online counselling is not always the best medium for working with children, as play-based therapies don’t translate as easily to a virtual setting. However, with regular in-person clients it is a great alternative to missing an appointment due to illness or being out of town. I have experienced many creative and beneficial online sessions with kids in the right circumstances. Depending on the age of the child, this usually involves having perviously met in-person, and having a supportive parent as “co-therapist” at home.
Couples Therapy. Online counselling may not be the best choice for couples therapy. It can be better than nothing when other barriers prevent meeting in person (e.g. young children at home, busy schedules etc.); however, I tend to recommend finding an in-person option if possible. Other counsellors may have other opinions, so it really comes down to what you, your partner, and the therapist feel is the best fit for your situation.
I hope that some of these considerations are helpful in weighing your options for counselling. All of the therapists on our team at Harbour Counselling are happy to connect both in-person and online and have varying availabilities to meet your needs.
If you are still wondering about your options or have any other questions please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are more than happy to consult with you about your next steps, and wish you good health and wellbeing as you continue on your personal journey.