Family Therapy Online: Is Counseling Remotely With Therapists Right For You?

For those who can’t or don’t like to attend in-person therapy, online counseling is an effective alternative. While the benefits of online therapy were previously only recognized for individual therapy sessions, they’re now increasingly recognized for their application in couples and family therapy.

If you and your loved ones are curious about trying out family therapy sessions, you may need help deciding whether online or in-person therapy is right for you and your family members. If so, you can read over this guide before you make your final decision and learn about our therapy professionals at Regain.

The prevalence and effectiveness of online therapy

Previous studies looked into the effectiveness of online therapy services, finding cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and counseling, especially for conditions such as depression and anxiety, to be the most effective version of the treatment method. These results hint at one of the most significant benefits of online therapy. 

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The advantages of online family therapy or family counseling

With the advent of telehealth, the possibility of offering effective, reliable mental health care from a distance has become a reality. Today, hundreds of individuals, couples, and families take advantage of the many benefits of getting counseling online. It's a new form of family therapy that makes access and attendance easier for many.

Here are six key advantages of online family therapy.

Convenience

With online therapy sessions, your family can choose a time that suits everyone’s busy schedule. There are thousands of counselors available, which means you don’t have to worry about competing for spots or making compromises. Plus, many online family therapists offer text and email therapy. That means your family doesn’t even have to live in the same area to get the help you need.

Keep in mind that some states require you to live in the same location as your certified therapist, so limitations do apply when it comes to pursuing online counseling services for families located across state lines.

Accessibility

It doesn’t matter how near or far away your closest therapist is when your family needs counseling.

You can get the help you need without having to leave your home. Plus, if you or one of your loved ones is disabled, you may appreciate not having to make the ordeal of every trip to therapy.

You can save countless hours without having to commute to your therapy sessions, and if there are no therapists with the expertise you need in your area, no problem. 

Affordability

Did you know online therapists tend to be cheaper than traditional ones? In-person therapists have to pay for an office or building to host therapy sessions. With the lower operational costs of being an online-only mental health therapist, they can charge less to practice. Those savings transfer over to you, meaning you won’t have to pay an excessive amount for family counseling.

Discretion

Sadly, there tends to be a stigma on people who go to therapy. If you need help, you may avoid seeing a therapist in person for fear of someone seeing you attend. Or maybe the waiting room experience is just too awkward for you, as it is for many people.

The good news is you don’t have to go through that when you choose a licensed therapist online. Only your therapist will see your face or, if you prefer, you can keep sessions via text or email. That way, you can remain relatively innocent (however, you will have to provide emergency contact information in the event of an emergency).

For example, when you seek family therapy online from the professionals at Regain, we don’t ask for your full name. Your therapist only needs to know your first name. 

Flexibility

Traditional therapists often have long waiting lists, which means you might have to wait for care. With online counseling, you can start immediately or wait for a time that better suits your schedule.

Most online counselors offer multiple ways to communicate. You can find licensed therapists who will hold sessions over text or email. If you prefer, you can also find marriage and family therapists who do sessions over the phone or via video chat platforms like Zoom or Doxy.me.

Comfort

When you take advantage of a marriage and family therapist online, you don’t have to leave your home. Many people feel more comfortable at home. That level of comfort influences how safe you and your family feel being vulnerable, which is vital for true healing.

Many people also appreciate that they can stick with the same counselor, regardless of whether they move or go out of town. You don’t have to worry about getting comfortable with your online marriage and family therapy or couples therapist only to have to start all over again when you relocate.

Why family online therapy may not be right for you

Despite all its incredible benefits, online therapy can have some cons. Here’s what you need to know.

Insurance may not cover the cost of family counseling or family therapy online

Unfortunately, with the relative newness of online therapy, many insurers won’t cover the cost of online sessions.

As we’ve mentioned, though, online marriage and family therapy can be considerably less expensive than traditional counseling. Insurance may not pay for it, but you may not find yourself paying as much for a session out of pocket.

An online therapist or therapists may not treat severe mental health conditions

Depending on the degree of your needs, even the best online therapist may not be able to treat you. For example, an online family therapist cannot diagnose mental health conditions or prescribe medication. Also, if you need to see a therapist based on a court order, an online therapist may not be the right counseling professional for you.

Limitations of the online therapy medium

There are some limitations to the online therapy medium. Unlike in-person therapy, your counselor won’t be able to pick up body language or facial expressions over the phone. They won’t be able to hear vocal inflections or hesitations during email or text sessions, either. Family therapy online provided by companies like Regain offers video and audio sessions to reduce some of these limitations.

Another limitation of the online medium is that glitches do happen. Calls may echo, videos may have low resolutions, and calls might drop or freeze, especially if you live rurally. 

Some therapy with a therapist is not meant to be online

If you want animal-assisted therapy, art therapy, drama therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), music therapy, or play therapy, online therapy is not the appropriate platform for you. These therapies require in-person participation that cannot currently be substituted digitally.

Online therapy also isn’t right as a solo option for you if:

• You’re currently experiencing thoughts of harming yourself
• You’re currently experiencing thoughts of harming others
• You’re currently experiencing physical or mental abuse
• You need emergency care
• You need therapy for a severe mental health condition that requires medication
• You’re otherwise concerned about your safety at home

If you’re experiencing one of these health crises, head to your local emergency room, or please call the national suicide prevention helpline or the National Domestic Violence hotline immediately.