If you've ever considered attending a therapy session, you're not alone. Indeed, 30% of American adults have felt the need to see a therapist since 2020. 

This has necessitated the development of a greater pool of licensed mental healthcare workers to service a growing number of psychiatric patients, and consequently, has also elicited higher enrollment rates for industry-recognized qualifications and accreditations such as the versatile online master's degree in counseling psychology. 

If you're an individual who's yet to attend a therapy session, you may be wondering which method of attendance is right for you. With the option of online telehealth appointments becoming more readily available, seeking psychiatric care has become increasingly accessible, affordable, and convenient. Despite this, some patients still prefer the intimacy of attending face-to-face, in-person appointments with their therapist.

Let's discuss.

Telehealth Therapy: Is it Effective?

Is telehealth therapy as effective as in-person therapy? Yes, research has shown that attending online therapy sessions can be just as effective as going to a face-to-face session in many cases. Online therapy also has a multitude of benefits, including:

Affordability 

While the cost of an online therapy session is usually the same as attending an in-person appointment, there are some penny-saving benefits of telehealth. For one, the reduced need to fork out for transportation costs such as petrol, parking, or public transport fares, due to not having to commute to the appointment. For parents, childcare fees can also be avoided if attending a therapy appointment from home.

As well as this, there exists an abundance of virtual therapy platforms that can offer psychiatric care and emotional support at reduced cost. Often in the format of a website portal or smartphone application, these online resources can also help individuals through tough times, without having to spend the same amount of money associated with attending an appointment. 

Accessibility 

If a patient is geographically isolated or does not have access to transport, this can present a significant boundary in terms of accessing psychiatric care. Telehealth appointments bring the therapist to the patient through virtual methods such as video calling and conferencing.

Comfort 

When attending an online session, patients can receive treatment from the comfort of their own homes. For some patients, privacy is a concern that at-home sessions alleviate. Attending

therapy from home can also remove the stigma around attending an in-clinic session, averting this common obstacle to therapy attendance for many patients. 

The Benefits and Drawcards of In-Person Therapy

While telehealth appointments can be more accessible, convenient, and affordable, there are many benefits to in-person therapy that make it a preferred option for some patients. These drawcards include:

Social Connection 

Attending a therapy appointment in person can provide isolated individuals with much-needed social connection.  Face-to-face appointments are far more personal and intimate, for obvious reasons, and can help fill a void for socially isolated patients. In this sense, in-person therapy sessions can be much better suited to patients craving face-to-face interaction and connection.

Non-Verbal Cues

For therapists, it can be challenging to build a close connection with patients through a screen. 

This is partly because it can be difficult to read non-verbal cues - such as body language and gestures, facial expressions, and gaze. In-person sessions allow all of these non-verbal elements to be closely observed. This is important as, at times, a patient may not be able to adequately express how they're feeling, or may even be evading a particular issue.

Crisis Management

In times of crisis - such as if a patient is displaying signs of self-harm, violence, or suicidal ideation - there is not much a therapist can do to step in if it's an online session. Face-to-face interaction, on the other hand, can facilitate immediate intervention in high-risk, emergency situations.

Which Therapy Option Is Right for Me? 

Choosing the right therapy attendance option for you comes down to your needs and preferences as a patient. 

For instance, if you are a high-risk or socially isolated patient, in-person care may be best for you. 

On the flip side, telehealth appointments can provide patients with access to the emotional support they need for lower costs, easier accessibility, and more convenience than the face-to-face alternative.