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ONLINE COUNSELING / ONLINE THERAPY

Online Therapy has been around since the beginning of the Internet. Communication through email and chat rooms connects people in a way never before possible. The anonymity of the Internet allows people to really bare their souls and be themselves when online. This factor alone lends the Internet to being a natural medium for psychotherapy. That psychotherapy requires face-to-face contact actually runs contradictory to Freud's approach, who always sat behind his clients so as not to be in direct eyeline with the client.

There are some legitimate concerns to engaging in psychotherapy via the Internet. First and foremost is the question of legitimacy of the practitioner. The American Psychological Association's Ethics Committee recommends that consumers check professional licenses with the proper state agencies. eTherapyInstitute provides this service free of charge to the public via its mental health provider "Click-to-Verify" Consumer Assurance program. Secondly, ,the client must be provided with an informed consent form. Thirdly, the practitioner should be familiar with the technology and versed in providing their services via the Internet. Finally, the client must be a good candidate for Online Therapy. If he or she is not, face-to-face counseling will be recommended and a referral provided, if necessary.

Our recommendation is to:
    Only use online mental health providers who display the eTherapyInstitute "Click-to-Verify" Seal or providers who post their license number and state - making sure to check their license status with their state licensing board.

    Be sure that the technology your therapist is using is secure, ensures confidentiality and takes into consideration the requirements of a therapeutic relationship.
It is recommended that consumers are aware of the following guidelines which are suggested for mental health providers practicing Online Therapy:

Online Therapy can be a great way for people to receive mental health services if they are too busy to make the time to go in person, if they are homebound, new parents, if they travel on business too frequently to regularly schedule with a therapist, if they are too ashamed to see someone in person, if they are too depressed to leave the house or if they live in a rural area where the nearest therapist may be a hundred miles away. Online Therapy can bring the help you need wherever you have an Internet connection. The convenience factor allows people to get help when they need it - if they have relationship problems, parenting issues, need a boost to their self-esteem or to talk out a work-related problem. Online Therapy is also credited with freeing clients to open up much quicker than in conventional face-to-face therapy. For most clients, not having to look their therapist in the eyes means not having to feel embarrassed to divulge their deepest issues. The time it takes to get to the issues is significantly shortened, so the time it takes to get to solutions is also quicker, making it more cost-effective as well.

eTherapyInstitute cannot endorse Online Therapy as a preferred means of treatment for all clients. One should carefully consider all treatment options, including in-person face-to-face counseling, before deciding upon a treatment method. Please consult with a qualified professional to determine if Online Therapy is an appropriate treatment option for you.
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