No one’s immune to mental health issues, but some people have a far easier time accessing help than others.
According to Mental Health America, 28 million adults with mental health illnesses didn’t receive treatment, and 28.2% of American adults try to seek treatment and can’t get it.
If you’re working 2 jobs, parenting, or facing long commutes to your job, you might not have time in your day for in-person therapy.
But a busy day shouldn’t keep you from getting the mental health services you need, even if you’re unable to take time off work for therapy.
Online therapy allows you to get help from a licensed mental health professional at a time and place that works for you. But does online therapy work? And can you get the help you need online? Read on, and we’ll walk you through it.
I’m in Virginia—Is There Online Therapy Near Me?
When you think of online therapy, you might picture fancy professionals in an impressive office, sitting down to a Zoom call with a high-dollar therapist. It might not feel like an option that’s available to you.
But these days, online therapy is common. Therapists want to help you wherever and whenever they can, even if you’re calling from a cell phone, sitting on a park bench where you can snag 30 minutes between shifts.
The good news is, there are online therapists working all across Virginia! Find your local Community Service Board here to access a therapist.
Does Online Therapy Work?
In-person therapy is great for building trust between the therapist and the patient, but online therapy has been shown to be just as effective. In fact, studies show that patients are more likely to attend online therapy sessions. Why is this?
Can Be Accessed Anywhere
Online therapy can go anywhere you need it to go. Many people prefer attending therapy sessions from the comfort and privacy of their own homes to going to a therapist’s office or counseling center.
Even if you can’t be at home during your therapy sessions, online therapy gives you the chance to choose a location that works for YOU.
That might be a quiet coffee shop or a bench in a nearby park. Or maybe you have the staff room to yourself during your break time. The beauty of online sessions is that you can name a space and time on your own terms.
Removes the Stress of Finding Time
One of the first obstacles to getting counseling is finding time to attend a session. Online counseling helps reduce that barrier by cutting the commute time to zero. Plus, patients often set up their online sessions in the evening, when they can connect with a therapist after work. When you can get the help you need from wherever you are, it’s a lot easier to squeeze a session into your hectic day.
What Types of Therapy Can I Get Online?
Online counseling isn’t the right option for all conditions. Call us right now at 988 if you’re struggling with any of these conditions:
- Suicidal thoughts
- Homicidal thoughts
- Severe substance use disorders
- Severe eating disorders
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Thought disorders (schizophrenia), which may include delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking
We’ll listen to you, and put you in touch with in-person support in your area.
But for other mental health needs—like depression, anxiety, anger management, or relationship counseling—online sessions are ideal.
Substance Abuse Support
While you might initially need in-person support to treat your substance addiction, you can use online resources for your follow-up therapy.
Through these online sessions, you’ll talk to a licensed professional who can help you develop the coping skills you need to resist your substance abuse triggers.
Family Therapy
Marriage and family therapists can help couples and families online, especially when family members can’t attend sessions at the same location.
Whether you need support for a marriage in crisis or a strained child-parent relationship, in-person meetings can be tense and uncomfortable. Online sessions can help by letting everyone attend their session from a different place.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive therapy focuses on changing the unhealthy thought processes that are causing your feelings of depression and anxiety. It helps you reframe situations with a more positive outlook so that your negative thoughts don’t turn into unhealthy behaviors.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) addresses extreme emotional reactions and impulsive behaviors due to excessive trauma.
Like CBT, you’ll talk about your feelings and emotions. But you’ll learn to accept your feelings and find healthy ways to cope with them, mitigating your risk of harmful behaviors like self-harm or substance abuse.
How Can I Find Online Counseling?
It shouldn’t feel impossible to find a therapist when you need one. Through Region Five, you have access to professional, high-quality therapists, no matter your budget or scheduling challenges.
Community Service Boards
You can access community mental health resources through the Region Five Community Service Board (CSB) in your area.
All of our CSBs offer their services online, so you can get the counseling you need at a time and place that suits your schedule.
Crisis Call Center
If you can’t wait for an appointment, reach out to our Crisis Call Center by calling 988 now, regardless of the time of day. We’re standing by to listen, to talk, and to care. No matter what you’re struggling with, there’s hope at the other end of the line.
Our 24-hour Crisis Care Navigators will help you find mental health services that fit your schedule and your budget. They’ll follow up over the coming weeks and months to be sure you’re getting the care you need.
You never have to struggle with mental health challenges alone. Start your journey toward improved mental health with an appointment that fits your needs. Call (757) 656-7755 to get started.