Lately, there is a lot of talk about online therapy and taking therapy sessions online. People are seeking online therapy sessions as an alternative to in-person therapy sessions more than ever. At AZRI, we offer both in-person and online therapy and counseling sessions in Arizona; but, there is a lot to consider when deciding whether in-person or online therapy sessions are better for your needs. This introduction guide to online therapy will help you to make a more informed decision when it comes time to decide on online versus in-person therapy.

Should I Seek Online Therapy or In-Person Therapy Sessions?

Ultimately, it will be you and your AZRI Therapy Intake Specialist to decide which form of therapy or therapies will be best-suited to your needs. However, we suggest all patients and guests of AZRI to be open-to and consider both for different reasons and times. This will allow flexibility and will help to keep you on-track on your road to mental wellness.

Online therapy sessions are always an option for those who are enrolled in live therapy sessions, should scheduling issues arise that cannot be avoided; however, some therapies are best performed in a live therapy session between the therapist and patient.

Are Online Therapy Sessions Cheaper Than a Therapist In-Person?

If you are seeking online therapy as an alternative to in-person therapy strictly to save money, this is not the way to think of it, and not how online therapy works. At AZRI we have discounted therapy options with real, live therapists and student interns that are earning their licensure; if you are looking for a cheaper option for therapy. However, discounted therapy at AZRI is not limited to online therapy sessions.

Apply For Discounted Therapy at AZRI With Our Associate Therapists Program >>

Reasons to Seek Online Therapy

So what is online therapy good-for? Why wouldn’t someone opt for live-therapy all the time instead of some online therapy sessions mixed with live sessions? It all comes down to flexibility, needs, and communication styles.

Better Communication

Some people can communicate well or even better with another person in online video therapy sessions, while other people do not. There are some people that just don’t respond well to online sessions, or respond better with live sessions for therapy. In these cases, if a person’s therapy needs are better-suited with one form of therapy or another, this will be considered in the long-term strategy for therapy.

Easier Scheduling

There are many of us that wear a lot of hats and have busy full-time schedules. For those of us that are always ‘on-the-go,’ online therapy helps fit therapy sessions into a complex schedule. Online therapy sessions also may allow for smaller ‘mini-sessions’ that can help in times of crisis, severe anxiety/panic, or be used to bridge long gaps between live therapy sessions.

More Comfortable Therapy Check-Ins

The first few sessions of therapy can be awkward, as you are learning to become comfortable and learning what to expect during therapy. Online sessions can serve as a change-up that helps to relax both the therapist and patient. In these sessions a deeper connection between the parties can be created that cannot happen in the more-formal live sessions.

Getting Started With Therapy

Online introductions and beginners therapy sessions may be used BEFORE any live sessions occur if they server to help ease individuals into more intensive therapy. Just like ‘getting-to’ the gym is 90% of the work, getting enrolled-in and starting therapy is the first big hurdle to overcome. The availability of online sessions can help ease individuals, couples, and families into therapy before committing-to more intensive scheduling and live sessions.

Getting Couples Committed to Marital Counseling and Couples Therapy

With couples therapy and therapy for more than 1 person, scheduling sessions and getting everyone committed and engaged with therapy is another hurdle that sometimes must be overcome. Often, 1 spouse is very engaged and wanting to start therapy, while the other is less excited and may even be avoiding or putting-off therapy. Online therapy — and its often more-comfortable setting — can be a great way to ‘break the ice’ and get all parties engaged. This is also a solid strategy for family therapy and parent-child relationship therapies.

Is Online Therapy Lower Quality Than In-Person Therapy?

There are definitely businesses out there that offer online therapy as a cheap replacement for proper in-person therapy; so, readers should definitely be cautious when searching for online therapy nearby. However, online therapy sessions from a qualified therapist are not meant to be a lower quality of care.

Online therapy at AZRI is not a lower form of care than live sessions with our therapists. Rather, online therapy sessions are just another tool in the utility belt that offers flexibility in availability of our top-rated Arizona therapists.

How Do I Get Started with Online Therapy at The Arizona Relationship Institute?

All guests of AZRI start with a FREE Consultation with our Intake Specialist. This free 15-minute phone conversation helps to assess your basic situation and needs for therapy. From this initial conversation, Intake Specialists begin to list the therapist(s) whose expertise and therapy styles match your needs. Then, coupled with both YOUR availability and the availability of the therapist, a plan will be made for sessions both live and online.

If you prefer online sessions over live sessions, just let the Intake Specialist know and they will make sure this is considered in your case.

For Individuals seeking a FREE 15 Minute Phone Consultation, just fill out the consultation request HERE and our Intake Specialist will contact you at the agreed-upon time for the consultation.

Start Your Individual Consultation Request NOW >>

We also have a FREE Couples Consultation form for those seeking family therapy, couples therapy, and marital counseling. Use THIS FORM to request your couples counseling consultation; just like the individual consultation, we will schedule a call with either you or both you and your partner, and gather the initial needs to get started.

Start Your Couples Consultation Request NOW >>

Are There Any Downsides to Online Therapy?

Yes, there are benefits and drawbacks to online therapy that are not seen with live therapy sessions; likewise, live sessions have benefits and drawbacks unique to those styles of sessions.

Downsides of Online Therapy

• • Electronics and Computers Can Be Frustrating – technical issues, internet outages, bad updates, and other technical issues can get in the way of those who are VERY savvy with technology just as easy as those who are unfamiliar with computers and technology. We may suggest live sessions over online sessions if technical issues are diverting from the therapy goals.
  • Communication Issues Are More Common Online – You know how easily things can be misunderstood, misconstrued, or taken the wrong way in text messages, online messages, chats, and emails. This may also spill-over into online sessions. However this is not usually a critical issue for AZRI guests, as we try to find the right balance between in-person and other forms of communication.
  • Severe, Chronic, and Problematic Mental Health Needs May Not Be Adequately Addressed in Online-Only Therapy – Again, we stress the healthy balance of online and in-person communications with all guests to make sure all parties are on the same page and all needs are being addressed. Those with more complex issues and needs may need more than online therapy alone can provide.

We suggest that all those considering finding a therapist or a therapy provider to be open to online therapy, but also to be watchful that your treatment goals are not lost to poor communication.