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Our Services
At Talknet Counseling we offer new perspectives to help you find peace even in life’s toughest situations and we specialize in treating:
• Abuse
• ADHD-related relationship and behavioral issues
• Adjustment Issues
• Adoption issues
• Dating
• Depression
• Divorce
• Employment Issues
• PTSD/Trauma
• Relationship Issues
• ADHD-related relationship and behavioral issues
• Adjustment Issues
• Adoption issues
• Dating
• Depression
• Divorce
• Employment Issues
• PTSD/Trauma
• Relationship Issues
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Autism
• Behavioral Concerns
• Empty Nest Syndrome
• Family Conflict
• Grief and Loss
• Health Concerns/Healthy Lifestyle
• Relocation
• Sleep Issues
• Anxiety
• Autism
• Behavioral Concerns
• Empty Nest Syndrome
• Family Conflict
• Grief and Loss
• Health Concerns/Healthy Lifestyle
• Relocation
• Sleep Issues
• Bipolar Disorder
• Career Planning
• Cancer/Chronic Illness
• Co-Parenting/Parenting
• Coping Skills
• Marital/Pre-Marital
• Military Life/Deployment
• Peer Relationships
• Phobias
• Stress Management
• Time Management/Organizing
• Weight Management
• Career Planning
• Cancer/Chronic Illness
• Co-Parenting/Parenting
• Coping Skills
• Marital/Pre-Marital
• Military Life/Deployment
• Peer Relationships
• Phobias
• Stress Management
• Time Management/Organizing
• Weight Management
Pros and Cons of Online Therapy: Is it Effective?
By: Breanna Mona and Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD
Online therapy (teletherapy or virtual counseling) has transformed mental health care by making support more accessible, affordable, and convenient. Whether you’re managing anxiety, depression, stress, or life transitions, licensed therapists offer flexible treatment from the comfort of your home, office or private outdoor space. Many people prefer online therapy over traditional in-person care due to its ease of scheduling, reduced travel time, and wider access to appointments and scheduling.
How Does Online Therapy Work?
Online therapy follows the same laws and ethics as traditional, in-person therapy. Therapists must hold their sessions through a HIPAA-compliant platform and maintain all necessary privacy and confidentiality measures. Client registration is also very similar, allowing clients to complete intake forms and schedule sessions on a consistent weekly or biweekly basis. Therapists offer live video streaming or telephone sessions based on insurance requirements. Your therapist may also be required to see you annually based on insurance requirements.
Key Benefits of Online Therapy
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, almost all therapists offer online therapy as part of their practice. This represents a significant change within mental health over the past decade. The demand for online treatment is here to stay. Many clients benefit greatly from the flexibility, affordability, and convenience offered through online therapy versus in-person.
Accessibility & Convenience
Approximately one in five Americans lives in rural America and research has shown that rural individuals often experience significant difficulties accessing traditional, in-person mental health services. Online services offer a greater range of available care, as many people live in areas with very limited therapeutic options.
Some clients also have tight schedules with work, parenting, or other life constraints that make it difficult to meet in person. Online therapy offers freedom from long commutes, sitting in traffic, or needing to leave work early. Clients with transportation or mobility challenges may not be able to attend services in person. Online or telephone options are convenient and sensitive to those specific needs.
Greater Affordability
In some cases, online therapy may cost less than in-person sessions. Especially for clients using self-pay or therapists offering a sliding scale because the therapist does not cover the cost of an office and for the client they are not covering the cost of a commute to an office. Most insurance plans cover online therapy.
Privacy & Comfort
Some people prefer to meet online because it feels more comfortable to open up about challenging topics in a familiar environment. Attending sessions in person may feel overly vulnerable or anxiety-provoking. In these cases, it may be beneficial to meet from the comfort of their own homes. They can still work through what’s important to them without feeling anxious about adjusting to a new environment, finding an office location, securing parking or worrying about running into acquaintances, friends, or family members in a public space.
Evidence-Based as Effective
Meta-analyses of over 40 clinical studies demonstrate that online therapy offers comparable benefits to traditional in-person therapy for treating depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, sleep, relationship, and adjustment disorders. This may be helpful if you feel uncertain about meeting your therapist virtually. Most people feel they can form a meaningful therapeutic alliance with their clinician and work toward their treatment goals effectively.
Discreet & Anonymous
All therapists must legally uphold all confidentiality standards (except in the cases of mandated reporting). However, in-person therapy does have some privacy considerations, such as sitting in a waiting room, having your car in the parking lot, and potentially bumping into other people attending therapy. Online therapy, on the other hand, is entirely discreet.
Easier to Fit into Your Schedule
Because there’s no commute to consider, many people find scheduling online therapy less cumbersome than in-person therapy. Even though the session length may be the same, you only need to log in a few moments before your meeting. Then, after the session ends, you can return to whatever task is next. This can be highly advantageous for busy professionals, those with health concerns, or parents of small children.
Clients who benefit most from online therapy include:
People living in remote or rural areas with limited in-person providers
Busy working professionals
Students with part-time jobs and busy academic schedules
People without reliable transportation options
People who can’t easily leave home
People who experience significant anxiety or agoraphobia
People with chronic health conditions or other physical constraints
Although these groups may benefit the most, online therapy can also be widely suitable for many other people. Keep in mind that your individual preference and the strength of the therapist-client relationship are key to treatment success. With that, if you feel interested in pursuing online therapy, it’s certainly worth considering!
Possible Limitations of Online Therapy
While online therapy offers numerous advantages, it’s not ideal for everyone. In-person care may be better suited for people experiencing more acute or severe mental illness, such as psychosis or complex trauma that requires closer monitoring.
Online therapy may not be suitable for:
Individuals experiencing active suicidal ideation or self-harm
Difficulty connecting virtually
Involuntary or court-mandated therapy
Individuals with severe substance use disorders
These limitations don’t inherently make online therapy “less than” in-person therapy. However, it’s always essential to consider individual circumstances, symptoms, and needs when exploring options. If you’re not sure what’s best for you, you can always consult with a potential provider. They can discern the best treatment options based on your situation.