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Benefits of Online Therapy in North Carolina

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What are the Benefits of Online Therapy?

Ease, Convenience, and Accessibility

Online therapy has become increasingly popular in the past few years. New technology has made it possible for NC therapists to meet with clients from the comfort of their own homes. However virtual therapy wasn’t nearly as common or popular until the pandemic hit. At that point, the world had to face a new realm of mental health strain during Covid-19 while adhering to social distancing. Teletherapy then became a vital point of us supporting mental health in North Carolina.

At the start of the pandemic, many therapists started offering teletherapy services for the first time, for safety’s sake. However, Covid-19 cases have dropped and in-person services have started to become available again. Yet, a lot of people have found that they simply prefer online therapy.

Many of our North Carolina clients feel that online therapy is easier, more convenient, and more accessible for them compared to in-person sessions. And our online therapists would tend to agree! However, it’s normal to have a few questions about how online therapy compares to in-person appointments. If you’re considering virtual counseling, here is your comprehensive guide!

Breaking Down the Benefits of Online Therapy

Every person is different, and their reasoning for considering online therapy is unique to their situation and their preferences. However, there are a few key benefits of virtual therapy that we’ve seen from our clients.

Virtual Therapy is convenient

Image of a man with a cat on his computer for a online therapy in North Carolina. No matter what your seeking virtual therapy for our online therapists in North Carolina can help! Call us today to get started!

At Resilient Mind Counseling, we know one of the biggest benefits of online therapy is how convenient it is. You can meet with your counselor from anywhere you have an internet connection. This means that you don’t have to worry about transportation!

If you are seeing a therapist in person, you may have to drive anywhere between 5 to 45 minutes to their office. And some days, a 15-minute drive isn’t so bad! However, on other days you have to consider traffic, construction, or the weather. In the winter, many people are forced to cancel their appointments because of unsafe road conditions due to snow or ice. Even in the spring, some people just hate driving in the rain and would rather cancel their appointment than risk driving on slick roads. If you’re meeting with a NC therapist virtually, you don’t need to cancel that session you really needed because of something as unpredictable as the weather.

It Can Easily Fit Into Your Busy Schedule

If you have a busy schedule, you also might not have the time to fit in a 30+ minute roundtrip to a counselor’s office. Maybe you have a really tight schedule. Making it to where the most convenient time for you to schedule your counseling appointments is during your lunch hour or break. Teletherapy is a great solution for those with a busy schedule since you can do it from anywhere.

However, you might not even be considering traffic because you simply don’t have access to transportation. Cars are expensive! Car insurance, gas prices, and the cost of maintaining a car all add up. So if you don’t have access to reliable transportation, you may want to see an online therapist so you don’t have to worry about catching the bus or a ride. Just a few simple clicks and you’re able to meet with your counselor!

Online Therapy is accessible

Another important factor to consider about teletherapy is that it makes mental healthcare more accessible! If you live in a rural area, it can be really difficult to find a NC therapist who is close by (who isn’t your friend’s mom or your coworker’s spouse). This is especially true if you are looking for a counselor that has training or experience that is specific to you and your needs. For example, if you identify as LGBTQ+ or neurodivergent, you may have trouble finding someone in your town that you feel is educated enough on the challenges you face. When you’re able to see an online therapist, your options open up so much more!

Easier Access Without the Obstacles in North Carolina

There are many other challenges that people face which can make it nearly impossible to see a therapist in person. If you have a physical disability and it’s difficult for you to travel, seeing a counselor in person is a major obstacle. Or, you may have a chronic illness that makes it difficult to leave the house. Additionally, if you’re immunocompromised you may not want to take the risk of seeing someone in person because of Covid-19.

At Resilient Mind Counseling, we know that it can already be really challenging to find an online therapist that’s the right fit for you. Clients are usually considering the experience, specializations, education, and personality of potential counselors. Finding someone who is also close to you can just be another obstacle to throw in the mix. With virtual counseling, you can meet with any counselor in your state. That way, you can prioritize their experience and expertise instead of their physical location.

Image of the North Carolina flag in a heart.

Teletherapy is easy

Now you may have read all of these things and thought that not a single one applied to you. Maybe you have a wide-open schedule and love long drives. You have no other limitations that would make in-person counseling challenging. You might be interested in online therapy simply because it’s easier! With virtual therapy, you don’t have to leave your house. You can be in your comfiest clothes. While in an environment that makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. For many of our clients, this is the case. They just enjoy the ease of seeing an online therapist.

Online Therapy is secure

Now, this isn’t necessarily a “benefit” of teletherapy. However, many people have the misconception that seeing an online therapist isn’t secure. Some people think that someone can hack into their computers and gain access to confidential information.

As counselors, confidentiality and privacy are a few of our top priorities. We only use HIPAA-compliant and secure software for our online sessions. This ensures that any information that is shared between us online, stays between us. It also minimizes any possible risk of a data breach. The steps we take make seeing an online therapist just as safe and secure as seeing a counselor in person.

Is virtual therapy effective

Now, we’ve discussed the various benefits of seeing a counselor online. But you may be wondering whether online therapy is actually effective. A lot of people ask this same question. As an Asheville, NC-based group practice we can say with confidence that online is just as effective as in-person counseling! Our group truly wouldn’t offer teletherapy if we didn’t know that it was an effective form of counseling.

Is online therapy more effective than in-person counseling?

For some people, online therapy may even be a more effective option. Now, this isn’t true for everyone. It really depends on your unique needs and preferences.

If you’re someone who’s really shy or introverted, virtual therapy can feel like a less daunting way to start therapy. This is especially true if you experience social anxiety. It can be difficult enough to open up about your thoughts and feelings to a stranger. Let alone do it in person. Being able to see a NC therapist in the privacy of your own home can make starting therapy much less scary.

Process Your Emotions Where You Experience Them

When you see one of the therapists at Resilient Mind Counseling virtually, you’ll also have the ability to process your emotions in the place where you typically experience them. Therapy offices are meant to be peaceful and comfortable spaces. This is great! We want people to feel safe and secure in our office. However, sometimes it can be a bit more challenging for people to “access” those feelings that bring them to therapy when they’re in a relaxed environment. When you’re seeing someone from your home, it can be easier for you to recall all of those stressors you need to process. 

Image of a woman sitting outside with her dog for online therapy in North Carolina. Are you interested in the benefits of virtual therapy? Our online therapists can help you if you are in Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, Greensboro or anywhere in between. Begin online therapy in North Carolina today!

Now you might be thinking, that doesn’t sound very fun or relaxing. This brings us to our next point. When you see a psychotherapist in your everyday environment, you have the chance to practice the skills your counselor is teaching. While in the space where you’re most likely to use them.

It can be easy to use paced breathing or mindfulness to feel more grounded and relaxed when you’re in a calming office. Then, when you go home you feel like those skills and tools are incredibly challenging. Or perhaps they don’t even seem to be working at all anymore! When you practice those skills in your everyday environment, it can be easier to use those skills in your everyday life.

So yes, online therapy is effective. For some, it can even be more effective than seeing a counselor in person. 

Begin Online Therapy in North Carolina

If you’re considering online therapy, we encourage you to contact us. We offer virtual therapy services to residents all throughout the state of North Carolina. Our online therapists are experienced and can give you the support you need to face the challenges in your life. Resilient Mind Counseling also offers a free consultation so you can make sure that our counselors are a great fit for you before you get started. Start the journey of getting support for your mental health by following these simple steps.

  1. Reach out to us to have a free consultation with an online therapist
  2. Have your first appointment with Resilient Mind Counseling
  3. Start getting support for your mental health while in your comfy clothes

Resilient Mind Counseling Services in North Carolina

We offer many different services through online therapy in North Carolina. If you are part of the BIPOC or LGBTQ+ community or neurodivergent we have NC therapists that can support your unique experiences and struggles. At Resilient Mind Counseling, we also provide anxiety treatment, trauma therapy, and PTSD treatment. As well as, depression treatment, mood disorder, and bipolar disorder treatment.

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