Has anyone tried / had success with online therapy?

[Sparky4545]

Since I am paying out-of-pocket and not rich, face-to-face therapy isn't an option, but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with some of the online services around?

Any success or failure stories? Anything I should watch out for?

[FearIsALiar]

The therapist I am currently seeing it’s all over the phone and it’s been very helpful.

The last therapist I had tried always made excuses for being late so make sure they are on time with you. If not I would find another one.

If online services are too expensive I would recommend getting some self help books (CBT) or just some books on anxiety to educate yourself more on it!

[anonymous_squirrel]

I couldn't take ANYTHING seriously. My therapist looked hilarious and that's all I focused on. big fail. need human interaction.

[moonrose999]

Hi Sparky! I haven't tried an online therapy service, but I just wanted to reach out and say that it's SO important to think about what kind of therapy/therapist would work best for you. I'd make a list of what you're looking to address and if you can make a list of what you KNOW doesn't work for you.

I had a couple of adverse experiences because I have some pretty intense trauma and I did not seek a trauma-informed therapist. Needless to say, when the trauma came out in therapy it was pretty overwhelming (at least on my end). I often left the sessions crying and with extreme sadness and was sent back out into the world after my appointments. I went through week after week of this because the therapist was a kind person who I knew wanted to help me, but looking back I saw she was not equipped to do so.

I can now say that I need a consistent therapist who checks in with me on the progress I make in my personal life practicing coping strategies versus stand-alone talk therapy appointments that left me feeling both exposed and without the extra support I need and was trying to ask for. I also need a therapist who will help me close those emotional loops and get into a better space at the end of sessions.

DO NOT commit to any therapy that doesn't feel right to you!! You have every right to ask a therapist questions about their style of care before getting involved. Hope this helps!

[Reading_Rando]

I recently started using better help, and the therapist I got set up with was pretty good, but Better help as a bussiness is terrible. It's not very customer friendly, you can only pay for it on on a monthly basis and it assumes you will go to thereapy once a week (you have to pay for each week even if you you might not otherwise need or want and apointment). What's worse is your not even garanteed a meeting apointment with your therepist each week if you sign up. I think if you can casually spend 260+ dollars a month its probably fine, but most people (myself included can't). I wish mental health care wasn't a treated like it's a luxery good.

[Sparky4545]

I've been looking at Calmerry and 7cups. Betterhelp & Talkspace are just too far outside my budget.

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I have tried Christian based counseling. They tend to be lower cost if not free. Sometimes all we need is someone to listen. Be careful with the tea. I tried hibicus tea a few weeks ago and it really set me off. Make sure you check side effects. Everything usually has a little something. Push those veggies, all the vitamins and nutrients make a huge difference. 🙂Keep plugging along. You can do this!