One of the first questions that you may be asked once you reach out to a therapist is whether you want to see someone via telehealth or in-person. You might’ve had a doctor’s appointment via telehealth before, but maybe it’s unfamiliar to you. So let’s talk about the pros and cons of each type of therapy.
In-person therapy is probably what most people imagine when they think of therapy. There are a lot of positives about doing in-person therapy. First, the space you’re in is made for therapy. A lot of therapists put work into making their offices calming and relaxing spaces with anything that you might need during your appointment. Second, you might feel more connected with your therapist. Nonverbal communication is easier to understand when you’re in the same place as your therapist. While in-person therapy has a lot of positives, some of the downsides include needing to travel to an office and having less flexibility.
Telehealth therapy has gained a lot of focus in the last few years. Studies have shown that telehealth therapy works just as well as in-person therapy (Source). There are a lot of positives to using telehealth therapy. First, you have more options as you can pick from therapists all across your state. Second, it makes therapy more accessible. If you have a busy schedule or the weather is bad, not having to leave your home is far better than traveling to an office. Third, you may be more comfortable or relaxed doing therapy in a space that you are used to. Some of the downsides to telehealth therapy are that a therapist from a different city may not be as familiar with resources in your location, that it can be harder to read nonverbal cues, and may feel awkward sharing over video.
At the end of the day, the choice between in-person therapy and telehealth therapy is a personal one. I’ve tried both, and I think that the more important thing is if you feel comfortable with your therapist. If you find a therapist who does telehealth and you want to see them but aren’t sure about telehealth, I encourage people to try telehealth. It isn’t as awkward as we think.
Contact us here if you want to get on the schedule of one of our in-person or telehealth therapists!
