We all need to take care of our mental health. If you’re considering counseling for the first time, you may have questions as to what people seek counseling for and if online counseling might be a good fit for you. Online counseling has increased in popularity throughout the years, and research shows that it is an effective way to get the support that you need. Today, we are going to look at common reasons people go to counseling and how to know if online counseling could be right for you.
When To Go To Counseling
People benefit from counseling for a vast number of reasons. Here are some common reasons people go to counseling or therapy:
- Stress. Stress can be detrimental to your physical and emotional well-being, and whether it is related to work, school, or another aspect of life, it’s important to have someone to talk to who can help you navigate life stressors.
- Relationships. Although counseling can help you repair a relationship, even the happiest of couples can benefit from counseling. You may attend couples counseling for matters such as marriage preparation, parenting concerns, conflict resolution, affection, and more.
- Mental health conditions. You don’t need to be diagnosed with a mental illness or mental disorder to attend counseling or therapy, but mental health therapy and counseling is the golden standard for many mental health conditions.
- Familial concerns. You may talk about family matters in individual counseling with a provider online, or you may attend family therapy in person.
- Coping skills. We can all benefit from working on coping skills. Whether used for distress tolerance, coping with a mental health condition or maladaptive thoughts, or working through difficult times, one of the goals of therapy is typically to help you find skills that you’ll use long after you stop seeing your therapist.
- Self-improvement. Perhaps, you want to develop a more positive internal dialogue, or maybe, you want to talk about concerns related to social relationships. If you have a goal in mind, therapy is often incredibly beneficial.
- Grief and loss. Loss is one of the hardest things that most people face in their lifetime, and no one should have to go through it alone. A mental health provider can help you work through matters related to grief, whether that is the general grieving process, a diagnosis of complicated grief, or something else.
- Anger. If you deal with concerns related to anger, you know that it has the potential to impact both how you feel internally and your interpersonal connections. Asking for help for anger is something to be proud of, and it is not something to be ashamed of. A counselor or therapist will always be there to offer a non-judgemental ear, and they will help you develop the skills you need to cope with anger.
Of course, this is by no means an extensive list. You may also go to counseling for concerns such as self-esteem and confidence, dating, loneliness, negative thought patterns, making a change in life such as a career shift or move, sleep disturbance, trauma, or something else. If the question is, “when should I go to counseling?” The answer is that you can benefit from it at any point in time. If you think that you may benefit from mental health support or having someone to talk to, you don’t have to wait.
Considering Online Counseling
Online counseling emerged in the 1990s and has grown increasingly popular over time. Online therapy was a well-researched option before the coronavirus pandemic, but due to the pandemic, more and more are considering it as an option. Here are some of the benefits of online counseling:
- You can connect with your provider from anywhere with a reliable internet connection. This cuts the commute time from your day and makes counseling more accessible overall.
- Where you might spend months on a waiting list to see a provider face-to-face, you will often be able to get in to see a counselor or therapist online within 24 to 48 hours after signing up for an online counseling website.
- It’s more affordable than traditional in-person counseling is in the absence of insurance. Whereas traditional in person counseling may cost up to $200 or more per session, online counseling often starts around $90 per week.
Online counseling also makes it easier to find what you’re looking for. This is because, with online therapy, you can see any provider who uses the platform and is licensed to practice in your state. This means that if you are struggling to find a good fit, or if you are looking for a specialist who focuses on a specific modality, demographic, condition, or concern, online counseling might just be the answer.
Is Online Counseling Right For You?
We all have to take care of our emotional, psychological, and social well-being for good mental health, and counseling can help. If you are looking for someone to talk to and want to reap the benefits of online counseling, don’t be afraid to reach out to a website like MyTherapist. MyTherapist ensures that every counselor and therapist on the platform is licensed, and it’s more affordable than traditional in-person counseling is without insurance. Although online counseling has many benefits, it is not right for every situation. Like traditional in-person counseling, online counseling can help with a wide array of concerns, but it is not a replacement for emergency or crisis care. If you are in need of immediate support, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit the nearest emergency room in your area.
