We’ve all been there. We all know how it feels to have fears, anxiety, or depression. Some of us have been confronting and struggling with these life burdens for ages; some were triggered by situations like lockdowns during the COVID pandemic and had to search for help.
Fortunately, we live in a time when help is readily available, easy to access, and often affordable, if not even free. In many countries, it is covered by social insurance, and an increasing number of companies offer fully paid mental health benefit programmes for their employees. Finally, mental health has almost completely reached the status of physical health, and taking care of it is a vital part of everyday life. Or at least it should be. Mental fitness and stability are not only important for each individual but also for societies as a whole. Nobody can benefit from a mentally unstable or ill employee who cannot take any load or fulfil his or her work.
Nowadays, one can seek mental support or psychological treatment through virtual sessions, which have made access to this important practice simple and uncomplicated. Online psychotherapy is becoming more widely accepted and used by many. But how do you find the right platform and the right psychologist in this vast market?
Table of contents
- How do you choose the best online therapy services?
- How serious is the platform?
- The right form of psychotherapy
- Professional description of psychologists
- Privacy and data protection
- Good gut feeling
- Conclusion
How do you choose the best online therapy services?
Here are five factors to bear in mind when choosing the right online psychology platform:
How serious is the platform?
We often hear that looks aren’t everything, and they’re not. However, first impressions matter, as they can indicate whether the platform offering online psychology is serious or not. You can often tell from the website’s appearance and usability whether a professional company and team are behind it. It should look modern, have a detailed description of its services, professional profiles of psychologists, explanations of the treatments offered and how they work, clear packages and pricing, good reviews, and an overall up-to-date feel.
Once this first “visual” check-up is done and you feel you like the platform, you should explore the offer further.
The right form of psychotherapy
There are many different types of psychological treatments, and it is very important to find the right one for yourself. The most popular treatment methods are, for example, the psychoanalytic method, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), holistic therapy, group therapy, and many more. Of course, you should not decide on this yourself; consult a specialist. Ideally, your first meeting will not be a session but a free consultation, where you can explain what is bothering you, how much time you want or can dedicate to therapy, and also check if you and the therapist are a good fit. This is a very important aspect of successful treatment.
Professional description of psychologists
The online therapy platform should also have a section dedicated to their psychologists’ profiles, where you can read about their education, expertise, and specialisation. There might also be a little something about them as a person, allowing you to relate to them. Ideally, there should also be a picture of the person. However, you shouldn’t relate to them too much, as your relationship with a psychologist should never become too personal. After all, they are there to treat you and help you. Clients often develop close relationships with therapists. This therapeutic alliance creates a safe, trusting space that promotes healing. Although you may be friendly toward your therapist, it is important to understand that you should not be friends or consider your therapist a friend.
If you are wondering how to choose an online therapist, start by looking at their expertise, specialisation and the kinds of issues they are good at. It's important to find someone who has dealt with situations similar to yours. Also, make sure they're licensed in your country or region. Don't forget to read customer reviews, as they can give you an idea of what to expect. Finally, ensure that the online platform they use is secure and abides by privacy rules to keep your information safe.
Privacy and data protection
This is the important one. When doing online psychotherapy and virtual sessions – which can be done via chat, phone call, or video call – the provider must ensure that your data is not shared with anyone not involved in your therapy or any outside or third-party provider that is not crucial for the technical or operational aspects of your sessions. If the platform is serious and cares about this, you will find a detailed list of what is tracked, shared, or stored, along with reasonable explanations. Always make sure to check the privacy policy and data protection sections and documents. After all, the topics discussed between you and your therapist are very sensitive and confidential.
At Digital Samba, we provide online psychology websites with safe video call environments due to our dedication to privacy and security. For us as a company, data protection is of utmost importance, and we live by this in our daily work. Therefore, each video meeting conducted with our software is encrypted between the two participants, meaning nobody can intercept it. Additionally, securing patient data is a priority for us, which is why we handpick the servers where the data is stored – only those necessary for the smooth running of the video session.
Good gut feeling
At the end of the day, you have to feel good about your therapy after evaluating all these factors. You can always rely on your gut feeling and trust your instincts. You will be spending quite a bit of time on this platform and with this person, so you must feel comfortable and safe. If you don’t feel you have created a space for healing, you should search for an alternative, or if you’ve already started therapy, communicate your concerns clearly and pull the handbrake. Since your well-being and mental health are at stake, you have to put yourself first and trust the process.
Conclusion
In the end, picking the right online counselling platform and therapist can really make a difference in how you feel. Take some time to look into your options, check their qualifications, and go with your instincts. Just remember, your mental health is every bit as important as your physical health, and taking care of it is a big step towards a healthier, happier you.
