Why Online Counseling for you?

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Why Online Counseling?

The Merits Explained

Nils-Gunter Schultze explains many benefits to online therapy where the patient does not see the counselor/therapist. Counseling and Psychotherapy is superior in many ways including anonymity, easy access, and the real luxury of converting the client's bedroom into a therapy room. Above all, Schultze brings out the following mental processes that are happening during the counseling/psychotherapy process.

Psychological Anonymity

There are clients who do not prefer to meet the therapist face to face for the lack of confidence, their negative self image, feeling of embarrassment or guilt, etc. Even in the common parlence, real anonymity is difficult to achieve nowadays, yet online patients are afforded this benefit, having the ability to receive treatment in the comfort of their own homes. Many of them even choose e-therapy for this very reason. The anonymity that e-therapy affords enables them to talk about their most intimate personal matters with a total stranger, much easier than if they had to do so in traditional face-to-face therapy. Hence, they become more confident, which helps them to feel better in many ways. This anonymity also allows them to decide when they would like to end sessions, a benefit not found in traditional therapy.

Protection of Self Assurance

Since most online sessions do not involve seeing the other person, patients do not have to experience the common humiliation or intimidation that accompanies the discussion of sensitive topics. This is very important for patients suffering from negative self image, guilt, and even to patients suffering from PTSD, depression, etc. Some clients who seek help on relationship and marriage issues find online therapy much superior to face-to-face counseling.

When empowered to speak freely, the anonymity minimizes the patients' helplessness during the process.

Projection

Online counseling lacks the formality, objectively experienced distance, and insecurity triggered often during the first few sessions in traditional face-to-face therapy. Therefore, often, the patient's image of the therapist takes on traits of projection where a patient's inner image of the counselor is most likely to match some imagined character of an ideal counsel.

Willingness to Change

The unique setting of online treatment encourages patients to feel increased inner confidence and openness. These feelings of empowerment facilitate greater acceptance of the counselor's intervention, and thus makes the treatment even more effective. Over time, and in the context of one-time counseling, it means that counselors have the opportunity to make more of an impact.

Accessibility

Due to the fact that all treatment materials are permanently documented, patients and counselors both have the ability to re-read session transcripts. This kind of access is a benefit not found in traditional therapy, and it allows patients the ability to literally track their progress, over time.

Based on: Schultze, N.G. (2006). Success Factors in Internet-Based Psychological Counseling. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 9 (5), 623-626.