Why Online?

Online therapy is a nontraditional type of therapy that parents with autistic children should consider. Choosing Online therapy isn’t common but could be for the kid. What are its benefits?

Mental Health Conditions

Can Online Therapy Help?

Living with mental health conditions is tougher than most people can ever fathom. I would know because I had been surrounded by loved ones who suffered from various mental health conditions that made them require traditional therapy.

The first one I encountered was my big brother. He was on the autism spectrum and had licensed clinical social workers around him all the time. My memory was of him crying – no, wailing – loudly in the house because Mom tried to hug him. I learned early from the licensed providers not to make physical contact with my brother unless he opened his arms without prompting.

The second one was my best friend. She did not manifest any symptoms of mental health conditions at the beginning that the licensed clinical social workers talked to me about. In truth, she was one of the smartest pupils in our school. However, it turned out that my best friend had Asperger’s syndrome – another form of autism that made it challenging for her to recognize emotions. While other kids made fun of her as she needed teen counseling and medication management services, I stood beside her and sometimes even fought the bullies for her (without the clinical social workers knowing, of course).

Then, I had a roommate in college with eating disorders. The initial red flag was that she would order buckets of fries and at least a dozen burgers from McDonald’s, and then she would disappear in the bathroom for hours. I only found out when I caught her trying to purge. Still, I did not judge her because of her mental health condition. Teen counseling therapy would have benefited her.

Traditional Therapy Versus Online Therapy

What’s The Difference?

Due to such situations that I found myself in, I thought that being a mental health professional and providing medication management services to people with mental disorders was my calling. These include issues like substance abuse, depression, stress, and even online couples therapy issues. I thought long and hard about what I could do in my life, considering I knew I did not want to lose time with my big brother. After some time, a brilliant idea crossed my mind: online therapy. Essentially, it is talk therapy (and other therapies) conducted through a trusted online counseling platform. You can also think of it as video therapy sessions.

I was already a licensed psychiatrist when I thought of it so I could prescribe medication. I technically had two years of professional experience at the time, but I knew that my heart was not in it. But since I still wanted to help people get affordable counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, virtual therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and other mental health benefits out of an online platform, I began taking lessons and even earned counseling certifications.

This is one of the biggest benefits of online therapy: cheaper costs per session. And this is a big factor because not everyone with a mental health condition can afford in-person care. So it can be a great option for many, especially for those who need unlimited messaging features.

Best Online Counseling Service

BetterHelp is among the best options that offer affordable medical care and mental health crisis services.

Can I Talk To A Counselor Online?

Yes, if you prefer online therapy on chosen sites, you can do them for free. There are platforms like 7 Cups of Tea that offer services such as unlimited messaging at zero cost, knowing that some people who need mental health counselors do not have extra bucks to spare. Some platforms also offer something like a monthly subscription, which is still affordable. After all, you don’t need to drain your health savings account just to schedule appointments for an initial visit or initial consultation, say, for teen counseling or other services.

How Effective Is Online Therapy For Mental Conditions?

Does It Work?

A virtual provider is practically as good as a licensed assigned marriage and family therapist who performs in-office therapy, face-to-face therapy, or in-person care therapy. It differs insignificantly because the process allows people to talk or chat with the best online services expert whenever they need mental health resources, teen counseling, exposure therapy, or online cognitive behavioral therapy services. This fact has been proven in a 2018 study.

The caveat is that a limited number of mental health services can be offered during online therapy service, even by a licensed mental health professional or psychiatric nurse practitioner. The reviews say the companies have therapists who specialize mainly in providing emotional support for anxiety and mood disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression, phobia, minor eating disorders, etc.). Many of them also allow for unlimited messaging. The thing about unlimited messaging is it can help ease the worries of many people since they know they can rely on someone when they need help. Just the mere act of letting them know about unlimited messaging can assuage some of their worries.

BPD, Eating Disorders, Etc.

If you have a borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe eating disorders, or other illnesses that require medication management, a licensed therapist on these platforms may not be suitable for you as they cannot prescribe medication.

How To Become An Online Therapist

All online counseling pros go through the same training from the best programs, whether they choose to offer online therapy services or not. You need to start by getting a master’s degree in counseling. After that, you should do an internship to gain some experience in the field as a mental health professional. It’s only when you complete your hours as an intern that you can apply for a mental health counseling license and then decide to conduct weekly sessions for counseling.

Considering you want to remain one of the online licensed therapists, updating your knowledge on mental health medical care regularly is a must. That’s especially true since we often see mental health advancements in virtual and video therapy programs, online counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and all therapy services in general.

How Much Do Online Therapists Make?

Online therapy costs approximately $30 per hour of a therapy session on an online therapy program or online therapy platforms like BetterHelp. Though this online therapy cost is considerably lower than what face-to-face therapy experts and other mental health professionals get from giving mental health support through pride counseling sessions, this rate is still higher than what many virtual licensed professional counselors or therapists get. Some may not appreciate its financial assistance. It also depends if you work under best platforms that allow for a monthly subscription or something similar.

Talkspace Or BetterHelp?

It depends on the medium of therapy that you prefer to use. In case you only want unlimited messaging with mental health professionals and to remain anonymous online, you may think that Talkspace online therapy is one of the best online therapy options. However, if you wish to see your counselor through video sessions and also enjoy unlimited messaging, BetterHelp is one of the best online therapy platforms.

Note that both platforms offer unlimited messaging. As I mentioned a bit before, unlimited messaging is something that can help people in their daily lives because unlimited messaging means there is always help available.

Is BetterHelp Worth It?

Yes, BetterHelp is worth the money. Not only does it extend the convenience of getting help without leaving your room, but it also offers a high level of anonymity that you cannot guarantee to obtain when you walk into a counseling facility. You can feel safe knowing your monthly subscription is worth it.

Is Talkspace Or BetterHelp Cheaper?

Talkspace online therapy is cheaper than BetterHelp by at least $10. The reason is that the former offers fewer media of counseling than the latter, but note that both offer unlimited messaging.

Can You Cancel BetterHelp At Any Time?

Yes, you are free to cancel BetterHelp at any time. The online relationship counseling platform does not bind you in any contract that will prevent you from leaving whenever you wish to.

If You Want To Discontinue, Can I Get My Money Back From BetterHelp?

Yes, you can technically get your money back from BetterHelp, provided that their team has investigated your issue with their services and deemed you worthy of getting a partial or full refund. You may send an email to them for further assistance.

How Do I Request A New Counselor, BetterHelp?

Assuming you have already picked the online platform and want to change your licensed marriage, family counseling, and teen counseling experts or switch therapists for affordable online therapy, you can open your profile and click the Change Counselor button. Doing so will show you up to six profiles of different mental health professionals, complete with therapist availability. If none of them works, you may click Find a Therapist again to switch therapists for virtual therapy and video sessions.

Can BetterHelp Write Prescriptions?

No, BetterHelp’s mental health services cannot prescribe medication for you – the online therapy platform can only provide the best online therapy services of 2022. Despite that, BetterHelp partners with Brightside, which dispatches licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed professional therapists, or family therapists who offer mental health services remotely and can prescribe medication. Do not hesitate to inquire about how they can help you, even during the initial consultation or in the following sessions.

What Raises Dopamine Naturally?

Your lifestyle choices affect your body’s dopamine production more than anything. Practically speaking, doing too much of anything may be exhilarating at first, but it can make you feel blue later. You need to find balance in your activities to elevate your dopamine level naturally.

Can An Online Therapist Write Prescriptions?

Not exactly, especially if the therapist only has certifications to provide cognitive behavioral therapy. But in case the therapist is also a psychiatrist, they can do that.

Can BetterHelp Diagnose You Online?

Unfortunately, no, BetterHelp cannot conduct mental health diagnoses or prescribe mental health medication to their clients. BetterHelp has licensed marriage and family therapists, family therapists, or licensed professional therapists, but online therapy companies cannot offer a diagnosis without in-person therapy sessions. Sometimes, they can also offer teen counseling services through cognitive behavioral online therapy interaction.

Does Virtual Therapy Accept Insurance?

Not all the time. You’ll have to discuss health insurance portability with your insurance provider’s company. Some companies cover best online therapy health insurance but not all.

Conclusion On Online Therapy Service

The challenge that I did not see coming after I pursued best online therapy and  and became a certified licensed therapist was figuring out which online therapy platform to use. Setting up an online therapy website for myself was out of the question, considering I did not have the time and money to do that. I did not want to offer online therapy full-time and in-person or traditional therapy either, given that that would consume too much of my time. Luckily, I eventually found one that could protect my future clients and me from digital crime. The bonus was that I could continue looking after my big brother, who had mental health conditions of his own.

FAQs On Online Therapy Services

1. Is Virtual Therapy Secure?

2. Who Are The Best Candidates For Online Counseling?

3. What Are The Perks Of Free Counseling On The Web?

4. How Does One Pay For His Counseling Sessions?

5. Does Couples Therapy Provide Help For Couples?

6. What Is The Best Online Platform For Therapy?

7. Where Can I Talk To Someone For Free?

8. Is Therapy Online Free?

9. Who Is Not Suitable For Online Therapy?

10. Is Online Therapy Okay?

11. Can I Use BetterHelp For Free?

12. Where Can I Get A Therapist For Free?

13. Is There A Therapist I Can Text?

14. Is BetterHelp Legit Now?

15. What Is The BetterHelp Controversy?