Are online therapists any good? 5 steps to find the right therapy fit for you

In a world where online connections are becoming the norm, it’s no surprise that remote therapy clinics have been popping up rapidly. 

These clinics usually offer increased availability, convenience, and affordability, making them a tempting choice for those looking to start their therapy journey. 

But are online therapists really any good? 

The short answer is yes, online therapists can be a great fit for you! And when online therapy is done right, it can be just as effective as in-person approaches. 

So what makes for good online therapy? Keep reading to find out. 

1. Presence

For any kind of therapy to be effective, the therapist needs to be fully present and capable of giving their undivided attention to their clients. This fact is backed by science, so if you find that your therapist seems distracted or disengaged during your sessions, this could be a red flag. 

During remote therapy sessions, your online therapist should seem as though they are giving you their complete focus. For therapy to work, they need to be present with you. They need to be able to give you the empathy, respect, genuineness, active listening, and unconditional positive regard that is necessary to foster a meaningful therapeutic relationship. 

Unfortunately, it can be difficult for online therapists to focus on their clients and remain fully present when they are bogged down with administrative tasks, or when they have to take on an excessive number of clients to make ends meet. 

So when looking for an online therapist, it can be a good idea to review what kind of support your therapist is receiving. 

Here are some key factors to consider: 

• Do they receive support from a clinic director and administrative team? 
• Do they receive supervision or peer consultation?
• Are they in therapy themselves? 
• Are they receiving fair compensation that allows them to comfortably pay the bills? 

For example, the Blue Rabbit online clinic is focused on quality care, not growth. Its online therapists receive extensive professional support so that they can focus on their clients, and the company maintains a small, boutique practice to ensure that each client receives the attention they deserve. 

2. Personal connection

A big part of what makes therapy effective is the strength of the bond and understanding between therapist and client. In fact, a sense of depersonalization or lack of connection with your online therapist can jeopardize the whole therapeutic process.

So you might be wondering if the convenience of virtual therapy comes at the cost of developing a deep and meaningful therapeutic relationship. 

It doesn’t have to. 

Even when meeting online, it is possible for therapists to cultivate rich, rewarding relationships with their clients. By being present, listening, engaging, working toward understanding, and employing therapeutic methodologies that are known to promote healthy relationships, it is possible for therapists to establish deep personal connections with their clients, even when working remotely. 

For example, relational therapy is especially effective in promoting a healthy bond between therapists and their clients. 

Relational therapy works to repair our felt sense of connection to others and, ultimately, to ourselves. With earned trust, therapists work with clients using a variety of methods to interrupt patterns that limit growth or cause suffering.

That’s why Blue Rabbit Therapy has opened a boutique online clinic that keeps things personal – for both its therapists and its clients. To ensure that clients feel seen, heard, and supported in their current environments and circumstances, Blue Rabbit therapists work relationally and with an understanding that people feel safe in authentic connection. 

Therapy isn’t easy. To experience difficult feelings or navigate our inner thoughts and stories alongside our therapist, we need this foundation of connection.

3. Availability

Another key factor that helps make virtual therapy effective is how available the online therapist is.

If a therapy clinic is always fully booked, with long waitlists and no room to accommodate its clients’ availability, it may not be able to offer therapy services when and where its clients need them most. It might even hinder the therapist’s ability to be emotionally available and fully present in their work. 

To address this concern, Blue Rabbit Therapy offers convenient online therapy sessions with no waitlists. Our online therapists are available and accepting new clients now. 

4. Training and experience

The reality is that there is more than one way to become a therapist or counselor, and not all levels and styles of training may align with what you’re searching for.

When looking at remote therapy options, it can be helpful to keep these questions in mind: 

• What kind of training has this person received? 
• How long was their training program? 
• Did they study at a reputable institution? 
• Do they have any special licenses or certifications?  
• Are they registered with any special groups or organizations? 
• Are they receiving ongoing training to help them stay current with scientific research and best practices? 

At Blue Rabbit Therapy, each care team member is a licensed psychotherapist or social worker, meaning that they have received extensive education and training and that their services are covered by most extended health benefit (EHB) plans.

This also means that they are responsible for abiding by the rules and regulations of special governing bodies, such as the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).

Blue Rabbit psychotherapists and social workers also receive peer support and ongoing training, ensuring that they’re up to date with modern research. 

5. Treatment approaches and modalities

Along with looking at the type of education and training your online therapist has received, it can also be helpful to look at what approaches to treatment they offer. 

For example, you may want to consider the following questions:

• Do they only offer one or two approaches to treatment, or are they skilled in a wide range of modalities? 
• Do they offer modern, evidence-led approaches to treatment, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprogramming (EMDR), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)?
• Do they allow their clients to participate in the treatment-planning process? 
• Do they offer virtual sessions in more than one format and have a backup platform in place (in case of technological failure)? 

In general, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy; different people will benefit from different treatment modalities and therapeutic approaches. 

However, it is generally advisable to seek out virtual therapy services that offer modern, evidence-led approaches to treatment.

It can also be helpful to find an online therapist who is willing to work with you to craft a treatment plan that addresses your unique goals and needs. After all, client participation in treatment planning is known to strengthen the therapeutic relationship and contribute to more effective therapy. 

Blue Rabbit therapists build relationships that strengthen clients’ sense of self, confidence, and well-being, and clients co-create custom, holistic treatment plans with their counselors. The Blue Rabbit team also offers sessions in multiple formats and has contingency plans in place to ensure that technological difficulties don’t get in the way of scheduled client sessions! 

Summary

While online therapy may not be the right fit for everyone, it can be an effective, rewarding option for many people. 

You can rest assured knowing that online therapists can be really good and that, in general, online therapy is just as effective as traditional in-person approaches. 

Specifically, talk therapy approaches such as CBT have been found to be especially effective when offered in an online format. 

About Blue Rabbit Therapy

Blue Rabbit Therapy provides convenient, customized online relational therapy and counseling. Using modern, evidence-led treatment methods, Blue Rabbit therapists create customized, client-centered plans with their clients. Blue Rabbit therapists always consider their clients’ humanity first and, using a non-judgmental, relational style, offer authentic connection as the best treatment method.