Over the past few years, we have become a generation that is used to everything at their fingertips. Especially living in the UAE, this is very much the case. You can get your shopping, water, dinner, petrol and even a car wash brought straight to your door. But when it comes to services that require a face to face interaction, is it possible to get these online, and is the quality good enough?
At the end of each year, I create goals that I want to achieve by the end of the year, or if they are large goals that may take longer. I will set steps I need to have completed by the end of the year. My goal set in December 2019 was to get more familiar with working online, set up a website, and start this blog. Little did I know that the year would take a turn that forced me into working online. The year has been challenging for everyone, but it has definitively thrown me into the online world and given me the chance to get to grasp the online world and putting myself out there.
Thoughts I had to start with was, how do I even go about with this? Will I be able to be the same person online that I am in person and so on. To get a better idea of what online is for people in different areas, I have taken different classes, presented presentations on different platforms, coached and counselled individuals. I have done this with videos on and off and I have also supported individuals through instant messaging, which I have found very beneficial.
The reason for this post was to get me thinking and looking into the way therapy and support are changing for people, not just because of COVID-19 and restrictions set in place, but because we are changing and so is the life around us. Not everyone is able to afford, access, or have time during the day to access such services. I understand therapy should be valued in ways with the cost, but for the people who may really need it, sometimes the cost is what deters them from it. Or the thought of someone seeing or knowing that they are seeking support for their mental well-being.
There is still a stigma around therapy unfortunately and this can also be a hindrance. With online therapy, you can do it from the comfort of your own home, at a time that is convenient for you and your life. It can even be accessed from different countries if you live away from home and want someone that is from a similar culture or speaks the same language.
From what I have learned over the past two years, there are many positives for both sides. Here are just a few to mention:
| Area | Online Therapy | Face to Face |
| Availability | Options of video, voice, and instant messaging | Have to go to a centre |
| Accessibility | Generally, no waiting lists | Depending on where you are, there can be a waiting list |
| Convenience | Convenient timing and can be easily accessed at different times and if you live remotely | Office hours |
| Cost | No over heads, so can be cheaper | Paying not just for the therapy |
| Therapist’s credentials | Harder to verify the persons credentials | Safer to know and access if someone is licensed |
| Non-verbal communication | Some non-verbal information can be lost | Therapist can pick up on different things |
| At home/in person | May feel more comfortable in your own space | May feel more comfortable out of your own space |
| Obstacles | Reliant on a good internet connection | Reliant on getting to the centre |
| Crisis intervention | If there is a crisis concern, potential lack of support especially if outside your area or country | Immediate crisis support |
| Insurance | Some places do not legally recognise or cover by insurance | Not always covered by insurance |
| Limitations | Not appropriate for psychiatric support | Psychiatry services can be limited |
| Limitations | Age restricted | Depending on qualifications and what age group you can work with, a lot will work across age groups |
| Commitment | For those who are trying therapy for the first time it can be beneficial to get a understanding and gain support on their terms | It can be hard to commit |
| Cost | You can do pay as you go plans so not restricted to a big pay out or so many sessions | It is generally more cost effective to pay in one payment |
| Range | More choice of therapist | May be limited |
| Rapport | Can take more work | Can be more effective at getting you to where you need to be |
These are just some examples of my thoughts about both forms of therapy. I guess it comes down to the individual and their needs to decide which therapy is better for them. I found when working with young people, the great benefits of being able to instant message and it made me work on their level rather than them having to come to mine. It took more time to build rapport and working relationships, but I found it really interesting to see how this was able to develop over instant messaging and how beneficial it can actually be. Even though I was working on my device, it meant I had fewer distractions than when I was seeing people in my office. It is much harder for working with younger students, but I have found different ways to grow in this area. I would have always been an advocate for face-to-face therapy, which I still am, but also have a new appreciation of online therapy and what it can open up for people. As I said earlier, we are living in a forever changing world and that goes for therapy and support also.
