Online Therapy: When to Seek Help

In this difficult time, many of us are feeling overwhelmed. Thankfully, many people are turning to online therapy for relief!

You are not alone. We have our OK days, we have our bad days. Good days… well, those are few and far between, of course. After all, it is a pandemic.

Covid health worries, lockdown, economic concerns, back to school anxiety, the unknowns of a future in this pandemic world…every human shares these problems, and yet we all have our own histories and individual problems that already existed before.

Indeed, the pandemic ratchets up the intensity of anything else that was already not going well in one’s life.

Lately, I’ve been getting calls and texts from strong people who’ve reached the end of their rope. Especially, they want someone to talk to, someone to validate that they aren’t going crazy; that they’re going to be OK.

If this sounds like you, it is time to try online therapy.

Online Therapy Is Appropriate For You If:

1. You are struggling to get through each day.

2. You are worried about the mental health of one of your children or your spouse, and you don’t know what to do about it.

3. You are unfamiliar with emotions, such as, what they are, how to regulate them (what to do with your strong feelings) or even how to talk about them. 

4. Symptoms— You are experiencing anxiety, panic, or depression more days than not and/or you are having difficulty sleeping.

5. Covid insomnia is a real thing. As a result of not sleeping, your health suffers further. Thus, having covid insomnia means you need to talk to someone about your worries.

6. You have a history of childhood trauma and it’s showing up in your life again in some way, regardless of efforts to avoid thoughts about it.

7. You feel all alone and need someone to talk to. 

8. Your marriage is in trouble, and you need a third party to help you find your way out of the daily merry-go-round of conflict, before it’s too late.

If any of these things sound like you, it’s time to reach out and get some help. Sooner, rather than later.

Seeking Professional Counseling Does Not Mean You Are Mentally Ill

If anything, seeking professional mental health treatment means that you are mentally WELL. You aren’t just looking to whine and complain, you are wanting to thrive. You’re tired of every day being harder than the last, or worse– the same.

You want to be your best self and live your best life, for yourself and for those you share life with: your partner, children, family, friends, coworkers; even pets. Life is short, we know that now, all too well. Happiness, joy, purpose; these are things we once took for granted and now we feel so lost and overwhelmed, unsure of what tomorrow will bring. There is hope, and help for everyone.

No one has to do life alone; neither should you.

Even professional counselors (myself included!) get their own therapy. We know a simple secret: having a trained Licensed Clinical Social Worker or therapist by your side during the hard times of life makes all the difference. It turns out, happiness is something we can all achieve, but often, not without help. Particularly, when the stakes are as high as they are now.

What an Online Therapy Professional Will Do:

Licensed Mental Health Professionals are Trained to:

• Assess your situation, then give feedback.
• Help you identify goals.
• Provide emotional support.
• Be a nonjudgemental listener.
• Teach you practical coping skills.
• Show you how to manage stress more effectively.
• Teach cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.
• Give evidence-based suggestions for your specific struggles.
• Help you heal from trauma.
• Teach about boundaries and help you explore appropriate boundary-setting in your life.
• Connect you with additional resources, such as groups, books, and videos.

What a Therapist Will NOT Do

While therapists are trained to listen, there are a few things we definitely don’t do:

• Take away all of your problems.
• Fix you, or your family member.
• Judge you.
• Tell you what to do.
• Share your personal information.
• Become your best friend.
• Make you into someone you don’t want to become.

If you are struggling for any reason, please reach out for help. Absolutely, there’s never been a better time to get help, than now.

Why Online Therapy? Why Now?

For one thing, online therapy is easy and affordable. Furthermore, it can be done in the privacy and comfort of your own home.

Did you know? Many insurance plans offer out-of-network benefits. This means, the client pays up front for service and then submits receipts to the insurance company for reimbursement.

You don’t have to sign up for life, or even for months. Pay as you go, regardless of insurance limitations. Get online therapy and support as you need it.

Finally, my clients often experience significant relief in the very first session, and have learned practical skills to manage their stress and anxiety, within the first three.

In conclusion, online therapy is right for you if you want to make life a little easier these days. And, if you’ve always wanted to try therapy but were scared to show up in person, there’s never been a better time to try it online! Essentially, with all that is going on right now, online therapy is worth a shot, regardless of your personal situation.

Thankfully, there’s an easy way to connect to an experienced, compassionate trauma-informed anxiety therapist, ready to provide online therapy today.

Life is hard right now. Get support. Don’t do it alone.