Is Virtual Therapy Effective?

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Asma Rehman, LPC

Asma Rehman stands as a distinguished figure in the field of grief recovery, embodying unparalleled expertise, experience, and trustworthiness. As the founder and director of the Grief Recovery Center, her professional journey is deeply interwoven with her personal experiences of loss, driving her to create a sanctuary for those navigating their grief. Certified as a Grief Recovery Specialist®️ and in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), Asma's qualifications reflect her profound commitment to providing empathetic, specialized support. The Grief Recovery Center, under her leadership, has grown from a modest practice to a comprehensive group practice, offering a safe, judgment-free space for all forms of grief and loss.


Asma's vision extends beyond traditional grief support, recognizing the complex nature of loss, whether it's the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or more nuanced forms of grief. Her approach is holistic and inclusive, ensuring that the Grief Recovery Center remains a cornerstone of hope and healing. Through her expertise and heartfelt dedication, Asma Rehman has established herself as a trusted authority in helping individuals heal and find peace amidst their most challenging times.

Latest posts by Asma Rehman, LPC (see all)

• Virtual Counseling vs. In-Person Counseling: Which is Right for You? - May 6, 2025
• A Guide to Understanding Trauma Recovery with Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) - February 27, 2025
• How to Survive the Holiday Season - December 10, 2024

The Short Answer

Virtual therapy can be effective, and research on therapist-guided cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has found similar outcomes for remote and in-person treatment. Whether online sessions are right for you depends on the support you need, the treatment offered, and whether you have a private place to talk.

There are many reasons to choose virtual therapy. Therapy online allows people to fit therapy into their busy schedules in a space that is comfortable and accessible for them. This type of access can open up therapy as an option for people who are either unable or unwilling to participate in traditional therapy.

Online therapy isn’t right for everyone. If you’re on the fence about choosing this type of therapy, here are 6 questions to ask yourself to see if it’s the right fit for you.

Read: What to Expect During a Virtual Counseling Session

While there are many advantages to choosing virtual therapy, many people have one big question: Does it work? Is virtual therapy as effective as traditional in-person therapy? 

Virtual therapy, or telehealth, isn’t new. By 2011, the Department of Veterans Affairs had been offering remote sessions for about 20 years. Research has grown along with it. A 2024 review of 54 randomized trials found little to no difference between therapist-guided CBT delivered remotely and CBT delivered in person. Most of those trials studied CBT for conditions such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia, so results may differ for other types of therapy.

Is online grief counseling effective?

Online grief counseling can help people coping with a loss. A 2025 research review found that web-based grief interventions reduced grief symptoms and related distress. However, the review covered different online treatment formats, so it does not show that every approach works equally well or that live video counseling is equivalent to in-person grief therapy.

If you’re considering online grief counseling, a therapist can help you decide whether individual sessions, a grief support group, or both fit what you’re going through.

Considering BetterHelp? Read our review of its features, benefits, and limitations.

Different disorders require different levels of treatment, so it’s hard to make general statements about exactly how effective therapy online is for every aspect of mental health.

However, the American Psychological Association has developed guidelines around telepsychology, supporting the idea that virtual therapy is here to stay. 

Is virtual therapy right for everyone?

Virtual therapy isn’t the best fit for everyone. Some mental health concerns call for more intensive support, and someone in an immediate mental health crisis needs a higher level of care than a routine virtual session can provide. There may also be some difficulty in opening up to someone you’ve never met before in person, and it can sometimes be tricky for words, body language, and emotions to translate over text and video instead of face-to-face. 

It’s important to keep in mind that therapy is a highly individual experience, and what works or doesn’t work for someone else might not be the same for you. If therapy online seems like a good fit for your lifestyle or allows you access that you didn’t have before, then it can be a great option! After all, one in five adults in the US experience mental illness, so different options for help may support more folks to seek treatment. If you’re still unsure, our article on virtual counseling vs. in-person counseling can help you compare the two.

Interested in therapy? We offer both virtual and in-person therapy at our Houston office. Our professional and dedicated therapists and counselors are waiting to help you. Don’t hesitate to make an appointment for virtual counseling services if you think we can help. Contact us at (832) 413-2410, or you can book an appointment online or schedule a virtual counseling session. We’re licensed to offer virtual counseling for the following states: Michigan, Louisiana, and Texas.