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.
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Deciding to seek therapy is a big step, and if it’s one you’re considering, congratulations! You’re doing something vulnerable and admirable. One big question you may be considering while embarking on your journey to find a therapist is: online counseling vs. in-person counseling: which one is right for you?
At Grief Recovery Center, we offer both in-person and virtual therapy services to meet you where you are, making it easier to get the support you need in the way that feels most comfortable and accessible to you.
First: Why might you be thinking about starting therapy?
There are a lot of reasons to seek out support, but too often, folks think therapy is only for someone in an acute crisis, and don’t realize how they would benefit from it. While having support in acute crises is crucial, it’s not the only time you deserve the type of support that therapy can offer. Here are a few reasons you may benefit from the support of a therapist:
- You’re facing a life transition: Change is hard, and it can bring up a lot of strong emotions. Working with a licensed therapist while you’re facing a transition can help you make space for those feelings without letting them take over. They can also help you manage your mental health more effectively as you navigate these transitions, clarifying your values and guiding you through big life changes toward a direction that feels right for you.
- You’re just going through the motions: Maybe you’re stuck in a rut or are burned out by your current life. It can take a lot of deep work and introspection to understand what is making you feel stuck or preventing you from engaging fully in your life, and a therapist can help you focus on yourself and do that inner work with clarity and support.
- You’re struggling with low self confidence: Low self confidence can influence how you show up in all parts of your life; it can make you more anxious in social situations, more critical of yourself, and it can make it harder to connect vulnerably and authentically in your close relationships if you’re always doubting what you bring to the table. A therapist can help you get to the root of your self-confidence issues and work with you to rebuild a stronger sense of self-esteem.
- You’ve just gone through a lot of changes: Change often brings grief, even if no one has died. Working with a therapist can help you navigate and manage that grief in a way that honors what you’ve left behind while also helping you feel settled and whole in where you are now.
These aren’t the only reasons to seek out therapy, so if you’re already thinking about starting therapy and don’t see yourself in the list above, remember that you know yourself best, and if you think it’s time, then that is reason enough.
Now, should you try online counseling or in-person therapy?
Online counseling, or telehealth, is relatively new, though (thanks to Covid-19 and social distancing) it has become increasingly popular in recent years. And there are a lot of reasons why so many people are opting for telehealth.
Some benefits of online counseling include:
Expanding your provider search:
If you’re struggling to find a provider whose specialties match your needs, whose modality you’re interested in, and who takes your insurance, telehealth can help expand the search to anyone licensed in your state, rather than just your local area. That could even be a practitioner who lives in another state, but is a licensed provider in the state where you live! While you may be looking for someone in your area, telehealth can help you find the right provider for your needs, so you don’t have to just pick whoever is nearby.
Fitting therapy into a busy schedule:
Life is busy, and you may not have time weekly to drive out to a provider, even if they are in your area. As long as you have some privacy and an internet connection, you can do therapy from everywhere, which means you no longer have to factor a commute to a therapist’s office into your schedule along with your appointment. And, if you don’t have reliable transportation to get to your appointment, telehealth can make therapy possible for you when it otherwise may have been inaccessible.
Doing therapy in an environment where you’re comfortable:
Therapy requires trust and vulnerability. Sometimes it’s easier to be vulnerable in a space where you feel completely safe, which can be easily achieved by doing therapy virtually in your own home. You can get comfortable in your own space, light a candle, and instantly be somewhere you feel safe when the session is over and you need a minute to yourself.
While online counseling is a great solution for many, it’s not perfect, and there are some benefits of in-person therapy that can’t be replicated with virtual therapy:
Your full body is present:
Body language is much easier to read in person. Online counseling restricts our view to shoulders and above, so any shifting, fidgeting, foot tapping, hand-wringing, etc., won’t be visible to your therapist, which means they won’t be able to inquire what feeling is behind those movements. Conducting therapy in person can allow your therapist to see and explore your somatic reactions when discussing the vulnerable topics that come up together.
Reactions are in real time:
While online counseling has many strengths, one big weakness is the dependence on technology that is still occasionally glitchy. Whether that means sound cuts out, or you and your therapist accidentally talk at the same time, cancelling out all noise, or your wifi temporarily dips out–there are many small ways the technology can insert separation between you and your therapist that can make it hard to organically observe what is coming up for you. In person, these obstacles don’t exist, and no mental energy is put toward navigating them.
There’s a built-in cool down:
While it can be nice to finish up your session in your own space as you do with online counseling, it can also be nice to have a pre-determined cushion of 15 or 20 minutes where no one can bother you and you feel no pressure to jump right back into things as you drive back from your therapist’s office. In that time, you can reflect on what you talked about and any goals you set for the coming week.
If you’re still unsure if online counseling or in-person therapy is right for you, check out our post on 6 Questions to See If Online Therapy Is Right for You.
And remember, online therapy isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay! We offer both online 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 online counseling services if you think we can help.
Contact us at (832) 780-4968, book an appointment online, or schedule a virtual counseling session. We’re licensed to offer online counseling for the following states: California, Colorado, and Texas.
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