Online Therapy: A Helpful Option Now and Into the Future

If you're feeling uncertain about the idea of online therapy, know that this option can still serve you well. Here's a look at some of the many benefits, as well as some considerations.

Let's take five minutes to see the week in a new light. By Wendy Rose Gould & Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Top of Mind Online Therapy: A Helpful Option Now and Into the Future    With more people being vaccinated every day, we're slowly turning the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, many who want to explore therapy may not feel comfortable attending in-person sessions. Also, a number of therapists are still only seeing their patients virtually at this time.   If you're feeling uncertain about the idea of online therapy, know that this option can still serve you well. Below we're outlining some of the many benefits, as well as some considerations. Is Online Therapy Right for You?   Virtual therapy can be helpful in many scenarios, including individual therapy, couples' therapy, family therapy, and children's therapy. Even if online therapy isn't your preferred choice, you can still rest assured knowing you're prioritizing your mental health right now, and that in-person sessions will resume when they can.   Benefits of Online Therapy Virtual therapy sessions allow you to get the help you need from the comfort of your home. They eliminate a potentially stressful commute and allow you to schedule with more ease (especially if you have children). Some also find online therapy less daunting since they are allowed to be in their own space instead of walking into a foreign environment.   Many online therapy sites allow for several forms of communications. You may be able to schedule online video appointments, messaging, phone, or live chat.   Online therapy can also help ease your mind regarding catching, or potentially spreading, the coronavirus while vaccine roll outs are still underway.   Practicing communication skills in your home may help to translate the skill to real life, which can help increase the accessibility of using the skill day to day." — JENNIE MARIE BATTISTIN, LMFT What to Keep in Mind While online therapy brings many benefits, there are some potential considerations to remember. Some say that sessions don't feel as intimate through a screen, and that it takes longer for them to open up. Additionally, it's important to be in a quiet space during your therapy sessions since being at home opens the door for distractions.   On the Bright Side Ways to Stay Positive This Week What's Inspiring Us If you're not quite sure how meditation might fit into your life, Meditation Studio's Untangle! podcast can help. Each weekly episode features real people and experts—including psychologists, doctors, and neuroscientists—discussing the life-changing benefits of mindful meditation. Think of Mindvalley as a way to further both your mental education and well-being. The course-streaming platform features over 200 authors, speakers, and activities discussing everything from leadership to ways you can strengthen your romantic relationship. You can explore Mindvalley's free courses before committing to a membership. Ways to Nurture Your Mind and Body Start this week with the intention to foster positivity in your world. Grab a journal, and briefly answer the following questions: Who is someone who has positively impacted me? In what way have they made me a better person? What is a small victory I recently accomplished that made me feel proud? What is a simple joy that I can incorporate into my life this week? What is a compliment I received recently that made me feel good? What is something that made me laugh recently? What act of kindness can I deliver to someone this week?  Products to Help You Feel Your Best Anecdote Candles is known for its unconventional scents and simple packaging. The brand's "Forest Bathing" candle "smells like clear minds and awakened spirits" (and also green tea and lemongrass). Grab a small box of colored pencils or markers and spend some time coloring in one of these top 12 adult coloring books. From oasis-like gardens to irreverent graphics, there's something for everyone on this list.  This levitating air bonsai pot is the perfect addiction to any office desk, reading nook, or nightstand. It uses "maglev suspension" technology and is ready to home a small, living plant.   The Latest From The Verywell Mind Podcast   How to Know if You Have Existential Depression With Melissa & Doug Co-Founder Melissa Bernstein Melissa Bernstein creates all the toys for her company, Melissa & Doug. Melissa also has what she calls "existential" depression. In this episode, she shares how to know if you have existential depression and the strategies that can help.   Friday Fix: How to Stay Mentally Strong When You're Stressed Out You can't control all the events that happen to you but you can control how you respond to them. Listen to this episode to discover how to stay mentally strong when you're feeling stressed out.   Tune in to tomorrow's episode to hear from Dr. John Umhau, an addiction medicine specialist and member of the Verywell Mind Review Board, who explains how diet and medication can reduce alcohol consumption.   Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / RSS Read These Next How to Boost Your Mood With Nutrition READ NOW 10 Ways Listening to Music Can Improve Your Life READ NOW How to Make Friends Even During a Pandemic READ NOW Spread the Light Share the newsletter with someone you know to make their day a little brighter. 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