[BeaFlower]

Any thoughts about it? I heard something about therapy or counseling through Skype, or chat on some websites. Have anyone tried it? How did it go? Do you think that it's as useful as face to face sessions? I'm thinking that maybe, if I'm really to shy for traditional therapy, maybe this is better than nothing. Do you think that it would be worth trying, or would it be useless?

I know a few people from another forum who did video chat therapy. They said it worked just as well because you are still face to face via camera but you can do it from the safety of your home. I think it would be worth looking into.

[shortandcute]

I agree with ChaoticInsanity. It would be worth a shot anyway.

[avlady]

I would do it if i were you!!!!

[Mindful55]

Yes go for it!!
Let us your process.

Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk

My t is in another countr the past few years. Until she moves back home, skype and telephone are all we have. It is better than noting but certainly not ideal. But she is an amazing t, and we have a very special relationship, so i want to keep talking with her. We do some skype, when we both have internet available (internet can be very unpredictable where we live.) it is definitely better than not having her to talk to at all.

[precaryous]

My hesitation is that if this online T does something unethical....who would you report it to?

I couldn't afford online therapy. I doubt I would do it...but there have been a few on PC who seem to get something out of it.

[BeaFlower]

Thanks to everybody. My fear is that also through video I'd be as embarrassed as face to face. And what about 'written' chat? Would it be less effective, in your opinion?

[stopdog]

There are a couple of people on this board who do phone therapy. It seems to work for them.

The only problem with online therapy, you do not get to experience the 'space' between you. Not in any useful way.

[Ididitmyway]

I've heard good things about it. I guess, some people do get helped this way. If I were desperate and didn't have an opportunity to see a therapist face-to-face, I would go for it. When one feels like they need help, it's certainly better than nothing. This is the age of the Internet, after all, and online therapy does expand one's choices. Also, I suspect, it's going to expand in the future.

[BeaFlower]

And do you think that it's safe for privacy?

[Myrto]

I personally don't understand how online therapy can even be legal.
I mean, in terms of confidentiality and privacy, it sounds very tricky to maintain.
If it's someone on the internet, how can you trust them?
Besides, I think you miss a lot if you're not face to face: the body language (it's not the same via a screen), the breathing, the space between you and the therapist, all things that imo contribute to the therapy experience.

Of course, just my opinion. If people get something out of it, awesome.
It wouldn't work for me.

[Angelique67]

Does anyone know if online therapy anywhere accepts medicare?

[BeaFlower]

Originally Posted by Angelique67

Does anyone know if online therapy anywhere accepts medicare?

I think that, if you're interested, you could look for websites and see if they accept it in that particular case.

[Ididitmyway]

Originally Posted by BeaFlower

And do you think that it's safe for privacy?

The only thing that makes it less safer for privacy than face-to-face contacts is that online communications, as a general rule, are not fully protected. At this point, we all know that at least the government has the access to ALL our online and telecommunications. Big phone companies and cable providers also have an access to the large chunk of their user's data. In addition, anyone with enough technical capability and skills can hack any of our online information. This is something we all need to remember at all times when we communicate online.

But all of the above is outside of the therapist's control. Therapists, who provide online therapy follow the same rules on confidentiality as those who practice traditionally. So, if anyone gets to your information, it won't be because of the therapist, assuming, of course, that the therapist is ethical

[Ididitmyway]

Originally Posted by Angelique67

Does anyone know if online therapy anywhere accepts medicare?

This is a really good question. I haven't seen on any online therapy sites that they accept Medicare or even insurance. I would just contact them and ask.

[Lovable Nut]

Hi,

I do traditional in-office therapy. I was hugely terrified at first, but kept showing up. I was a physical and emotional wreck for a very long time before and during sessions. T being male was a huge hurdle for me to work through, but I am making great progress. It took serious courage on my part and total dedication from T since he knew how brutal attempting therapy was for me.

I think in-person therapy is extremely important and invaluable. That close contact is where much of the energy lays. So much communication, from both parties, really is non-verbal. It really aides in the healing process.

We've done phone sessions during crisis. He recently took a super-long break which stunned me at first. He offered Skype and I thought it would be total crap; cold, impersonal, really not for me and I was extremely angry. Long story short, we did several trial runs before he left. The camera quality was not good so he was "fuzzy" a lot. We did settle into something that became acceptable but it was just not the same. I need the physical contact of being close to him; and I do sit very close to him. He will return soon and I cannot wait to be in-person with him again. For me, Skype was better than nothing, but nowhere near the real thing. I suppose it is a good option for those in remote locations.

[Ididitmyway]

Originally Posted by Lovable Nut

Hi,

I do traditional in-office therapy. I was hugely terrified at first, but kept showing up. I was a physical and emotional wreck for a very long time before and during sessions. T being male was a huge hurdle for me to work through, but I am making great progress. It took serious courage on my part and total dedication from T since he knew how brutal attempting therapy was for me.

I think in-person therapy is extremely important and invaluable. That close contact is where much of the energy lays. So much communication, from both parties, really is non-verbal. It really aides in the healing process.

We've done phone sessions during crisis. He recently took a super-long break which stunned me at first. He offered Skype and I thought it would be total crap; cold, impersonal, really not for me and I was extremely angry. Long story short, we did several trial runs before he left. The camera quality was not good so he was "fuzzy" a lot. We did settle into something that became acceptable but it was just not the same. I need the physical contact of being close to him; and I do sit very close to him. He will return soon and I cannot wait to be in-person with him again. For me, Skype was better than nothing, but nowhere near the real thing. I suppose it is a good option for those in remote locations.

This is how I see it. It's an opportunity for those who can't get face-to-face contact for whatever reason like people living in rural areas, disabled etc., but it cannot replace the real live interaction when the real life energy gets involved. If I were to get online therapy or to conduct it, I'd rather do it over email than Skype. With all the limitations of writing communications, the bad quality of Skype transmission feels even less like a live interaction to me than an email exchange where I can take time to find the right words to express myself. But that's just me. I really hate Skype. If its quality improves in the future, than I may like it, but not before that..Some people like it though, so if you are one of them, this thing may work for you just fine.

[InRealLife45]

theres betterhelp.com (they offer discounts) and there's talkspace -they both do chat only therapy, with one free 20 minute session a month. you can pay for extra phone time but theres no allowance for video messaging.

i have found it to be just okay. they assign you a therapist, you dont get to pick- they pick you, or you wait forever to be picked by someone. I didnt like one of the people i was matched to, she was a cold fish. but it was easy to switch to a new one, i just had to wait two days for someone else to choose me.