The practices of online counseling and life coaching have been offered for the last few years — though you might not have even known.
You probably have your own ways of coping with life’s stress, but when meditation or yoga stop helping or you just need to talk things through with a professional — online therapy is a great option.
As a single mom with 2 kids and 2 jobs, making time to travel to therapy appointments — although it’s needed — is nearly impossible for me. Skype, email, and live chats are great ways to receive online counseling from the comfort of my smartphone and computer. There are also therapy apps that are useful.
Here are 3 great benefits of online counseling or hiring an online life coach…
#1 – Ease Of Use For You And The Counselor
When you realize that you need supportive help, the less barriers there are to receiving help, the better the outcome.
Online counseling and hiring a life coach online offer both you and the counselor a seamless way to communicate because:
- There’s no need to leave your home or office to offer or receive services.
- Counselors and life coaches find it easy to gather information about you prior to treatment by email.
- One-on-one sessions can occur by telephone, email, chat, or Skype at various times of the day or night.
- In most cases, the counseling can begin immediately.
80% of Internet users, or about 93 million Americans, have searched for a health-related topic online. Online therapy using Skype is increasingly popular. Source
#2 – You Can Maintain Your Lifestyle And Anonymity
Both you and the provider are able to retain a certain amount of anonymity through working together virtually.
This is beneficial because:
- You may never need to meet in person.
- You and the therapist can use nicknames instead of real names.
- The only personal information that needs to be exchanged is what is required by the practitioner.
Beyond that, you and the counselor or life coach are able to share whatever you both feel is relevant to achieve the goals of treatment.
In order to protect both parties, a contract and confidentiality agreement are usually put in place.
#3 – There’s An Element Of Trust
When entering into any online relationship or pay-for-service arrangement, a certain level of trust and security is needed.
Here’s what you can do to protect yourself:
- Ensure the site you register with is reputable and secure.
- Use any free service the provider offers in order to evaluate the counselor before making a commitment.
Many online counseling sites and life coaches offer a few introductory email exchanges, or a period of free chatting, before charging.
Many companies offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and finding help today can be as easy as connecting with your employer’s online counselors or life coaches.
As we become more and more technology driven, and with most of us wanting to do life from a computer chair, online counselors and life coaches are a great resource.
Good mental health is essential for being a well-rounded person. Every step that makes gaining support easier is important.
