‘Humans healing humans’—that’s what describes a therapist. An online therapist is the one who provides online therapy via chat, call, or video session. One shares his most vulnerable side with the therapist. So, the person who hears your life stories and plays a crucial role in your healing journey must be chosen carefully. Below I have shared a few tips or characteristics that would help you choose the best online therapist for you.
Qualifications
Not every person who is empathetic or listens to you can be a therapist. A licensed professional is required when dealing with mental health issues. So, this is the first and non-negotiable thing to check while finding an online therapist services for you. A licensed professional has in-depth and required knowledge to help you cope with your condition. Also, it ensures you are choosing safe ears for yourself. Like cardiologists deal with heart problems and gastroenterologists with gut issues, therapists also have experience dealing with different disorders. You should choose according to your requirement or health issue, like chronic stress and depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, phobias, relationship issues, etc. To find qualified professionals, you should always check on trusted online therapy platforms only, like BetterHelp, ReGain, TalkSpace, and others.
Flexibility
Flexibility is one big advantage of choosing online therapy services. Your therapist must be flexible in timings according to your preferences and schedule appointments accordingly. Also, your therapist must be flexible to provide sessions via call, text, or video call, according to what best suits you and allows you to express and open up freely. Your work timings and important meetings or events must be taken into consideration while scheduling sessions for you. The one who respects your preferences also builds your trust and proves online therapy a better choice for you.
Focus and Attention
In-person therapy provides a distraction-free environment and focused attention from your therapist at his office, but it can be hindered in online therapy. Your therapist might be in traffic or, at any event, with family or friends during your session, which causes a communication gap and missed clues. Ensure that during the online therapy session, your therapist is in a distraction-free environment and attentively listens to you. A good therapist
can discover clues to your behavior and thoughts from every word or sentence you speak. Also, if your therapist listens to you with focus, he can recall most of the information from previous sessions, and you won’t need to repeat yourself.
Qualities
Having the required qualifications for treating a particular issue alone doesn’t make a therapist the best one for you. A good therapist must possess qualities like open-mindedness, empathy, and good listening and communication skills. Open-Mindedness—Your therapist must be open to different opinions, perspectives, and human behaviors. He must not impose his opinion or perspective on you. Empathy—Your therapist must feel the depth of your emotions and feelings and consider them valid. Good listening and communication skills—a good therapist is always a good listener. He listens to you actively and patiently without interruption. He must know how to ask the right questions and communicate himself in simple language. It helps in extracting the right information and builds trust.
Professionalism
Therapists are the people with whom one shares his fears, past trauma, and personal information. The therapist creates a safe space for sharing everything, but keeping it as only a therapeutic relationship is important. A good therapist keeps professionalism and also respects your boundaries. He should not be involved in your personal time and space. Online therapy services must be provided on their own platform and not connect on social media apps like WhatsApp and Instagram for therapy. It maintains boundaries and also ensures privacy and confidentiality.
Self-Reliance
A good therapist is one who makes you self-reliant and not the one who makes you dependent on him. It is a merit as well as a demerit that via online therapy it is possible to reach out to a therapist anytime. Being available for your client all the time can lead to over-dependency. It is a false coping strategy a client may develop. A good therapist teaches you techniques like mindfulness, emotion regulation, and activity scheduling and helps develop better coping strategies. With time, by incorporating these techniques, you may no longer need a therapist.
Language
Language is the tool that helps us connect with our therapist. But not knowing the same languages creates a barrier between a therapist and client. Online therapy services are provided in various languages according to the origin of the online therapy platform or therapist; hence, choosing a therapist who can understand and speak the languages you know is a very important factor to check while searching for an online therapist.
Hence, the best therapist is the one who is eligible, provides flexibility in appointments, listens and understands you, communicates effectively, and helps you in your healing journey the way that works for you.
These are some popular online therapy platforms providing online therapy services from licensed and experienced professionals: BetterHelp, TalkSpace, Amwell, and ReGain.
