FAQs
Q: What is Online Therapies?
A:Online Therapies is an online platform that improves the way people and therapists connect together. Online Therapies makes professional counselling easier to facilitate anytime, anywhere, through a computer, tablet or smartphone.
Q: Who will be helping me?
A:Different counsellors have different specialisations, skills, experiences and approaches, so it’s vital that through Online Therapies, you will find the right therapist who can achieve the best outcomes for you. When you call us, we will match you to an available counsellor who fits your objectives, preferences, and the type of issues you are dealing with.
Q: How do I know which kind of therapy I need?
A:The benefit of speaking with us is that we save you the trouble of speaking to countless therapists who will all sell themselves. By speaking with Online Therapies, you’re speaking with people who know the methods and approaches of multiple different therapists and will make that judgement for you. We use this approach because it is far more reliable at finding someone the ideal therapist and approach for them.
Q: Is Online Therapies right for me?
A:If you’re looking to improve the quality of your life and want to find the right person to speak with, Online Therapies may be the place to be. We can help you to find the right therapist who will enable you to transition past life’s challenges. You’ll be able to find counsellors who are specialized in specific problem areas, such as, anxiety, relationships, eating, sleeping, trauma, stress, parenting, depression, addictions, LGBT matters, grief, anger, family conflicts, religion, self-esteem and more.
Online Therapies is not the right place to call if any of the following is true:
- You have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness such as psychosis or if you have been advised to be in psychiatric care
- You have ideas of hurting yourself or others
- You are under the care of a legal guardian or are a minor
- You don’t have a device that can connect to the internet and/or you don’t have a reliable internet connection.
- You only want to undergo therapy because you were ordered to by court order
- You are in an emergency situation or crisis
Q: Can Online Therapies really be as good or better than traditional face to face therapy?
A:The professionals who work through Online Therapies are licensed and credentialed therapists who you would not otherwise gain access to had you opted for a face to face session. Usually, we’re limited by who we can see for help because of location. Now, through Online Therapies you’re able to benefit from the help of therapists from farther away, improving the quality of the person that you choose to speak with. Also, not having to travel or be in unfamiliar surroundings makes the process far less stressful However, while the service may have similar benefits, it’s not capable of substituting for traditional face-to-face therapy in every case. Please note that your provider won’t be able to make any official diagnosis, to fulfill any court order or prescribe medication.
Q: Why should I see a counsellor?
A:We all have our own individual reasons for wanting to see a professional. You may have years of this issue lingering or it could be relatively new. reasons for seeing a counsellor or coach might be going through a time of hardship in life and perhaps in need some solutions; feeling frustrated by negative cycles and old patterns of behaviour; seeing a professional will be an aspect of your own personal development and possibly the key that unlocks what you needed all along.
Q: How are counsellors verified?
A:Online Therapies makes sure that every professional that we allow on to the platform is fully licensed, certified, insured and in good standing. Your therapists are required to provide proper proofs for us to cross reference and ensure that clients receive the highly reputable service that we work to support. In addition to this, all of your therapists would have gone through a telephone and video interview, evaluated by a professional clinician. As a result of this process, not every therapist that we speak to works with Online Therapies as we endeavour to work only with those therapists who we believe will provide a high standard of care.
Q: SOUNDS INTERESTING! WHAT ARE SESSIONS LIKE AND WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT with my therapist?
A:First you will talk about what you’re looking to gain and agree on how to get there. If this is your first time in therapy, you’ll gain an understanding about exactly how the process works and your therapist will understand more about you. You’ll understand how your mind works, and how it is going to change for your benefit.
Q: DO YOU HELP TREAT TERMINAL OR CHRONIC ILLNESS?
A:Suffering from a serious illness like cancer can have a debilitating impact on people’s wellbeing. Although we cannot cure cancer, speaking with a counsellor can give you the physical and emotional wellbeing needed to support you through this difficult time.
Q: How do live video sessions work?
A:The video session with your counsellor where you see each other and talk with each other in a virtual face-to-face setting similar to Skype and Zoom will be conducted on a more secure platform called Telehealth. This is more secure because there is no option to record the session, unlike on Skype or Zoom.
To talk with your counsellor or coach via video, you will need to schedule a time with them at the beginning or end of each session to arrange for the following and log in to your counselling room at that time. This will be a link that you will find in your email and text confirmations. Click the link at the appropriate time and your counsellor will be notified that you’re waiting. Then they will prompt you to start the video session. After you confirm, you will immediately begin video chatting with your counsellor or coach.
Q: How do I pay?
A:There will be no need to remember to pay for each session individually as the total price (which includes our fees and those of the therapist) for sessions and other services will be collected within 48 hours of the appointment through Stripe. When we book your initial session through us, we’ll register your card details to make the rest of your process plain sailing.
Q: What is the role of Online Therapies?
A:The therapeutic service is provided by the independent professionals who work with you directly. These professionals are not employees of Online Therapies and the site doesn’t oversee them professionally. Our mission is to connect and support a platform that allows therapists to provide the best service they can while ensuring the people are matched most appropriately.
Q: How can I be sure that this form of counselling is effective?
A:There are many studies that confirm the effectiveness of the online medium for making life changes. For example, A recent study that was published by JMIR Publications and conducted by researchers from University of California – Berkeley, University of California – San Francisco, and the San Francisco General Hospital, concluded that “users” of Online Therapies experienced a significant reduction in the symptoms of depression after engaging with the platform. Our trust in the method comes from experience. People are finding that results are just as effective because as we know, the communication and conversation between you and your therapist is what really matters. Being able to do this from a safe, comfortable and familiar environment, and without the stress of travel will serve to enhance this experience.
Q: I’m not sure if therapy is right for me, what should I do?
A:The best way to get a sense about whether this journey is right for you would be to book an initial appointment with the most suitable therapist. It’s impossible to realise the benefit that you can receive from talking therapy before embarking on your journey. Therefore, we recommend to book one session at a time instead of paying for sessions in bulk. You are not bound to any further sessions after your first appointment. People often find their first experience to give them a clear line of sight for the future and what to expect from counselling and coaching in the future.