People are increasingly turning to the internet to seek an online counselor to help them achieve higher happiness or address issues such as anxiety or depression. Online therapy platforms like eTherapi are becoming popular, empowering therapists and patients to work more easily together.
What is counseling?
Counseling is a professional relationship that applies psychotherapy or human development principles to empower individuals, families or groups to achieve higher wellness. Depending on the needs of the patient and the availability of services, counseling may range from a few limited interactions such as group lectures, workshop presentations, or help with retrieving instructional resources, to more interactions over an extended period of time.
Independently of the number and length of the interactions, online therapy software and internet platforms can be a valid medium to meet with our online counselor.
What is online therapy?
We define “online therapy” as any form of psychotherapy that uses an internet-based medium to facilitate simultaneous or asynchronous communication between a patient and a licensed psychologist or mental health counselor. Examples include communication with a licensed counselor using
Why are people increasingly choosing eTherapi?
We have compiled a short list of the top reasons cited by people who are choosing eTherapi to see an online counselor.
Reason #1: eTherapi has one of the largest networks of online therapists in the US.
Over 50,000 therapists have a public profile on eTherapi.com and can be searched based on a number of criteria including therapist location, specialty, qualifications and health insurance accepted.
Reason #2. It is much easier to communicate with a counselor online.
eTherapi makes it easier for individuals to communicate with an online counselor when personal circumstances would make accessing in-person therapy difficult. This includes people who live in remote areas, people with physical impairments or busy professionals.
Reason #3. It feels more private and safe.
Some people still don’t feel comfortable about heading to the therapist office: they may be trapped in abusive relationships, feel shame, or be shy. They are conscious of the risk of passing by somebody they know just as they’re about to walk through the door of their online counselor.
Social stigma often makes taking the first step to see a counselor quite hard and many individuals would rather meet the therapist at home over video conferencing or chat.
Reason #4. It can allow for more openness.
The physical distance between therapist and patient allowed by meeting an online counselor using eTherapi has also the advantage of increasing openness and easing the process. The disinhibiting effect of the physical distance allows the patient to more quickly become aware of and focus on the core issues going on within.
While therapist and client always have the chance to meet in person, the use of eTherapi adds to the repertoire of communication methodologies available to them.
The American Psychological Association states the following:
“Research shows that clients are more open and participate more when using online counseling. Clients may feel more comfortable with self-revelation when there is distance.”
Reason #5. eTherapi offers a secure (HIPAA compliant) way to communicate with a therapist.
In the United States, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) law sets several rules that establish guidelines for the implementation of health information technology and the interchange of protected health information in an electronic environment. These rules are the Privacy Rule, the Security Rule and the HITECH Act.
Among others, eTherapi complies with HIPAA by:
What is counseling?
Counseling is a professional relationship that applies psychotherapy or human development principles to empower individuals, families or groups to achieve higher wellness. Depending on the needs of the patient and the availability of services, counseling may range from a few limited interactions such as group lectures, workshop presentations, or help with retrieving instructional resources, to more interactions over an extended period of time.
Independently of the number and length of the interactions, online therapy software and internet platforms can be a valid medium to meet with our online counselor.
What is online therapy?
We define “online therapy” as any form of psychotherapy that uses an internet-based medium to facilitate simultaneous or asynchronous communication between a patient and a licensed psychologist or mental health counselor. Examples include communication with a licensed counselor using
- Real time text-based chatting
- Video conferencing technology
- Audio only technology
- Non real time text-based messaging, where the counselor responds to messages sent by patients as soon as possible, usually within a few hours
Why are people increasingly choosing eTherapi?
We have compiled a short list of the top reasons cited by people who are choosing eTherapi to see an online counselor.
Reason #1: eTherapi has one of the largest networks of online therapists in the US.
Over 50,000 therapists have a public profile on eTherapi.com and can be searched based on a number of criteria including therapist location, specialty, qualifications and health insurance accepted.
Reason #2. It is much easier to communicate with a counselor online.
eTherapi makes it easier for individuals to communicate with an online counselor when personal circumstances would make accessing in-person therapy difficult. This includes people who live in remote areas, people with physical impairments or busy professionals.
Reason #3. It feels more private and safe.
Some people still don’t feel comfortable about heading to the therapist office: they may be trapped in abusive relationships, feel shame, or be shy. They are conscious of the risk of passing by somebody they know just as they’re about to walk through the door of their online counselor.
Social stigma often makes taking the first step to see a counselor quite hard and many individuals would rather meet the therapist at home over video conferencing or chat.
Reason #4. It can allow for more openness.
The physical distance between therapist and patient allowed by meeting an online counselor using eTherapi has also the advantage of increasing openness and easing the process. The disinhibiting effect of the physical distance allows the patient to more quickly become aware of and focus on the core issues going on within.
While therapist and client always have the chance to meet in person, the use of eTherapi adds to the repertoire of communication methodologies available to them.
The American Psychological Association states the following:
“Research shows that clients are more open and participate more when using online counseling. Clients may feel more comfortable with self-revelation when there is distance.”
Reason #5. eTherapi offers a secure (HIPAA compliant) way to communicate with a therapist.
In the United States, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) law sets several rules that establish guidelines for the implementation of health information technology and the interchange of protected health information in an electronic environment. These rules are the Privacy Rule, the Security Rule and the HITECH Act.
Among others, eTherapi complies with HIPAA by:
- Making sure unauthorized third parties cannot record or listen a videoconferencing session
- Making sure that any health information is stored and identified in a secure and proper manner
- Having procedures in the case of information breaches,
- Entering into a Business Associate Agreement with the therapists who use eTherapi to store the Personal Health Information (PHI) of their clients