Online Therapy:

In-person care might be a better option for you if… picking up on body language or other nonverbal cues is important for you when interacting with others. You are comfortable in and prefer an office setting. You like to set aside a separate time and place for therapy.

Remote care might be right for you if... you are nervous about meeting with someone in person and would feel more comfortable meeting with the provider in your location of choice. You have a busy schedule and need to save transportation time. You do not live close to care and do not have an easy way to travel to sessions.

Other things to consider:

— Online therapy can be supplemental to in-person therapy when in-person is the recommended treatment.

— Some forms of therapy are best in person, such as art therapy, expressive arts therapy, animal-assisted psychotherapy, etc.

Remote therapy should always ensure client confidentiality because they are receiving personal information. You should only use sites and apps that are HIPAA-compliant and you should be able to verify your therapist’s identity.

While the specifics vary within each site or app, you generally should be able to exchange secure messages/text, speak on the phone, and video conference with them.

While the specifics vary within each site or app, you generally should be able to exchange messages/text, speak on the phone, and video conference with them. We specify on each MiResource provider profile how they offer online therapy.

Studies have shown that there are no major differences in therapist-client interactions between online therapy and face-to-face therapy. However, the success of any therapeutic intervention is largely individualized and depends on the personal relationship between you and your therapist, regardless of whether it is online or in person.