Online therapy has become a very popular alternative to conventional therapy, helping millions of people across the globe. Just take a look at the long list of online therapy companies at E-counseling.com. We counted over 20 services, and that’s in the U.S. alone. The reasons why it keeps growing are easy to spot. The convenience and constant availability of online counseling makes it a more viable option for people who had difficulty accessing traditional forms of therapy.

But, online counseling might not be for everyone. There are a number of people who may not be as responsive to the benefits of online therapy, and others may require conventional treatment to help them manage certain issues.

People With Severe Mental Health Issues

Online therapy can be great for helping people manage things like depression and anxiety. It can be fantastic for helping people work through marital or family issues. But not everyone should rely on online counseling.

People who struggle with serious mental health issues, such as schizophrenia, psychosis, or conditions which result in self-harm, will likely find more benefit in a traditional environment. Furthermore, getting traditional treatment will help to reduce the risk of hurting themselves or others.

Suicidal Individuals

While suicide hotlines and online counseling may be better than nothing, it’s important to note that people thinking about suicide shouldn’t seek out online counseling as their primary method of help. According to USA Today, online therapy did not “move the needle on reducing suicide.”



Seeing a traditional counselor or talking to a loved one will provide more benefit in this instance, and may be more useful than trying to explain your situation over video chat or a phone call, even if it is with a professional counselor.

People Unfamiliar With Technology

Online therapy has helped many people regardless of their familiarity with technology. However, people who are used to more traditional methods of communication may find video chat or text messaging to be a bit unnerving especially when dealing with important emotional issues.

People who prefer the nuances of face-to-face communication, the subtle cues and facial movements that can indicate emotion and speak beyond words, may find more benefit from speaking to a counselor in person.In Conclusion
Online therapy has been proven to be helpful for a large number of people, and there’s little doubt that it’s changing the way that people think about therapy. In fact, awareness about telepsychology has picked momentum too.

However, people with serious mental illnesses, suicidal people, and those who prefer face-to-face communication may not benefit the most from online therapy.