The Unexpected Upsides of Virtual Therapy

On March 13, 2020, I wrapped up my last session of the day and locked the door of my office behind me. I had no way of knowing that it would be the last time I’d lock that door. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, I, like so many other therapists, had to adapt quickly.

The realization that it was no longer safe or advisable to meet clients face-to-face brought on real fear about the future of my practice. Would my clients be willing to make the transition from in-person to virtual therapy? Would I be able to deliver the same quality of care in a virtual setting? Would my clients suffer as a result of this unexpected change? Clients, of course, shared their own worries. Would therapy feel the same through a screen? Would it set back the progress that had been made in the office? Would it even be possible to make space for a session with everyone stuck at home together?

Inevitably, a lot of things did change, and a lot of adjustments had to be made. Simultaneously, my clients and I found ourselves figuring out how to get familiar with a whole new platform, how to find privacy and Wi-Fi in our respective locations, and how to acclimate to the experience of connecting through a screen and seeing one another from the chest up only. The first few weeks, especially, were a period of adjustment that we made our way through together. With the pandemic in the backdrop, we were all navigating a lot of uncertainty, figuring out that adapting was the only way forward.

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, I began to recognize that virtual therapy is much more viable than I could have imagined. In fact, aspects of it appear to be even more advantageous than in-person work. After successfully conducting hundreds of virtual sessions and watching the pandemic drag on, I decided to make the transition to virtual a more permanent one for my practice.

At first, I faced a new set of fears about the decision to ditch my office. Feeling both eager and nervous to hear what they’d say, I asked existing clients what they thought about the change. To my astonishment, almost all told me they had no desire to go back to an office setting. The rest, only a handful, told me they didn’t have a preference and were fine with staying virtual.

Here’s what I’ve learned, through the feedback from my clients, about the upsides of virtual therapy:

• You can connect from the comfort of your home, without having to fight traffic or figure out parking.
• You can control your own environment, from where and how you sit to what temperature you set the thermostat.
• You can utilize your surroundings to create a deeper and more meaningful therapeutic experience, such as by lighting candles, moving around, cuddling a pet, breathing fresh air, or drinking your favorite soothing tea.
• You can manage the amount of intimacy you allow in the therapeutic encounter.
• .You can learn to process emotions and work through difficulties within your own environment, rather than saving it for your therapist’s office.
• You can use the time you’d normally spend rushing home or back to work after your appointment to meditate, journal, or reflect on your session.

To be sure, there are some disadvantages. There are occasional technical difficulties. There are times when it’s challenging to find a private place to connect. There are some nonverbal forms of communication, like body language and proxemic shifts, that don’t come across quite as easily. For some, these drawbacks outweigh the benefits. For them, the switch to virtual therapy will likely be seen as a temporary measure that served its purpose but can never replace the face-to-face experience. Fortunately, those who prefer in-person therapy have the chance to resume therapy in that format, as many therapists have gone back to their offices or are preparing to do so. As for those who see value in the upsides of connecting virtually, they’ll be pleased to know that the new normal imposed by the pandemic isn’t going anywhere.

To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.