In-Person vs. Online Therapy in Wakefield: Which Option Fits Your Life Best?
Finding the right Wakefield therapist can be easy!
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, online therapy sessions were few and far between - generally not covered by insurance and rarely considered by clinicians. When the pandemic hit, however, online visits became a necessity and have evolved tremendously since.
Along with many colleagues, I was skeptical and concerned that remote therapy would be prohibitively impersonal and less effective - and sheesh, we were so wrong! While I can’t say that phone-only therapy was optimal as the sole method for everyone, telehealth has proven to have many benefits. At the same time, in-person therapy is still holding its ground as an excellent way to meet. Research also shows that both formats are effective (and I was fortunate to contribute to an early study on this with colleagues at Mass General in 2020!).
I truly feel that both online and in-person therapy have their place, depending on the individual and the circumstances, which is why I offer both in my practice. Keep reading to explore what to consider when choosing between online versus in-person therapy.
The Benefits of In-Person Therapy in Wakefield
Being physically present with a therapist can increase a sense of connection and improve a sense of focus during sessions. When I meet with people in-person, I love that I can get more feedback from body language than I might be able to online, such as a subtle foot tap that happens on stressful topics. It can also be a bit easier to do relaxation and grounding skills together in a shared physical space.
You get the option to pick up on your therapist’s body language and simply feel the greater sense of awareness of one another that being in-person allows.
Many people enjoy the sense of in-person therapy as a distinct event in the day - taking the time to come to the office, reflect a bit prior to a session and using the time after leaving the session to consolidate and reflect on the session’s topics before moving on to the next activity of the day. Some people even enjoy a few minutes in the waiting room to simply feel like they have a moment to catch a breath during the day.
I love that my office is very close to Lake Quanapowitt in Wakefield, as I will take quick breaks to walk up to the lake and back to get a little refresh and fresh air when needed. I love for clients to do the same - take a little time after sessions to walk the lake and reflect on what we discussed in session before heading out for whatever they have planned after therapy.
Why Online Therapy Might Be the Right Fit for Your Lifestyle
Sometimes, there simply aren’t enough minutes in the day for therapy once the commute is factored in, even if the office is nearby. Yet if you can carve out 45-50 minutes for a session, my goodness, I want you to benefit from it! You deserve therapy however you can access it.
Online therapy is an incredibly helpful way to support people with tight schedules. You can do therapy during a lunch break, after work to allow traffic to subside before you commute home or between classes. The convenience factor is hard to beat and may be the only way to make therapy accessible.
Many people also find the physical separation of online therapy much easier emotionally than the intensity of being in person. Having the distance actually helps many individuals find it easier to be more open, honest and raw with their emotions which can deepen the experience of therapy and help progress happen more quickly. Others simply feel more comfortable at home or feeling like they are in a very secure bubble in their car (parked, of course, for safety!). If that is you, then online therapy may be a great fit!
Online therapy also has the tremendous option of allowing for more continuity and less disruption. You can see your therapist throughout the state in which they are licensed, which can be incredibly helpful if you are on the move, have a variable schedule or simply live prohibitively far away from a therapist you want to see. It is also really great if you are on vacation or a work trip elsewhere in a state in which I am licensed and want to meet while you are travelling.
I am licensed in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont which has also been great for college students whose “home” is in Massachusetts but who attend college in Connecticut or Vermont. Before telehealth, when students went away to college, we had to end therapy. Now, if they go to college in a state in which I am licensed and want to continue, we can do so!
Comparing In-Person and Online Therapy: What to Expect
The flow of therapy itself is generally the same regardless of whether online or in-person - at least with me! We will address the same goals, explore ideas, develop plans and teach skills. The work itself is very consistent across each format.
The only difference with online therapy is that I always need to verify your location when we start. Your insurance plan may require this, and I need to know that you are in a state in which I am licensed. Most importantly though, I want to know where you are in the rare case of an emergency! As therapists, we learned the hard way at the start of telehealth that we had a luxury of being able to get immediate help to anyone if they became suddenly ill for any reason during a session, such as fainting or so many other incidents. If we are online and I don’t know where you are, however, I can’t get you help! So I always like to know exactly where you are, just in case of emergency.
If meeting online, here are some tips I send to people before we meet, to make the most out of online therapy:
Please try to find a space that is private so you feel comfortable to speak freely
Please do your best to be in a quiet environment so background noise does not interfere with us being able to hear each other
Please be seated for the session (not laying down). If you are going to be in a car or outside in order to have privacy, please do not drive or walk during the session
Please position your camera so that I can see your facial expressions as these are a helpful way to connect during the session.
If you are using a small device like a tablet or cell phone, please prop it on something stable during the session rather than holding it in your hand
Consider having some water available to use to take a break. Talking about stressful things can cause dry mouth which is normal but can be uncomfortable
Consider having something to hold and fidget with during the session. Keeping hands busy can have a calming effect emotionally. If you have a pet, pets can be helpful with this!
Feel free to use the chat function during any session if there is something that is more comfortable to write than to say out loud.
What Does a Therapist Prefer or Recommend?
I truly, deeply hope that any therapist only offers what they believe to be most effective for themselves and their clients. I personally find online and in-person therapy to both be highly effective for the people who meet with me, which is why I am committed to offering both modalities in my practice.
When all other individual factors that support someone’s comfort and progress are equal, here are some things that I personally love about each modality:
Online therapy:
I love getting to see a glimpse of everyone’s real life. Early in my career I did home visits and I loved how much of a window this gave into someone’s life. So getting to (virtually) meet pets, see the view outside of someone’s window or celebrate any physical changes in someone’s environment directly can be really fun.
In-person therapy:
It sounds silly, but I always find it amusing to learn how tall someone is! I am apparently a terrine judge of height over video, so I am always amused getting to see what someone’s height actually is in person!
More importantly, I simply enjoy the feeling of being in the room together. I like to see subtle changes in breathing, gaze and simply feeling more connected. Selfishly, I also like the break of getting away from the computer screen and getting to move my body a bit more and reposition more freely.
Choosing a Therapist in Wakefield Who Offers Both Options
I think it is great if you can find a therapist who offers both options, so you can avail yourself of each format as needed through your time in therapy. Many people I work with switch between the two formats depending on different life circumstances. For example, I could see someone in-person who really prefers that format, but who then becomes pregnant during therapy and really prefers to nest at home the final weeks of pregnancy and into the transition to caring for a newborn. Then, she might resume in-person once feeling able in order to have the benefit of connecting with someone else and being away from home during an otherwise isolating time. Someone else might meet remotely while they are at school, yet in-person when in town on breaks. Or simply meet in-person but switch to online on busy days or if feeling a bit under the weather. And certainly switch to online with car trouble or train delays!
You will likely find that one format or another suits you better, or that you prefer to have the format suit your life, any option is okay! It is great to have options though, so this is a great factor to keep in mind when planning to start therapy.
A free consultation with a therapist in Wakefield
Looking for a therapist in Wakefield who offers both in-person and online therapy? Whether you're craving connection or convenience—or still figuring that out—I’m here to help. Let's chat in a free consultation to explore what fits your life best. With the flexibility of in-person and online therapy, we can find a space for therapy in your lifestyle and schedule.