It might sound a little self-promoting for a psychologist to say, “I think everyone can benefit from therapy.” Yet I truly believe this.
Clients connect with me for a variety of reasons, but the majority are looking for help with something specific – typically something that is bothering them or making them feel ‘stuck’ in some important aspect of life here and now. It could be anything: a parenting issue, an emotional issue, high levels of stress, issues relating to body image or maybe the behavioural aspects of lifestyle change. In sum, there are a wide variety of issues for which people seek help from therapists.
I mention this because I also find there is a common perception that psychologists are people who treat mental health disorders. While there is truth to that, it is far from true that everyone who sees a psychologist has a diagnosable mental health condition. Psychologists are trained to help all people who are seeking help with various problems in human functioning. There is no shame in seeking outside help if you feel stuck.
But Why do Therapy Sessions Online?
The College of Alberta Psychologists refers to video sessions as a form of ‘Telepsychology.’ I always provide my clients with a list of potential risks when using Telepsychology services, but there are also many potential benefits.
For the first several years of my career as a therapist, I always saw clients face-to-face. When I started at Revive Wellness and was asked to see clients virtually, I wondered if there would be any issues un-encountered before. That said, I have been pleasantly surprised at how well online sessions seem to go!
Here are just a few of the benefits I have noticed for my clients:
- Clients find sessions easier to attend from home or from work. Online sessions are less disruptive to their daily and weekly routines.
- Clients seem more comfortable when speaking with me from the comfort of their own homes.
- You get to see your therapist in their own home setting. Seeing a piece of your therapist’s world can help offset any feeling that only your life and world are being exposed in therapy.
- The secure digital program used for video sessions can perform many other functions such as communication between sessions, sharing session notes and other documents, billing, booking, etc.
Faye Gosnell, M.C., R Psych
Revive Wellness |My Viva Plan
