I am trying to recall the number of therapists I have had over the years, and I am having a hard time with my memory; I can only think of four. I have had therapists who specialize in Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Dialectal Behavioral therapy, and talk therapy. I have benefited from each of them at different times in my life. Over the last six months I have tried online therapy, and after three attempts to find a therapist that I would mesh well with, I found one I am very happy with and I look forward to our weekly sessions.

I chose to use betterhelp.com, and honestly I didn’t do any extensive research, I just came across it on facebook and thought I’d give it a try. They have options for doing sessions with video, phone and chat, and I chose chat because I benefit a lot from the written word. Ideas cement in my mind more readily when I can read them, and I feel safe communicating that way. I feel free to explore my most personal concerns with my new therapist; she is encouraging and supportive.

You begin selecting your therapist through a series of questions that range from what type of therapy you’d like to try to the gender and age you’d prefer your therapist to be. After answering a series of questions they offer up a selection of therapists. You can read about them and their philosophy about treatment, and the type of treatment they offer. The process to set up an appointment is very user friendly, and you can select ways to be reminded of your appointment, I selected both text and email reminders and they will send them out as frequently as you request; I get reminders the day before, the day of and minutes before the session starts.

I do not know that insurance will cover online therapists. I have budgeted to pay for my therapy sessions as I think they are so crucial to my mental health and the convenience of doing it online is what keeps me going on a regular basis. The sessions range from $60 – $90 a session; I understand that I am fortunate to be able to afford this service. I simply cannot take the time off from work to go to a therapist in person on a regular basis. I sacrifice in other areas in order to be able to afford this service. It keeps me centered, balanced and stable. I don’t know that online therapy is for everyone, but I feel fortunate and blessed that it is an option for me. My current therapist specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, which I am familiar with and it seems to work quite well for me. The convenience, choice, and preference for communication make it ideal.

My current therapist is actually living in the same city that I live in! I did not know that at the time that I selected her. She is very encouraging and a good listener. I look forward to each of our sessions and I feel I can be very vulnerable with her and tell her what I am feeling and experiencing. She reminds me that I am safe in telling her my thoughts, and I appreciate hearing that. My wish for you, if you should try this is that you find a therapist as wonderful, compassionate and understanding as mine is.