Concerned that online therapy might not work? Rest assured, we have the evidence.

With the restrictions brought about by coronavirus, many service providers are turning to online service delivery to protect the health and safety of their staff and customers alike. This includes psychologists and with the introduction in March 2020 of Medicare rebates for psychological therapy delivered via telehealth, online treatment has increased exponentially. But, some people might be concerned that this form of therapy isn’t as effective as seeing a psychologist in the flesh. Well, you can rest assured that psychologists have been researching this for over a decade. What has been found through this research is that psychological treatment delivered via the internet is just as effective as the same treatment delivered in-person.

Several studies have shown positive results for internet based treatment for panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder and mood disorders including depression (Andersson, 2009). When a meta-analysis was conducted in 2008 (a meta-analysis is when researchers combine the results of many different studies to be able to draw stronger conclusions), it was shown that internet delivered therapy was effective for a wide range of issues including headache, migraine, tinnitus, physical disabilities, breast cancer, insomnia, brain injury, chronic disease and chronic pain (Cujpers, P., van Straten, A. and Andersson, G., 2008).

Researchers have been saying for years that internet delivered therapies could be used more frequently because, not only do they work, they also provide a more convenient, cost-effective and wide-reaching approach to psychological treatment. Unfortunately, there has not been much uptake because of a perception that online therapy is not as effective. Perhaps one of the positive outcomes of this difficult situation we find ourselves in, will be a substantially increased use of online therapy, making everyone feel a little more comfortable with this approach.

If you would like help to feel better, HeadSmart Psychology provides psychological treatment via videoconference, phone or in-person. Please get in touch.

References

Andersson, G. (2009). Using the internet to provide cognitive behaviour therapy. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47, 175-180.

Cujpers, P., van Straten, A. and Andersson, G. (2008). Internet-administered cognitive behaviour therapy for health problems: a systematic review. Journal of Behavioural Medicine, 31. 169-177.