It’s no secret that online therapy has proliferated in the U.S. over the last few years. The COVID shutdowns - paired with the mental health challenges that COVID manifested – brought online therapy to the forefront.
CBT has been dramatically growing in popularity as well. We have multiple blog posts that speak to just why that is.
But can CBT be effectively utilized in an online setting? The answer sure looks like a resounding YES!
First, let’s back that statement up a bit…
According to an often-referenced journal article, “Findings showed that ICBT is effective in the treatment and management of various psychiatric disorders such as depression, GAD and social anxiety, panic disorders, phobias, addiction and substance use disorders, adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, and OCD.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5659300/
Not only is ICBT effective (ICBT is just short for Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), but it is believed to be as effective as face-to-face CBT for the treatment of many conditions:
“Internet-delivered CBT (called iCBT) has been shown to successfully address depression (Clarke et al., 2005; Cuijpers et al., 2010; Melling & Houguet-Pincham, 2011), anxiety problems (Dryman et al., 2017; Jakobsen et al., 2017; Nordgren et al., 2014), and social anxiety (Kampmann et al., 2016; Klein et al., 2010).” https://societyforpsychotherapy.org/effectiveness-for-online-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-versus-outpatient-treatment/
In addition to just being effective, online CBT therapy provides multiple unique benefits.
These benefits include:
Accessibility – the Web lets us easily overcome issues dealing with geography, mobility, and – to some degree – costs.
Convenience – online therapy allows us to receive therapy in the comfort of our own home. And the reduced travel times help us find openings in our busy schedules.
It’s important to note that accessibility and convenience can improve the consistency of our therapy sessions, which is critical for achieving positive outcomes with CBT.
Technology – Online platforms can be particularly helpful for delivering specific components of CBT. These include psychoeducation, goal setting, and skill-building exercises. Multimedia resources, interactive tools, and structured learning modules all become options when we participate in online CBT.
Online therapy isn’t for absolutely everyone. Some individuals will prefer face-to-face interactions or may have difficulty establishing rapport with a therapist through virtual means. Some of us just aren’t ‘tech savvy’. And technical issues and privacy concerns at home can also impact the therapeutic process.
So, what have we learned?
Online CBT is proving to be very effective. And receiving CBT online brings its own set of unique benefits.
Reach out today to determine whether traditional face-to-face CBT, online CBT, or some hybrid model makes the most sense for your life.
Sala Psychology is based in Greenwich, Connecticut. Specialties include anxiety disorders, depression, and behavioral weight loss issues.
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