Online therapy is far from a new concept of counseling, yet so many people are still extremely hesitant to give it a go. Up until August 2020, I was one of these people, too. Now, I am an avid supporter of it.
Why did I choose to do online therapy?
Living in the UAE, health insurance does not usually cover mental health, which is a whole topic on its own that needs to be addressed. Hence, it can get extremely expensive. Sessions can run up to 600 AED per one hour and you will need at least four to get a proper evaluation.
That being said, if you are in need of a diagnosis, which is even more intense therapy, or even medication, then it is worth going to a therapist in real life and not stick to online.
Accessibility is also a major issue since options may be very limited depending on where you live. You may find yourself speaking to a therapist that you are not entirely comfortable with. It is also easier to stay anonymous if it is a case where you are living with family or people who you do not want to find out about your therapy sessions.
My First-Time Experience
For my first time, I used a mental health counseling application that was recommended to me by friends who have previously had positive experiences with it.
First and foremost, you have to fill out a long form that will determine whether you are fit for online therapy or not as well as provide the counselor that you are allocated with an idea of what you may be going through. You also have the option to give preferences to what race, sexuality, gender, and age group that you are most comfortable with for your counselor.
After the application matched me with a certain therapist, I was able to schedule a video call shortly after and talk to them for the first time.
My first session was a bit of a shock if I am being honest. I had to schedule the call really late during a workday due to time differences between Dubai and the United States, but I got used to that later on.
The therapist was really nice and friendly, but I did feel as if they were focusing more on COVID-related mental health side effects rather than what was really going on with me and it did not make me comfortable after the session. I called my sister directly after and was panicking that maybe therapy would not help but she recommended that I immediately click the option to switch therapists on the application and find someone better in the early stages. So, I did that exactly.
The next therapist was so much easier to talk to and I felt like she understood exactly what I was going through, and I continued to talk to her once a week for about 3 months after. She gave me plenty of advice and coping mechanisms on learning how to be okay with living alone, dealing with anxiety, etc.
It was one of the best decisions I have made to help myself deal with my mental health at that point of my life and when I felt like I was strong enough to continue on after, I ended the sessions.
Tips for Your First Time
- Do not go in with any expectations. You will not be able to solve all of your mental health issues from childhood to adulthood in 3-4 sessions. The idea is to learn how to cope with the stressful areas in your life today and grow to become stronger moving forward.
- It is all about trial and error. You may not like the therapist in your first session, and you may not even like the second or third one after. Keep trying with new ones until you find someone you are comfortable enough talking to and, eventually, you will get into a better rhythm.
- Be honest when you first sign up. It is extremely important to point out any signs in the beginning that may reject you from doing online therapy and refer you to seeing one in real life. If you think that you are in need of a diagnosis or medication of any sort, please seek out a mental health professional in your local area instead if possible and do not downplay your symptoms.
- You have made it this far – be proud of yourself. The fact that you might even be considering any form of therapy at all is a huge step towards improving your mental health and that is something to be proud of. You do not have to be stuck in the situation you are going through now forever. There are services around you that are here to help you cope.
In my personal opinion and first-hand experience, I would recommend online therapy to anyone that may be considering trying it. It is not for everyone, but it worked for me and it is worth giving it a go.
Spending money and time on your mental health is just as important as anything else, especially if you are a young adult because times can be very stressful and having the option to talk to someone about it provides a little relief to help you keep moving forward.