What Are the Benefits of Online Therapy in Toronto?
Now more than ever before, life is taking place online. You take classes, attend work meetings, and visit friends from the comfort of your home.
But how do things like therapy fit into the virtual world? Does online therapy even work?
Here at KMA, our team of therapists supports people both online and in-person. We’re here to help you learn more about online therapy and decide whether it might be a great fit for you.
To help answer all your questions, we’ll cover:
- What are the advantages of getting online therapy in Toronto?
- What are some considerations of online therapy in general?
- Is it possible to see a therapist both online and in-person?
After reading this article, you’ll have all the information you need to decide whether online therapy will work for you.
What are the Advantages of Online Therapy in Toronto?
Getting online therapy has many advantages, especially when living in a busy city like Toronto.
1. No commute
Online therapy, even if you’re seeing a local professional, is remote - so you won’t need to leave the comfort and safety of your home. No need to fight traffic or pay huge bucks for parking.
This is a huge advantage if you’re a busy person (or you just don't want to have to treck through the TTC during the colder months in the city.)
2. Easier to maintain consistency
Since you can hop into a session from anywhere (provided that it’s quiet and confidential), maintaining weekly sessions isn’t as much of a challenge.
Maintaining consistency in attendance can hugely impact your therapy outcomes and help you see results faster. If you know you can't regularly make it to a therapist's office, seeing an online therapist can be way more effective for you.
3. Better access to the right fit
Since you won’t necessarily be limited to finding a therapy practice in your close geographical neighbourhood.
While Toronto has many fantastic in-person therapy practices, if you're looking for a specialized form of therapy, you might have to wait longer to see who you want.
If you live in Ontario you can receive online therapy from any professional licensed in Ontario, which opens up the possibilities to finding the right practice that actually suits your needs.
4. Insurance
As long as you’re seeing an online therapist who’s located and licensed in the province of Ontario, you’ll typically be able to claim the sessions under your insurance plan.
It's always important to check if your insurance covers the services of the mental health professional you’re seeing, but there's typically no restrictions for online vs in-person therapy services.
What to Consider When Deciding if Online Therapy is Right for You
After learning about the benefits of online therapy, you might be curious about how to decide if it's right for you - and these five factors can help.
1. Privacy and space
You’ll need to have a safe, secure spot where you can talk candidly with no interruptions.
Many people in Toronto live in apartments, live with roommates, or live with their families. If you live with other people, are there times in the week when you’re alone in your home? Can you find somewhere that you can speak without being overheard?
Consider whether you have a comfortable and private space available for your online therapy sessions - if not, you might prefer to see a therapist in their office.
2. Internet connection
Having access to wifi and a fast connection is imperative to prevent technical issues and drop-offs.
Therapy can be a vulnerable experience to begin with, so ensuring your therapist doesn’t freeze or unexpectedly cut out during the session can help it feel more safe.
If your internet isn't reliable or your Zoom calls constantly drop, online therapy may not be the right fit.
3. Cost
Online therapy in Toronto and Ontario will be roughly the same cost as in-person therapy.
If you’re just seeking online therapy for economical reasons, you might not find that much of a benefit.
To learn more about low-cost therapy options and alternatives, including Toronto-specific mental health resources, read What Should I Do if I Can't Afford Therapy?
4. Your specific reasons for attending therapy
What exactly brings you to therapy and what are you hoping to achieve?
While virtual therapy can be just as effective as in person therapy, it does depend on the issue you’re facing.
Online therapy is often best suited for life issues, relationship issues, low-level anxiety and depression.
If you’re experiencing a crisis situation or psychosis, in-person therapy is often the better choice.
Can I see a Therapist Both Online and In-Person?
Definitely!
You might want to see a therapist online most of the time, but occasionally want in-person check-in sessions. You might usually see a therapist in-person, but want to do an online session from your cottage in the summer.
These are effective and possible combinations, and it all depends on what works best for you.
The most important thing is that you’re getting the help you need. But having the benefit of both in-person sessions and online sessions can be a great hybrid option to help you maintain consistency and have great success in treatment.
Many therapists and therapy clinics offer a mix of online and in-person sessions, but there are some clinics that are exclusively in-person or exclusively virtual. If a hybrid approach is important to you, make sure to clarify before beginning therapy.
Next Steps for Starting Online Therapy in Toronto
After reading this article, you now have an understanding of the benefits of seeing an online therapist in Toronto, things to consider when exploring online therapy options, and an understanding of how in-person and online therapy can go hand-in-hand.
Our experienced team of therapists at KMA is here to help you get started with therapy. Whether you want to connect virtually or in-person, we’re here to support you.
Learn more information by filling out the registration form below, or by contacting our team directly.
If you’re not yet ready to book a session, you can check out these resources to keep learning:
- What to Know Before Your First Online Therapy Appointment
- In-Person Therapy vs. Therapy App: Which is Right for Me
- Online Therapy: The Pros and Cons
About the Author
Kimberly is the founder of KMA Therapy and one of Canada's most experienced media relationship experts. She received her doctoral degree in Counselling Psychology in 2015 at Middlesex University, where her doctoral research studied the emotional psychology of entrepreneurs. She also has a Masters Degree in Music Therapy from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Guelph.
