Is Virtual Therapy as Effective as In-Person Therapy? A Dallas Therapist’s Honest Take
Many people ask whether virtual anger management and therapy can really be effective compared to in-person sessions. I get it. When I first started my own therapy journey, I did not want to do virtual therapy. I said there’s no way I’m going to be able to actually relate to somebody, or get better, by talking to someone over a screen. I was experiencing Zoom fatigue like everyone else, and it became too much after a while.
But after years of providing both virtual and in-person counseling in Dallas, TX, I’ve learned something surprising: my caseload keeps growing with virtual treatment. Here are four key takeaways from being a therapist who provides both.
1. Virtual therapy is effective if you believe it can be
The reality is that your mindset is critical in therapy. There is not one way to do therapy more effectively. Sometimes it’s easier for you to connect with somebody in person, and sometimes it’s easier over a screen. But effectiveness depends heavily on how much you believe it can actually help you. If you go into a session saying there’s no way this is going to be beneficial, then it probably won’t be.
2. Virtual therapy requires a different level of commitment and focus
At the end of the day, people are not as good at multitasking as they think. If you are constantly getting dinged by your cell phone or interrupted, you’re likely to struggle, and the quality of your sessions is going to be dictated by how much you actually invest in the process. In other words, if you’re distracted during therapy, it’s not going to be helpful.
I have a personal rule that clients can’t be driving, playing video games, or doing other things during a session, because the goal is for you to be completely present. Leave your phone in another room, or put it on Do Not Disturb if you’re using it to host your sessions.
3. Know yourself—and know when to come in
People will say, “I want to do virtual therapy because it’s more convenient,” or “I’m always in the house anyway, so it’s just easier.” But the goal of therapy is not for it to be easy. The goal is for it to be effective.
Sometimes I’ll see a client virtually, and after some time I’ll ask them to come in for sessions. I know it can be inconvenient, but it’s important that you’re able to separate yourself from the work in your everyday life. If you don’t leave the house much, or you feel constantly cooped up at home, I’m going to ask you to come in because I want you to get the most out of therapy. Sometimes going to therapy is the most you’ll do that week, and that matters.
4. Virtual therapy gets results
A lot of people say virtual therapy can’t be effective, but there’s just no evidence for that. My own caseload is a sample size. I’ve had quite a few clients who have consistently met with me virtually. We play games, we have good conversations, we do family sessions, and we joke a lot—all through the screen.
While some teenagers and some adults really struggle to make it work, most people I’ve seen have found real benefit in doing sessions this way. Therapy depends on the person; it’s not one-size-fits-all. If virtual therapy works better for you, and you believe it can actually help you, it’s worth giving it a try.
In-person and virtual therapy in Dallas, TX
Bold Steps Therapy offers in-person sessions at our Dallas office near Love Field and virtual sessions on a HIPAA-compliant, secure platform for Texas and Colorado residents. We also provide virtual anger management classes, virtual life skills classes, and couples and family therapy.
Whichever format works best for you, we’d be happy to help. Book a therapy consultation to get started.