Online Anxiety Therapy in Illinois
Therapy from the Comfort of Home or Wherever You Are
Bring your dog (or other furry or feathered friend), pour a warm cup of your favorite tea, put on your cozy clothes, and settle in.
All you need is a private place where you won’t be interrupted, a good internet connection, and the willingness to show up as you are.
The Benefits of Online Therapy
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Ease & Convenience
Joining your scheduled session is as easy as clicking on a link from within your appointment reminder. Being in your own familiar surroundings helps to make counseling more accessible and gives you ready access to all the comforts of home.
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Health & Safety
During the annual flu season or in instances of high risk for infectious disease, online sessions protect you, your family, and your therapist from the unnecessary risks of in-person contact.
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Greater Access to Specialties
Provides increased access to a wider selection of therapists who specialize in your specific needs without requiring additional commute time or inconvenience. (Just be sure that your therapist is licensed in the state where you’ll be located for your sessions).
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Flexibility
Fitting sessions into a busy life is much easier when you don’t need to deal with childcare or travel to a physical office. Online counseling also makes it much more practical to schedule your session during a break in your work day or from a location away from home (so long as your therapist is licensed in the state where you’re located).
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Common Practice
Following the rapid transition to telehealth at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is now widespread acceptance of online therapy. Insurance companies are increasingly including telehealth as a regular part of their plans. If you plan to use insurance, be sure to verify your plan benefits and whether they cover telehealth with out-of-network providers.
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Saves Time, Money & Stress
When you no longer need to travel to a physical office, you spend less time driving, put fewer miles on your vehicle, spend less money on gas, and don’t have to rush through traffic. You arrive at your session calmer, less stressed, and more mentally and physically present for your therapy.
Online Therapy is as Effective as In-Person Sessions
While research continues to explore the benefits and challenges of online counseling, most studies to date support that online counseling is as effective as face-to-face counseling.
If you’re accustomed to in-person sessions, online counseling may require some adjustment on your part given the new format. It can take a few sessions to allow your brain to adapt to the new audio-visual elements. However, once you’re accustomed to it, you will likely be able to process your concerns and be present in your sessions just as well as when you’re with your therapist in person. For some people, telehealth actually allows them to work more deeply because they’re doing so from the comfort of their own physical environment.
Online counseling is a great way to access counseling in a convenient and accessible format, but it’s not for everyone.
Requirements for Online Counseling:
A private, quiet space where you can be sure you’re alone and won’t be interrupted during your session.
The use of earbuds or headphones will further assure your privacy.
Secure telehealth platform - I use the Simple Practice Telehealth Platform, which uses bank-level and is HIPAA-compliant and HITRUST certified. the most up-to-date technology to ensure the privacy and security of private health information.
A computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone with a webcam and microphone.
Secure and reliable internet with a private connection (not public Wi-Fi) that has download speeds of at least 10mps.
It won’t be appropriate if:
You don’t have access to a secure, reliable internet connection (although telephone sessions may still be an option).
You don’t have access to a safe, private place where you can be alone and uninterrupted for your session.
You are diagnosed with a serious psychiatric condition that requires a higher level of care, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or severe depression.
You’re struggling with significant alcohol or substance abuse.
You’re experiencing suicidal thoughts. (If you’re in immediate danger, call 911 or seek immediate care at your nearest emergency department, and follow up with a local in-person therapist).
Online Therapy Available Wherever You Are in Illinois
