Mental health therapy and counseling can be offered online or in person.

By Kathleen Walder, Monster Contributor

Talk therapy can be truly lifesaving for people who need help treating mental health issues, dealing with big life changes, or replacing maladaptive behavior patterns. But it can also be difficult for some people to access. Online therapy is a convenient alternative to traditional, in-person therapy for those who live in rural areas, are home bound, or want to avoid a long commute to a therapist’s office. And according to the American Psychological Association (APA), teletherapy isn’t going away.

Interested in learning how to become an online therapist? Whether you’re studying to become a therapist or you’ve been in practice for years, here’s what you need to know about providing virtual therapy.

What Is Online Therapy?

The APA has set guidelines for what it calls telepsychology. Providing counseling or therapy sessions virtually is also known as:

• Online Therapy
• Distance Therapy
• Teletherapy
• Web Therapy
• E-Therapy
• E-Counseling
• Therapy E-Visits
• Virtual Therapy

Regardless of the name, online therapy is traditional “talk therapy” that takes place remotely rather than during an in-person office visit. Therapists and clients can communicate using several methods—private message boards, live chat, texting, calls, and video conferencing.

But you can’t become an online therapist just by picking up the phone to talk to your clients. Learning how to become an online therapist includes using specialized software that keeps your therapist-client conversations and client records safe and compliant with HIPAA privacy rules.

What Does an Online Therapist Do?

An online therapist’s job is almost identical to a traditional therapist’s. In an initial visit, the therapist talks with the client and sometimes administers tests to assess mental health disorders. They also pinpoint sources of trouble with specific challenges like relationship and marital issues. After the assessment, the therapist provides advice, strategies, and a safe space for the client to talk to help them cope with their situation.

Studies and clinical trials have shown that online therapy is just as effective as face-to-face sessions for depression and anxiety, and online sessions have more long-term efficacy. In post-therapy follow-up, participants who received online therapy experienced a continued reduction in depression symptoms three months after treatment. The face-to-face participants’ symptoms increased significantly three months after their last session.

For the therapist, flexibility is the overriding advantage of offering online therapy, with benefits that include:

• the ability to provide online therapy part-time to supplement your income or move your practice to 100% online.
• working from anywhere during any hours you’d like.
• having little to no overhead.
• increasing the number of clients you see since online therapists spend about 10% less time with clients.

Who Can Provide Online Therapy?

According to the APA, “therapist” is an umbrella term that encompasses psychologists, therapists, and counselors. Anyone who carries a state-approved license as a counselor, therapist, or psychologist can set up shop and learn how to become an online therapist. This includes:

• Clinical Social Workers: LCSW, LICSW, LISW
• Marriage & Family Therapists: LMFT, CMFT, LIMFT
• Mental Health Counselors: LMHC, LCMHC, LMHP, LPMHC
• Professional Counselors: LPC, LPCC, LCPC
• Psychologists: PhD

There are a few restrictions for online therapists to keep in mind. The therapist and client must both be located in the state in which the therapist is licensed. Most therapy networks do not support substance abuse therapists, registered nurses, career therapists, Christian therapists, or business/life coaches unless they have additional licenses for mental health therapy.

How to Become an Online Therapist

The education and experience to become a therapist varies depending on your title.

How to Become a Therapist

All therapists need to have a bachelor’s degree in any field relevant to therapy, such as psychology, education, sociology, or social work. You then need to enter a master’s program in the area of therapy you wish to provide such as social work, child psychology, counseling, marriage and family therapy, or psychology. Part of your master’s program will include an average of 2,000 supervised clinical hours as an intern—the exact number varies by state.

https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/how-to-become-an-online-therapist