Is Virtual Therapy Effective? A Guide to Online Counselling Benefits

By Julie Broczkowski

Does Virtual Therapy Work as Well as In-Person Therapy?

If you’ve considered accessing counselling online, you may have asked yourself: Does virtual therapy work as well as in-person therapy?

History

While it might seem like virtual therapy only started during the pandemic, people have been practicing and studying counselling via computers almost since computers were invented. Even back in the 1970s, researchers found that counselling through a computer interface worked as well as face-to-face counselling. Now that using a screen for communication—whether on our computer or phone—is a typical part of daily life, doing therapy over the internet feels more comfortable than ever.

Comfort and Safety

We know that feeling comfortable and safe is an important part of progress in therapy, and doing therapy online may increase these feelings for clients.

Imagine attending an in-person counselling session, with all the surrounding tasks needed to make it happen: taking several hours off work, traveling through traffic and weather, finding parking, locating the therapist’s office, and sitting in a waiting room with strangers. Some people might feel exhausted and stressed before the session even begins. These small but significant hurdles can be even more of a barrier for people with mobility or health issues, or for those who rely on public transportation.

Now compare that with an online session—logging on moments before your appointment starts, from wherever you happen to be, and returning to work or play less than an hour later from the privacy of your home, car, or any quiet space. This scenario may feel much more accessible, safe, and comfortable for many. Consider someone with agoraphobia—the fear of open spaces. Attending counselling in a therapist’s office might feel impossible, but talking to someone about it online meets their needs and respects where they are in their process

Rural Accessibility

For people living in rural areas, online therapy offers greater flexibility in choosing a therapist, whether for reasons of privacy or the need for specialized support.

Privacy can be more of a concern in smaller communities. Accessing a virtual counsellor may feel more comfortable than parking your easily recognized vehicle in front of the local therapist’s office and wondering if anyone notices. Or consider the ethical complexity of a local teacher seeing one of their student’s parents as a counsellor. While therapists have a responsibility to manage these boundaries carefully, it can still interfere with a client’s comfort and sense of safety.

In rural areas, access to therapists who specialize in certain identities or approaches may be limited. Virtual therapy allows you to expand your search across your province—or even the country—to find someone whose lived experience or therapeutic style affirms your needs and identities. For many, that’s the difference between settling and thriving.

Virtual Therapy Works

Online counselling should not be viewed as a second-best option. Research has shown that it works just as well as in-person therapy. For many, it’s the difference between accessing healing—or not attending therapy at all.

When you don’t feel safe or affirmed, therapy is difficult, and progress is hard to make. Virtual therapy can increase your sense of accessibility, comfort, and safety—especially if you experience barriers to traditional in-person therapy, such as disability, queer identity, or living in a rural area.

As a therapist-in-training who is also queer and immune-compromised, virtual counselling allows me to learn and practice with the support I need, while working with clients who find comfort and affirmation in a queer therapist. It allows me to support others while protecting my own health by working from home. It’s a win all around.

Ready to Try Virtual Therapy?

At Rainbow Counselling, we offer affirming, accessible online therapy from a team of 2SLGBTQ+ identified and allied psychotherapists across Ontario. Whether you’re navigating identity, burnout, anxiety, or just looking for a space to feel seen—we’re here for you.

Learn more or book a free consultation with one of our team members, or submit our online form to be matched with a therapist on our team!