When you were looking for mental health services on Long Island, you have a variety of options for therapists, types of treatment, and more. One of the decisions that many therapy patients make now is between in person therapy in the therapist’s office or virtual therapy over video chat.
Both can deliver personalized care and good results so the decision primarily depends on what you are more comfortable with and what fits better with your schedule. These are some factors to consider when choosing between the two.
How to Decide If In Person or Virtual Therapy is Right for You
If this is your first time in therapy or you are coming back to therapy after several years, there are several things you can do to make sure that you are getting the most out of therapy. These include making it easy on yourself to schedule and attend appointments and finding a therapy environment in which you feel comfortable.
The choice between virtual therapy and in person therapy can be important here. When choosing between the two, some factors to consider to help make your choice include:
- Commute Time – If your therapist’s office is a significant drive from you, this could make it difficult or stressful to get to your appointments and force you to take time out a lot of time out of your day. In this case, it might be better to choose virtual therapy. But if the if their office is close to your home or work or even a short drive away, the drive could provide a nice chance to prepare and then decompress before and after sessions without impacting your schedule significantly.
- Physical Proximity – Some patients prefer in person therapy because they get more visual and auditory cues from the therapist that can often get lost through a computer screen. These cues can help them feel more engaged with their therapist and their session. Other patients prefer the distance that a video chat can create, finding it allows them to focus more inwardly on their own thoughts and emotions.
- Environment – You want the place in which you will attend therapy sessions to be one that is quiet and comfortable for the entire session. This may be a room in your home where you can close the door and be comfortable in your own space. If your home is lively most of the time, going to your therapist’s office can give you a quiet area to reflect and also help you separate your therapy sessions from the day to day.
One thing to keep in mind if you are considering virtual therapy is that while you can meet over video from anywhere, you do need to be located in the state where your therapist is licensed.
Start In Person or Virtual Therapy at Long Island Counseling Services
For patients on Long Island, the psychotherapists on our team at Long Island Counseling Services provide both virtual and in person treatment for anxiety, depression, ADHD, and more, as well as options for in person and virtual couples therapy.
We can help you get the therapy that is right for you, delivering evidence based treatments to help you on your path to mental well-being. Send us a message or give us a call to make your appointment.