Online Therapy: Benefits, Effectiveness and How It Works
Online therapy allows people to speak with a qualified therapist through secure video sessions from the comfort of their home.
Research shows that online therapy can be as effective as face-to-face therapy for many mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression and stress.
At My Therapist Online, we match people with experienced therapists who deliver evidence-based psychological therapy online.
Benefits of Online Therapy
Many people choose online therapy because it offers a convenient and flexible way to access professional psychological support. Sessions take place through secure video platforms such as Zoom, Skype or FaceTime, allowing you to speak with a qualified therapist from the comfort of your own home or another private space where you feel at ease.
Online therapy uses the same evidence-based approaches as traditional face-to-face therapy, including therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The only difference is the method of delivery — the therapy itself follows the same professional standards and clinical principles.
Convenience and Accessibility
One of the biggest advantages of online therapy is convenience. Without the need to travel to an appointment, therapy can fit more easily around busy lives.
Online therapy allows you to:
Access therapy from home or any comfortable location
Avoid travel time and waiting rooms
Attend sessions from anywhere with a secure internet connection
For many people, this makes it easier to prioritise their mental health even when work, family responsibilities or location might otherwise make attending therapy difficult.
Flexible Appointments
Online therapists can often offer flexible appointments that work around your lifestyle.
Sessions may take place:
Weekly or fortnightly
During the daytime or evenings
From a location that feels comfortable and private for you
This flexibility makes therapy more accessible for people balancing work, family life or other commitments.
Access to Specialist Therapists
One of the main reasons people choose My Therapist Online is the ability to access specialist therapists regardless of where they live.
Online therapy removes geographical barriers, meaning you are not limited to therapists in your local area. Instead, you can be matched with a therapist who has the specific expertise and therapeutic approach best suited to your needs.
Privacy and Discretion
Online therapy can also offer a high level of privacy.
Many people value the ability to attend therapy:
Without visiting a clinic or waiting room
From a private space at home
In a way that feels discreet and comfortable
Continuity of Care
Online therapy also provides continuity if your circumstances change.
If you move house, travel frequently, or relocate for work, you can often continue working with the same therapist, helping maintain consistency and progress in therapy.
Is Online Therapy as Effective as Face-to-Face Therapy?
A large and growing body of scientific research shows that online therapy can be just as effective as traditional face-to-face therapy for many common mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, stress and trauma.
Over the past twenty years, many clinical studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses have examined the effectiveness of therapy delivered through secure video sessions. These studies consistently find that outcomes for online therapy are comparable to those achieved in face-to-face treatment, particularly when evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) are delivered by a qualified therapist.
Professor Anke Ehlers (University of Oxford)
Professor Anke Ehlers, Professor of Experimental Psychopathology at the University of Oxford and a world-leading expert in trauma treatment, has emphasised the strong outcomes achieved with digital psychological treatments. Her research into digitally delivered treatments has shown that evidence-based psychological therapies can be successfully delivered through online formats while maintaining strong clinical outcomes.
““Recovery rates and improvements in quality of life are excellent.””
For example, large research reviews published in leading psychological journals have found no meaningful difference in treatment outcomes between online and in-person therapy for many mental health difficulties. Therapist-guided online CBT has been shown to be effective in treating anxiety disorders and depression, with improvements in symptoms similar to those seen in traditional therapy settings.
Research also shows that the therapeutic relationship — one of the most important predictors of successful therapy — can be just as strong in online sessions as it is in face-to-face therapy.
In practice, the most important factors influencing successful therapy are:
The experience and training of the therapist
The quality of the therapeutic relationship
The use of evidence-based psychological treatments
All of these elements can be delivered effectively through online therapy.
For many people, online therapy simply provides a more accessible and flexible way to receive the same high-quality psychological support, without the need for travel or waiting rooms.What Leading Experts Say
World renowned, Professor David Clark, Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford and one of the world’s leading CBT researchers, has highlighted the potential of digital therapy to increase access to effective treatment. Discussing online psychological treatments, he noted:
““Recovery rates and improvements in quality of life are excellent.”
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Clinical psychologists and researchers widely agree that the key ingredient in effective therapy is not whether sessions happen online or in person, but the combination of:
A well-trained therapist
Evidence-based treatment approaches
A strong therapeutic relationship
As the American Psychological Association has noted, multiple studies have already demonstrated the effectiveness of telepsychology and online therapy in treating a range of mental health conditions.
Why Online Therapy Works
In practice, online therapy works because it uses exactly the same evidence-based therapeutic approaches used in traditional therapy rooms, including CBT, EMDR, ACT and other established psychological treatments.
The only difference is how the session is delivered.
For many people, the convenience of attending therapy from home actually makes it easier to engage with treatment consistently, which is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes.
Why My Therapist Online?
At My Therapist Online, our goal is simple: to help you access the right therapy and the right therapist for your individual needs, wherever you are located. We believe that geographical location should never be a barrier to receiving specialist psychological support that can improve your wellbeing.
A Human Matching Process — Not Algorithms
Unlike many online therapy platforms, we are run by qualified therapists, not technology companies. We are a people-to-people service, and we do not rely on automated algorithms to match people with therapists.
Every application is personally reviewed by a trained therapist who carefully considers the difficulties you are facing, your preferences, and the type of therapeutic approach that may be most helpful.
Based on this assessment, we introduce you to 1–4 therapists who are well suited to your needs, allowing you to choose the therapist who feels like the best fit.
Carefully Selected, Highly Experienced Therapists
We are extremely selective about the therapists we work with. Wherever possible, we meet therapists personally before inviting them to join our network, and we are proud to have hand-selected each therapist on our platform.
All therapists on My Therapist Online:
Have a minimum of three years of post qualification clinical experience
Hold relevant professional accreditation or registration
Have undergone DBS checks
Are trained in evidence-based psychological therapies
Many of our therapists also have experience working within the NHS or specialist mental health services, bringing a high level of expertise to their practice.
Access Specialist Therapy Wherever You Are
Because therapy is delivered online, you are not limited to therapists in your local area. Instead, we can match you with a therapist who has the right experience and therapeutic approach for the challenges you are facing.
This personalised matching process helps ensure you receive therapy that is tailored to you, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Our Commitment to You
We know that starting therapy can feel like an important step. Our team is committed to helping you find a therapist who can support you effectively and compassionately.
Our aim is to make the process of finding the right therapist clear, supportive and straightforward, so that you can focus on what matters most, improving your mental health and wellbeing.
Who Is Online Therapy Suitable For?
Online therapy can be effective for people of many different ages and life situations. Research over the past two decades has consistently shown that psychological therapies delivered through secure video sessions can be highly effective for both adults and young people when provided by a qualified therapist using evidence-based approaches.
Online therapy can also be delivered in different formats depending on the type of support needed. For example, therapists can provide:
Individual therapy for personal emotional or mental health challenges
Couples or relationship therapy to support communication and relationship difficulties
Family therapy to help families understand and improve relationship dynamics
Because sessions take place remotely, online therapy can also make it easier for people who live in different locations to attend therapy together.
Online therapy is commonly used to support people experiencing:
Work-related stress
A growing body of research shows that many evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), EMDR and other structured psychological approaches, can be delivered effectively online for these types of difficulties.
When Online Therapy May Not Be the Best Option
While online therapy can be highly effective for many people, it may not be the most appropriate option for individuals who are currently at significant risk or require complex crisis management.
In these situations, it is often more beneficial to access local mental health services, where therapists can work closely with other professionals such as GPs, crisis teams and multidisciplinary services to provide a broader network of support.
If you are unsure whether online therapy is suitable for your situation, a therapist can help guide you toward the most appropriate and safe form of support.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Therapy
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Yes. A large body of research shows that online therapy can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy for many common mental health difficulties, including anxiety, depression and stress. Studies comparing online and in-person therapy have found similar improvements in symptoms when therapy is delivered by a qualified therapist using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Our founder, Lisa Johnston, has been providing online therapy for the treatment of complex anxiety disorders since 2015, with excellent client outcomes.
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Online therapy works in the same way as traditional therapy. Sessions take place through secure video platforms where you speak with a trained therapist who uses recognised psychological treatments. The most important factors in effective therapy are the therapist’s experience, the therapeutic relationship and the use of evidence-based treatment approaches, all of which can be delivered successfully online.
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Yes. Online therapy follows the same professional and ethical standards as face-to-face therapy. Therapists use secure video platforms and maintain strict confidentiality in line with professional guidelines and data protection regulations. Sessions take place in a private setting, allowing you to speak openly and safely with your therapist. Online therapy is arguably more discreet than in person, as she can access it from the comfort of your own home, with no need to travel to and from a therapist’s office space.
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Online therapy can be suitable for people experiencing a wide range of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, stress, panic attacks, trauma and relationship difficulties. It can also be used for individual therapy, couples therapy and family therapy. Online therapy is particularly helpful for people who want flexible appointments or access to specialist therapists who may not be available locally.
Clinical Review
This page has been written and is regularly reviewed to ensure the information remains accurate, evidence-based and current by Lisa Johnston, Founder and Clinical Lead at My Therapist Online.
Lisa is an experienced therapist specialising in online therapy and anxiety disorders and is responsible for overseeing the clinical standards and content across the My Therapist Online platform.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. The majority of therapists featured on our website are trained in CBT or operate using CBT principles.
Thoughts, feelings and behaviours can leave you feeling trapped in a vicious cycle. CBT aims to help to break the cycle by breaking down overwhelming problems into smaller parts.
Treatment will help you to identify how you can change these negative patterns to improve the way you feel. Treatment will focus both on unhelpful patterns of thinking and also unhelpful behaviours.
CBT is currently recognised as having the strongest evidence-base (efficacy) of all the talking therapies, for a wide range of problems and is recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) treatment guidelines.
CBT can help you break down your thoughts and emotions into smaller parts so that you can deal with overwhelming problems in a more positive way. You can read more about CBT by clicking here or view a short video about CBT with an accredited therapist here and by clicking on the video below.