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Online therapy: how to pick the right counsellor, and other ways to optimise your sessions

  • Online therapy is convenient, limits your exposure to Covid-19, and removes the stigma associated with mental ill-health
  • Although online therapy has a few drawbacks, there are steps you can take to maximise the benefits of each session, experts suggest

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Online therapy is a rapidly growing sector of the wellness industry, but how should you choose a counsellor and optimise your sessions? Photo: Shutterstock

Telehealth isn’t new. For the past couple of decades, people have been using technology to consult their health care provider, either by phone or video chat.

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However, since the coronavirus pandemic began, more people have been scheduling virtual appointments with health professionals – including mental health experts.

“They feel that online therapy is safer and more convenient,” says Minal Mahtani, a cognitive behaviour therapist and founder and chief executive of OCD & Anxiety Support HK.

“When the Covid-19 pandemic started, social distancing measures were put in place and people were reluctant to go out because they feared catching the virus. As a result, tele-health services became more sought after.

“Around the world, online therapy is becoming increasingly accepted, especially since more of us are experiencing mental health problems now.”
Minal Mahtani is a cognitive behaviour therapist and founder and chief executive of OCD & Anxiety Support HK. Photo: OCD & Anxiety Support HK
Minal Mahtani is a cognitive behaviour therapist and founder and chief executive of OCD & Anxiety Support HK. Photo: OCD & Anxiety Support HK

The global online therapy services market was valued at US$2.36 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach US$23.49 billion by 2028, a compound annual growth rate of 31.8 per cent from 2021 to 2028, according to Verified Market Research.

Online therapy pros and cons

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