What to expect from online therapy & counselling

Thinking about starting online therapy or counselling but not sure what to expect? This guide walks you through your first session, how often you’ll meet your psychologist, what makes online counselling different from in-person therapy, and how to know if it’s the right fit for you — answered by Instahelp psychologist Dr. Annette Wallisch-Tomasch.

 
Maybe this thought sounds familiar to you:

Today everything is really too much for me. Enough is enough. Now I’m going to tackle it and get psychological help.

 
But what will actually happen in a therapy or counselling session? And will this really get you anywhere?

What happens in online therapy or psychological counselling is determined by you and your personal psychologist. It is an exchange in which you determine the content and pace. The counselling is tailored entirely to your wishes.

Whether it moves you forward in your concern depends on several things: Does my own timing fit, my motivation, the goals that are set? It’s the perspective that makes it!

A good contact with the counsellor is the basis for this.

 

Is my problem big and important enough for counselling?

Whatever you’re carrying around — whether it’s the frustration of never finding shoes in your size, work demands that have become overwhelming, or the shock of your partner leaving you with the kids.

Every concern is a valid reason for counselling. There’s no right or wrong topic here.

 
It’s always worth reaching out if you want more clarity, strength and courage.
If your situation turns out to be more complex or crisis-like than expected, that will come up naturally in the session. Together with your counsellor, you’ll work out a plan to get the right support, including on-site help if needed.
The only rule that always applies: talking openly about it is the first step.

How does an online therapy or a counselling session work?

After choosing a psychologist together with our Matching Process, you’re directly connected to your chosen psychologist and your chat room becomes your shared counselling space.

Your therapy sessions can take place via video, audio or text chat. In the initial consultation, you and your psychologist discuss what you want to work on, what’s behind your concern, and how they can support you, plus when to schedule your next session. Thus the counselling can really get started.

strong>Step by step you will get closer to progress and your solution.

 

What does an online psychologist actually do?

The most important thing is listening (or reading).

In your chat room you have a safe place to unload everything for once and to sort out thoughts and feelings while telling (writing or talking).

 
This will bring you initial relief and clarification of the situation. Afterwards, depending on your concern, you will get suggestions to help you in your case . Depending on the focus of your work, your online psychologist will master valuable methods for clearing your chaos: Soothing and encouraging conversation, mental strategies, reflection tasks and simple exercises. Up to relaxation sessions in live chat with video: the range is vast and you can try out what does you good.

How often do counselling sessions take place?

How often you meet with your psychologist depends on your topic, your goals and your personal pace — there’s no one-size-fits-all schedule. That said, regular appointments tend to make the biggest difference: they help you stay close to your counsellor and get to the root of the problem faster.

You pay per session, based on the model you choose — no subscription required. This gives you the flexibility to book appointments whenever it suits you. You can find all available models and prices on our pricing page.

Online vs. in-person therapy: what’s the difference?

Of course, counselling in front of a technical device feels different from sitting face to face in a room. Physical/energetic presence, body language and non-linguistic messages play an essential role in face to face counselling and therapy.
That is why online counselling should be seen as a very effective complement.

In counselling, above all, one’s own abilities are stimulated to reflect, to think, to mentally and emotionally order.

 
In addition, the quick contact via the messages has a very emotionally supporting effect and provides a structure that one particularly needs in stressful phases.

What are the benefits of online therapy and counselling?

In general, with online counselling, you are flexible in terms of time and space and anonymous as a counselling seeker.

In addition, the apparent distance brings a paradoxical proximity effect, which brings you closer to your topic more quickly.

 

Every medium that you use in online counselling has further advantages:

• When you write asynchronous messages, you are flexible in terms of time and can then jot down your thoughts when it suits you. When writing alone, the feelings and mental tangles order themselves – and some order comes into the chaos. A “letter contact” with the psychologist can thus guide new reflections and insights.
• If you are less fond of writing, the audio chat will be very pleasant for you. Everything can be told, and feelings can be expressed directly. In this way, much information can be conveyed in a short time – which is very relieving and effective. More closeness and connection can take place here.
• If you prefer to sit face-to-face in practice but are prevented from doing so for various reasons (availability on-site, time problems), video chat is recommended. It facilitates emotional connection and support when you need it most.

Online counselling vs. therapy: what’s the difference?

The main criterion for counselling is that you have stresses that do not have clinical significance.

You should feel able to tackle your issue independently in everyday life with this help.

 
Without being massively restricted. Psychotherapy or psychological treatment claims to treat a psychological illness in a healing way. Online counselling cannot fulfil this claim.
On Instahelp, you will find clinical psychologists who have the expertise to recognise when people seeking advice are sufficiently stable and when (additional) therapeutic support on site is appropriate.

How long does counselling take?

The counselling lasts as long as you want it to.

 
You can decide how to proceed at any time. It is helpful to clarify your expectations regarding duration and intensity right at the beginning. Jointly set goals provide orientation.

What if I am not satisfied with the counselling?

Whether you are satisfied with the counselling can depend on several things, such as:

• Discomfort with the counselling process as stressful issues come up
• Unclear or overly ambitious goals that cannot be achieved
• Inappropriate medium (written/audio/video)
• Insecurity in dealing with app and terminals
• Problems with meeting deadlines
• Not satisfactory contact with the counselling psychologist

There is a solution to everything: address your concerns directly in counselling.

 
Any strong feelings that come up along the way deserve extra attention.
Change medium, rate or make new arrangements that are tailor-made for you. If the relationship doesn’t want to work out in rare cases, changing psychologists will also help.

What if I want to pause or quit the counselling?

Every journey together has an end – or not.

 
Some people seeking advice take a break for professional, private reasons and get back in touch months later. Since you pay per session and can pause or cancel at any time, this is quite simple. The data-secure chat room always remains intact and accessible for you and your psychologist. That’s the beauty of it.
Even a goodbye doesn’t always have to be final. The “sparring partner” for a particular phase of life may continue to wait in the background on standby.

Change takes time. A first conversation can already make you feel better. Give it a try and find your psychologist!