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“Therapy. Anytime. Anywhere.” These are the words you’ll notice first on the My Therapist Online website. Like other online counseling services, it seeks to enhance access to therapy to all regardless of physical limitations. But, what makes My Therapist Online worth paying for? Here’s what we discovered during our unbiased review of the mental health website.
What Is My Therapist Online?
Established in 2016, My Therapist Online is a service that allows patients to access professional counselors with ease. Lisa Johnston, the platform’s co-founder, and Director is an accredited counselor who has worked for the NHS for many years and has been a CBT therapist at the National Anxiety Disorders Unit at the Bethlem Royal Hospital.
After having her second child, Lisa and her husband Keith sought a solution for her to continue to provide specialized therapy around her child care commitments. She also realized that many people faced long waiting lists to access a therapist in their local area who had the right experience. Thus, My Therapist Online was born.
The platform boasts a team of fully qualified psychologists, therapists & counselors who specialize in treating various mental health conditions. We review My Therapist Online below.
How Does My Therapist Online Work?
Signing up for therapy on the My Therapist Online website requires you to follow three steps, namely:
Fill Out the Registration Form
The first step is to give more insight into your mental health issues by answering several questions. Providing the most accurate answer helps the service match you to the best online therapist for your needs.
You’re allowed to specify if you already have a preferred therapist, and the service will consider whether he or she is a good fit. You can also indicate the gender you prefer. Based on your answers, you’ll receive a list of 1-4 recommended therapists who best suit your needs.
You’re also given links to the therapists’ profiles to view their specialties and qualifications. Because different therapists use different approaches, it is up to you to take all their details into account before deciding.
Schedule Your First Appointment
My Therapist Online gives a free first consultation with your chosen therapist. You get a brief session to familiarize yourself with each other before you pay for an actual session. You can decide when to have the first session at a time that’s most convenient to you.
If you feel your therapist isn’t a good fit after the first consultation, you’re allowed to ask to be matched with a different therapist.
Get Therapy
Once you’re satisfied with the therapist you’ve chosen, you can schedule your first paid session. All therapists provide services over video platforms such as FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom.
Therapy sessions are typically 50-60 minutes long. They can be longer or shorter depending on your preference and arrangement with the therapist.
There’s no minimum or the maximum number of sessions required; it all depends on the issue you’re getting help for. According to My Therapist Online, most people need between 6-8 sessions.
What Do They Offer?
Mytherapistonlineonline services include live video therapy, which is quite similar to face-to-face therapy in an office setting.
To use this feature, you must have a reliable internet connection and a computer, phone, or tablet with a camera.
Video counseling is done over one of three platforms you agree on with your counselor:
➤ Skype — a free software application that you can download on your phone, tablet, or computer.
➤ FaceTime — an application that allows you to make free video calls on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
➤ Zoom — free and encrypted software that allows confidential video calls, email, and messaging.
To schedule your first video session, you’ll send an email to your chosen therapist. Subsequent sessions can be discussed during the video call.
Who Are My Therapist Online Therapists and How Good Are They?
Mytherapistonlineonline health care is provided by licensed and accredited professionals.
According to the website, these experts have accreditation from institutions in the UK, including:
➤ British Association for Behavioral & Cognitive Practice (BABCP) — the lead organization for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the UK and Ireland
➤ British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy (BACP) — the professional association for members of the counseling profession
➤ College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) — UK’s professional body for therapists and counselors in psychosexual and relationship therapy
➤ British Psychological Society (BPS) — UK’s professional body for psychologists
➤ Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) — a regulator of health and care professions in the UK
To register as a service provider on the platform, therapists are required to have:
➤ At least three years post-qualification clinical experience
➤ A Disclosure & Barring Service check
➤ Professional indemnity insurance certificates
➤ Professional training certificate
What Issues Do They Treat?
The mental health professionals on My Therapist Online treat specific issues such as:
However, there’s a limit to the issues treated on the platform.
If you’re experiencing any of the following, you’re advised to seek emergency care or face-to-face counseling:
➤ Thoughts of self-harm
➤ Thoughts of harming others
➤ Diagnosis of severe mental illness that requires a multidisciplinary approach
➤ Court-mandated counseling
➤ Lack of a reliable internet connection
How Much Does Counseling on My Therapist Online Cost?
Online therapy at My Therapist Online costs £60-110 per session. The actual price you pay depends on the therapist you choose and his or her area of expertise.
Payments are made by bank transfer 24 hours before your first two paid sessions. Subsequent sessions are invoiced at the end of each month in arrears. Patients living abroad can make payments via PayPal
To cancel a session, you have to notify the therapist 48 hours before the appointed time. Cancellations made less than 48 hours prior are subject to a cancellation charge. This charge is at the therapist’s discretion but may amount to the entire session amount.
My Therapist Online is not covered by health insurance.
However, you’ll notice that there are advantages to this, including:
➤ No sharing of your personal data with third parties, as would be the case if you had to use insurance
➤ Affordable pricing that’s probably less than the copay you’d be required to contribute for an insurance plan
➤ No extra billing for the time taken to write up reports and summaries to submit to the insurance company
➤ No limit to the sessions you can have each year
What’s The User Experience Like?
Mytherapistonlineonline platforms are easy to navigate for all users, regardless of whether they have sought online counseling before. Users can quickly sign up using the visible button and sort therapists once they receive the shortlist.
The company handles all the payment processes to allow users to focus solely on therapy. This creates a conducive environment free of concerns.
My Therapist Online has a privacy policy that assures users of safety on the website. When you sign up, you’re allowed to stay anonymous by using a nickname that will be visible to your therapist.
Once treatment starts, the details of your sessions are strictly confidential. Not even the service asks for what you discussed, and your therapist is bound by a professional code of conduct.
All personal data provided while signing up is processed and stored securely. The company complies with the Data Protection Act 1998 at all times. Data is not stored for longer than necessary, considering the reasons for which it was first collected.
The Verdict
My therapist online is a convenient and affordable way to get counseling wherever you are. The platform has experienced counselors whose accreditation guarantees that they meet industry standards.
If you’re not satisfied with your first choice, you’re allowed to switch therapists. The flexible approach guarantees customer satisfaction, and the monthly payments are an additional benefit of using the service. However, if you’re in a crisis, this platform is not appropriate for you. Call your local emergency services helpline for immediate assistance.
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