How online therapy is deepening our therapeutic relationships.

The appearance of pets and other benefits of remote therapy.

Online therapy has brought along with it a new take to the therapeutic relationship.

Although it comes with its own set of challenges (mainly technological mishaps and blurry eyes),

I believe online therapy has allowed us to further deepen our therapeutic relationships.

1. For me, remote therapy has facilitated a better view of 'looking out my client's window'. By this I mean, as a therapist I am on a continuous journey of discovering what it really means to take on someone else's worldview. Online therapy is facilitating this experience in a way like never before.

2. The therapy room is no longer bound to four walls; a widening of the therapeutic space from the therapist to the client has meant being invited into homes, where typically the real world issues (often brought to therapy) are happening in real time, sometimes during sessions too.

For example, parents walking in on a session (following repeated requests for privacy), childcare issues in the midst of in-depth conversations (surely you can't expect your infant to understand the importance of your weekly hour of self-care) or loud construction work/ noisy neighbours that prevent you from listening/ may be listening in during a session (breaching your personal space all-day, everyday).

3. This has also meant being introduced to several pets, mostly dogs and cats (who for obvious reasons would never have made it to an office space), often key members of the family system as well as of an individual's support system.

4. Moreover, therapy has become more accessible; it has enabled greater flexibility for clients and therapists alike. Reduced travel time (the absence of traffic and transport issues) means sessions are timely; attendance rates are high, cancellations and no show rates have never been as low. Additionally, restrictions brought on by the pandemic have forced therapists to set up their practices online so you are no longer restricted to accessing therapy within a fixed, geographical location.

5. As therapists, we are trained to tune into another person's feelings and emotions, whether therapy happens online or off. As I am forced to rely less on body-language, this has led to a natural shift to engage in more verbal cues. I notice myself paying more attention to facial cues and perhaps even listening more attentively, and vice-versa for my clients too. This is something I would like to hold on to, once we return to meeting face-to-face too.

It goes without saying, the advantages of in-person therapy are countless; for some people, to attend therapy from their homes could be quite unsafe. Similarly, not everyone has access to technology, which supports the online therapeutic process. Therefore, it is crucial that each person is able to access support in a way that is most appropriate to their unique circumstances.

And so, I believe online therapy is here to stay.

---

About the Author: Mallika Verma

Mallika Verma is a psychologist, and couples and family therapist. She has previously worked across a range of public and private healthcare settings in India and the UK. She now practices privately in Mumbai and Delhi. Learn more at: www.mallikaverma.com or get in touch with her on: mallikavermatherapy@gmail.com.