Experience the benefits of online therapy

Searching for online therapy? We’ll help find the right therapist for you.

What is online therapy?

In today’s world, taking care of your mental health is more important than ever. So much of our lives has moved online in recent years — shopping, socializing, for some, work — that it makes sense that therapy has moved online, too. If you’re someone who struggles with their mental health, you may have found yourself wondering, “Can I get online therapy for my anxiety?” Or, “Is it possible to get online therapy for depression?” The answer is yes.

Online therapy is the delivery of mental health services through digital platforms. It can take various forms, including video calls, text messages, and chat apps. Instead of meeting a therapist once per week in their office, you meet them virtually — through a video call — from a private, comfortable space of your choosing.

Online therapy goes beyond standard online interactions. It can provide you with a profoundly safe space to share your thoughts and feelings with someone who’s trained to help you. The benefits of online therapy can even transcend those of a traditional therapy experience, bringing added flexibility, comfort, and even cost savings to your mental health journey. And of course, when online therapy is done by a licensed clinician through a reputable practice, it follows all the privacy and ethical standards patients should expect from mental health care providers.

Benefits of getting therapy online

Accessibility and convenience

Because online therapy can be done from anywhere you choose, such as your home or office, it makes therapy more accessible and convenient. There’s no need to drive to a provider’s office, which is helpful for people with mobility or certain health concerns. Those who are seeking online therapy for PTSD (post traumatic depression syndrome) for example, may feel more comfortable at home. Online therapy also increases access to care for people who live in remote areas, or places where there simply aren’t a lot of therapists.

Flexibility

Online therapy makes scheduling far more manageable. Because there’s no need to commute to an office, the overall amount of time needed out of the day for therapy is less. This is of particular benefit to people who rely on public transportation, or friends and family for rides. Patients find it easier to schedule their online therapy sessions before or after work, during breaks, or at times that caregiving responsibilities are paused.

Reduced stigma

Have you or someone you know ever been afraid to talk about, or seek out treatment for, mental health? This can be a result of stigma — negative and inaccurate beliefs and associations. While stigma regarding mental health treatment is less prevalent than in the past, many still feel its effects. Online therapy can remove this burden because it’s far more private than traditional office visits. Clients also don’t need to explain travel or missed work due to appointments. The amount of anonymity offered by online therapy can encourage people to seek help without the fear of being judged by others.

Comfort and familiarity

One of the strongest predictors of whether or not therapy will be successful is the strength of the client-therapist bond. When clients are in an environment that makes them feel safe and comfortable, they’re more likely to open up and be authentic. This can be especially critical for clients grappling with difficult life events, and seeking online therapy for trauma. This can lead to more honest and effective communication between the therapist and client.

Cost effective

Online therapy can be more affordable than traditional in-person therapy because it eliminates the need for things like travel costs, missed work shifts, and childcare. Many online therapy providers work with insurance companies, giving clients an opportunity to find the best online therapy option that takes insurance.

Is online therapy right for you?

If you’ve never done therapy before, it can be hard to know if therapy is the right thing to try. But often, when you’re going through difficult experiences like these, the support of a therapist can be helpful.

Feeling overwhelmed by fear of something
Emotions getting in the way of life
Suffering from trauma
Struggling in relationships
Feeling less joy or excitement about life
Using substances to cope with feelings
Going through grief or loss
Having problems at work
Experiencing physical symptoms of stress
Struggling to adjust to a life change

Anyone who’s considering therapy can benefit just as much from online therapy as they would in-person therapy. Online therapy can be a great option for people who:

Have busy schedules with work, school, or family
Don’t own a car or rely on public transportation
Have mobility or chronic health concerns
Live in an area that’s underserved by traditional in-person therapists
Work from home or are stay-at-home parents
Can’t leave work or home in the middle of the day
Prioritize privacy or anonymity
Travel frequently

No matter your reason for wanting to try therapy, you deserve exceptional care from a therapist whose background and expertise are just right for you.

Two Chairs — online therapy that takes insurance

Two Chairs is an online therapy provider that’s in-network with Aetna in California, Florida, and Washington, as well as Kaiser Permanente in Northern CA and WA, and Florida Blue. That means if you’re covered by any of those insurance companies’ plans, you have access to online therapy that’s covered by insurance.

Why Two Chairs for online therapy?

At Two Chairs, we take the guesswork out of online therapy. We match you with your ideal therapist, so you can focus on feeling better. Our matching system works: 98% of clients are matched with their right therapist on the first try.

Why is matching important?

Research shows that a strong client-therapist relationship is the key to great therapy, so we’ve invested in perfecting the match. You’ll spend 45 minutes with a licensed clinician trained in matching people to the right therapist. They will ensure your nuanced needs and preferences are understood, and that your goals align with your therapist’s specialties.

What kind of online therapists does Two Chairs have?

We have a team of over 500 therapists representing more than 90 areas of clinical expertise and 32+ evidence-based modalities. Our clinical team is diverse, with 46% identifying as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC), and 24% identifying as LGBTQIA+.

Is Two Chairs available in my neighborhood?

One of the reasons over 10,000 clients have attended therapy with Two Chairs is that it’s available both in person and online.

What can I expect from therapy?

It's ok to not know what to expect from therapy. You and your therapist will establish goals and discuss progress together. We’ll help you keep tabs on your well-being through regular mental health check-ins. Reflecting on different aspects of your mental health can help strengthen your relationship with your therapist and empower you to reach your goals.

What do Two Chairs clients say?

At Two Chairs, 74% of our patients show clinical improvement in depression or anxiety symptoms at graduation. 92% of our clients are satisfied with their therapy experience, which is a 6x better result than other mental health care providers.

How online therapy works at Two Chairs

Care at Two Chairs begins with a matching appointment, where you’ll meet with a licensed expert for 45 minutes to discuss your history, needs, and preferences for therapy. Prior to your matching appointment, you’ll fill out some paperwork that provides us with some general background information about you.

After your matching appointment, we’ll use the information we’ve learned about you to find a therapist that’s the perfect fit for your goals, preferences and schedule. Once you confirm your match, your online therapy sessions will begin.

You’ll receive information from Two Chairs that includes a link to your sessions, which will take place in Google Meet. If you aren’t familiar with Google Meet, don’t worry; it’s an easy-to-use video conferencing platform, and you’ll receive helpful instructions before your sessions start.

What to expect from your online therapy session

We recommend you find a quiet, safe, and private space for your teletherapy sessions where you’ll feel comfortable and won’t be disturbed. We know this can be tricky, especially if you live with others, but all you really need is an internet connection (the same you’d use to stream TV), good lighting (so your therapist can see your face), and some privacy.

Don't enter your session worrying about what to talk about in therapy. In your first therapy session, your therapist will ask some questions to get a sense of what brings you to therapy, whether you’ve been in care before, what kind of symptoms you’re experiencing, and what you’re hoping to get out of therapy. You’ll also have an opportunity to share about your goals, experiences, worldview, cultural experiences, and background. It’s important that you take an active role in your care for therapy to be successful.

As your online therapy sessions progress, you’ll complete mental health check-ins before each session. These are brief questionnaires that help you and your therapist reflect on progress in a way that can help you reach your mental health goals.