Online Therapy For Anxiety and OCD
Time and distance are no longer barriers to accessing high-quality therapy for mental health
You’ve been meaning to go to therapy, but life keeps getting in the way, or it feels like there are a thousand steps that you don’t feel like taking. Perhaps, you don’t have time to go to appointments due to your busy work schedule. Or, you live in a rural area and there are no mental health providers nearby.
Maybe you have social anxiety, and the thought of going to therapy and talking to a stranger is just too much. Or, the thought of driving in Charlotte traffic to get to your appointment is enough to make you cancel. You know your mental health needs attention, but in-person therapy feels out of reach. Online therapy could be a good fit for you—whether you’re in North Carolina, Virginia, or Florida.
What is Online Therapy?
Online therapy is a safe space where you can talk with your therapist on a HIPAA-compliant online platform (we use TherapyNotes). This can be from the comfort of your own home in Northern Virginia, the break room at work in your high-rise in downtown Charlotte, NC, or even from The Magic Kingdom in Orlando, FL. It’s a way to get the same great therapy without having to go anywhere. And, it can be more convenient and cost-effective for your schedule.
What are the Benefits of Online Therapy?
There are many benefits of online therapy. Not only does it allow for more flexibility and convenience, but it also allows people who may not have access to mental health services otherwise to get the care they need and deserve.
Other Benefits Include:
-
-
You can receive therapy from anywhere in North Carolina, Virginia, or Florida
-
No need to take time off work or find childcare
-
Can be more convenient for your schedule
-
Allows caregivers and people with disabilities to get mental health care
-
No more getting stuck in traffic on the way to your appointment
-
Research shows online therapy is just as effective as in-person therap
-
These are just some of the benefits of online therapy. It can be helpful for so many people who might not otherwise be able to get therapy—or those who cannot get out to appointments. It’s a great way to get the care and support you need from anywhere you have an internet connection.
Online Therapy for Anxiety
About 3% of the US population lives with symptoms of an anxiety disorder. Many factors contribute to increasing rates of anxiety, and despite the growing epidemic, many people do not seek out therapy. Like anxiety, there are a variety of factors that can be barriers to people getting the right help for their anxiety disorder.
Offering online therapy for anxiety helps to eliminate some of the obstacles people face when they need help. Being able to meet with a therapist online from the comfort of home can be a game-changer for people who suffer from social anxiety, panic disorder, or agoraphobia.
If anxiety is affecting your quality of life (or that of a loved one), online services can be a great way to get the support that is needed. Therapy for anxiety can help you improve your coping skills, grow your confidence, and live life with more freedom and flexibility.
Online Therapy for OCD
OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, is a condition that is often missed entirely or treated with methods that are not effective for OCD. Providing evidence-based therapy for OCD online makes it accessible to more people who are suffering from intrusive thoughts and time-consuming compulsions. The International OCD Foundation has created a resource of best practices for OCD sufferers, providers, and loved ones that emphasizes the use of Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (also known as ERP) as the front-line treatment for OCD.
Online ERP Therapy
ERP Therapy is a front-line, evidence-based treatment for conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and related conditions like phobias and health anxiety, among others. This type of therapy is backed by decades of robust research showing its effectiveness in helping people learn to tolerate distress, build confidence in their ability to handle triggers, and develop healthy coping strategies. Online ERP therapy for OCD is convenient and effective since virtual appointments give you the flexibility to meet from anywhere.
For example, someone who suffers from social anxiety might have a goal of being able to shop at South Park Mall in Charlotte. As part of the treatment plan, the therapy session can be coordinated during a time when the individual is walking through the mall while receiving real-time, online therapy to help them overcome their fear.
Online Therapy for Women
Maybe you’re a working mom and aren’t able to take time off in order to drive to a therapy appointment. Or, you’re a stay-at-home mom and don’t have childcare. Perhaps, you might live in a rural area where it’s difficult to get to therapy, especially specialized care for OCD.
Anxiety and OCD impact men just as much as women, but women often carry more of the physical and psychological responsibilities of their immediate or extended family, more than men do.
In women, anxiety can present with a host of physical manifestations such as fatigue, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, but it can also show up as overcompensating, overthinking, and general self-neglect.
Online Christian Counseling
For Christians who want to meet with a Christian therapist, online Christian counseling is available to residents of North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida.. It is important that you receive the type of therapy that aligns with your mental health needs and supports your faith. Every therapist has a different approach to how they incorporate faith and spirituality into therapy sessions. Here is how I approach it.
Here to Support You
Regardless of the type of anxiety or OCD you are experiencing, online therapy can help you feel better. Initially, it might be overwhelming when you reach out for help and try new things, but relief will soon follow. The cost of doing nothing is too high, and you have a beautiful life to live. With the proper support, you can feel better.
My Approach to Online Therapy
I approach online therapy the same way I approach in-person therapy. My goal is to help you develop strength, confidence, and skills to handle unwanted thoughts and feelings. We will work together to help you understand your thoughts and emotions and identify your particular cycle of anxiety or OCD. You will learn new information and how to respond to triggers that will help you live life according to your values instead of according to anxious rules and compulsive rituals. You will be met with empathy, compassion, and non-judgment. We will work together at a pace that suits your needs and goals. Everyone’s journey is different, and I will meet you where you are. I have extensive training to treat anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder using evidence-based methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention, and acceptance and commitment therapy.
You don't have to wait any longer. Begin online therapy today.
To start your therapy journey with Evercare Counseling, please follow these simple steps:
Other Services Offered with Evercare Counseling
In addition to online therapy, in-person therapy is available for anyone within driving distance of Clemmons, NC (just outside of Winston-Salem, NC). Online therapy for anxiety and OCD is available to residents of North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida. Additional specializations offered by Evercare Counseling are ERP therapy, therapy for women, Christian counseling, parent coaching, and more. Check out the blog or common questions to learn more helpful info!