A public service of Metanoia Communications
 ABCs of Internet Mental Health Services

INTRODUCTION: What is e-therapy?

  WHOS AN E-THERAPIST
  IF YOURE IN THERAPY
  IF YOURE IN CRISIS
THE ISSUES: What you need to know about e-therapy

  IS E-THERAPY FOR YOU?
  CHECK THE THERAPIST
  IS THIS THERAPY?
  IS IT ETHICAL?
  IS IT CONFIDENTIAL?
  IS IT EFFECTIVE?
  WHAT E-THERAPISTS DO
  HOW E-THERAPY WORKS
  FEES & PAYMENT
  LEGAL ISSUES
CONSUMER SURVEY
E-THERAPY HISTORY
NEWSROOM
INFO FOR JOURNALISTS
INFO FOR CONSUMERS
INFO FOR THERAPISTS
ADD YOUR SITE
CONTACT ME

 Copyright 1995-2001 Martha Ainsworth. All rights reserved.

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A public service of Metanoia Communications

Talk to a Therapist Online

Now you can meet with a psychotherapist for personal counseling or advice, from the privacy of your own computer.
Using the Internet, professional counselors are forming effective helping relationships with people like you.

This is the only independent consumer guide to therapists and counselors who provide help over the Internet - compiled by consumers, for consumers.

Is e-therapy the right choice for me?

How can I protect myself from quacks?

Will my online counseling be private?

How much does e-therapy cost?

How do I compare e-therapist qualifications?

Are there any issues I should know about? 		Before you consult a therapist online, there are some things you need to know. Well tell you what to consider when talking with a therapist online.
Click to start
or read on...
This directory is now maintained by Psych Central and is up to date as of Feb. 2007. Click here to jump to the directory of online therapists.

Online counseling - e-therapy - is when a professional counselor or psychotherapist talks with you over the Internet, to give you emotional support, mental health advice or some other professional service. It could be one question, or an ongoing conversation; it could be by e-mail, chat, video or even Internet phone (voice-over-IP).

E-therapy is a viable alternative source of help when traditional psychotherapy is not accessible. Its effective. Its private. Its conducted by skilled, qualified, ethical professionals. And for some people, it's the only way they can get help from a professional therapist.

E-therapy is not psychotherapy. It should not be compared to psychotherapy. It is not a substitute for traditional psychotherapy. Working with a therapist in person is still better. But many people cannot or will not see a therapist in person. E-therapy is a form of counseling which, though it falls short of full-fledged psychotherapy, is still a very effective source of help.

E-therapy directly addresses a major problem uncovered by the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health (1999) which stated that while one American in five has a diagnosable psychological problem, nearly two-thirds of them never seek treatment.

Managed care and the mental health industry sometimes make it difficult for people to get the care they need. When traditional systems fail them, many people are turning to the Internet.

Click here if you're ready to begin >>

Can counseling help?

Things happen in life
that are normal - we all face them...
but they are difficult.

A big change in your life...
loss of a job, or a home, or an important relationship...
emotions and feelings that seem overwhelming...
challenges of parenting and family life...
troubling relationships...
difficulties at work...

Why would you want to go through it alone?

When these things happen to you,
it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you;
it doesn't mean you are mentally ill.
These things happen to everybody.

A psychotherapist is trained to help you cope with those things
so you can get through them, and feel better.

Psychotherapists can help you.
And now, some of them can help you on the Internet.

Click here if you're ready to begin >>


Conversation, not just information

Millions of people search for mental health information on the Internet, and there is a lot. But now there are also humans there for you: professional therapists who will answer questions, provide psychological advice customized for you, or develop an ongoing relationship to help you explore personal issues.

This site will show you how to connect with live humans...
experts in emotional health,
ready to give you individualized help.

Click here if you're ready to begin >>


Why do it online?

Online counseling is not a substitute for traditional psychotherapy. If you can visit a therapist in person, you should. But if you cant visit a therapists office, online counseling can be a helpful and effective alternative.

  • Maybe you dont have access to a therapist nearby.
  • Maybe you are nervous or embarrassed about counseling.
    Many people are.
  • Maybe your schedule is keeping you from getting help in person.
  • Maybe you cant afford to see a counselor in person.

If so, maybe online counseling can be helpful.

Online counseling is not appropriate for everyone. And, as with any new frontier, there are some issues you should consider before trying it. But every day, responsible, competent, ethical mental health professionals are forming effective helping relationships via the Internet - relationships that help and heal.

Click here if you're ready to begin >>


Copyright 1995-2004 Martha Ainsworth. All rights reserved.