Oregon & Washington Online Counseling

Everything you want to know about online counseling at Thrive West.

Benefits of Online Counseling

  • Save time – No traffic, parking, or making extra time to get to and from an office.
  • You can use your phone, tablet, or laptop to meet with your Counselor.
  • Increased access to people who want to work with a specialist when one is not near you
  • Just as effective as in-person counseling for many people

Is Online Counseling Effective?

Online counseling can be just as effective as in person therapy.

Online counseling is just like in-person counseling. However, instead of meeting with a provider in an office, you will meet using a secure video chat system. Thrive West uses SimplePractice to provide Telementalhealth services. 

Research continues to find online therapy to be just as effective as in-person therapy for a variety of issues and problems. However, there are a few things to consider when determining if it will be effective for you. Read below for more information.

Our clients have been highly satisfied with online treatment. We have successfully worked with clients online and in person throughout our clinical experience and have found it to be just as effective.

Our clients love the convenience of meeting online. Some were even a little unsure how it would help them and were gladly surprised with how personable and comfortable it felt. Still not sure? Give it a try. If it’s not for you I can always provide a referral.

Who Is Online Therapy Best For?

  • Busy people and parents who don’t have time to run across the city for appointments
  • People who desire more privacy from walking into a therapy office
  • People who feel relatively stable and don’t need intensive therapy services or treatments
  • People who are comfortable with technology and have a private space to meet with their counselor

Contact Me

Questions? Reach out at: 

elizabeth@thrivingwest.com

Ready to get started?

Schedule a consultation

When is Online Counseling not appropriate?

  • those actively experiencing a mental health crisis or frequently experience crises
  • actively suicidal or self-harming or those that struggle with frequent suicidal behaviors/severe thoughts or self-harming behaviors
    recently hospitalization(s) related to mental illness/health/psychiatric care
  • actively struggling with severe substance use issues
    severe and persistent mental illness, typically requiring more comprehensive care 
  • active or former thoughts or behaviors of harming others
  • those who struggle with technology or do not have a private space and secure, reliable internet connection

How do I get Started?

Make sure you have high-speed internet, a personal device with video chat capabilities, and headphones

A quiet, comfortable space where you can relax and openly chat in our online sessions

Yourself! Pets are also welcome and make great therapy companions.

How does it work?

You will automatically receive a link 24 hours prior in your email for the scheduled session.

Test your connection before you start and troubleshoot any issues.

Clink the link and you’ll be taken to our online therapy room.

View more information about the technical side of joining sessions with my practice software
Schedule a consultation

Online Counseling Effectiveness Research

Backhaus, A., Agha, Z., Maglione, M. L., Repp, A., Ross, B., Zuest, D., Rice-Thorp NM, Lohr J, Thorp SR.Thorp, S. R. (2012). Videoconferencing psychotherapy: A systematic review. Psychological Services, 9, 111–131. doi:10.1037/a0027924

Barak, A., Hen, L., Boniel-Nissim, M., & Shapira, N. (2008). A comprehensive review and a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of Internet-based psychotherapeutic interventions. Journal of Technology in Hu- man Services, 26, 109-160.

Day, S. X., & Schneider, P. L. (2002). Psychotherapy using distance technology: A comparison of face-to-face, video, and audio treatment. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 49, 499–503. doi:10.1037/0022- 0167.49.4.499

Morland, L. A., Mackintosh, M.A.,  Greene, C.J., Rosen, C.S., Chard, K. M., Resick, P., Frueh, BC. (2014). Cognitive processing therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder delivered to rural veterans via telemental health: a randomized noninferiority clinical trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 75(5): 470–476. doi: 10.4088/JCP.13m08842

U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2015). PTSD and telemental health. PTSD Treatment Overview.

Yellowlees, P. M., Odor, A., Parish, M. B., Iosif, A.-M., Haught, K., & Hilty, D. (2010). A feasibility study of the use of asynchronous telepsychiatry for psychiatric consultations Psychiatric Services, 61, 838–840.