Is In-Person Therapy Better Than Virtual Sessions? Therapists Weigh In

With rapid developments in AI and more remote care offered as a result of the pandemic, odds are you’ve already come across virtual therapy on your own FYP. Even after pandemic restrictions were lifted, online therapy has still proved to be a popular option due to the level of accessibility offered. Recently, we’ve even seen the development of apps like Rejoyn – the first prescription digital treatment for major depressive disorder.

Given all of these changes in the mental health care space, it’s worth asking: is online therapy better than in-person therapy? Or are there still some benefits to talking it out in-person? To see which type works best, we asked therapists to weigh in on both formats. Read on to see their input, along with some pros and cons that can help you decide which kind of therapy might work best for you.

Experts Featured in This Article:

Ashley McCullough, LICSW, is a clinical social worker and trauma-informed therapist.
Amy Vigliotti, PhD, is a child and adult psychologist, and the founder of the NYC group therapy practice, SelfWorks.
Angela Alston, LADC, LMSW, is a clinical social worker and therapist.

Pros of Online Therapy

If you’re considering starting or sticking with online therapy, here are a few of the most notable benefits, according to therapists:

Accessibility
Not everyone has a huge selection of in-network, available therapists nearby, and issues such as insurance, transportation, childcare, work schedule, or physical limitations can make in-person therapy inaccessible. Virtual sessions help alleviate some of these issues by giving patients a wider range of therapists to work with, and eliminating the need for travel.
Comfort
Some clients feel more at ease in the comfort of their own home (or wherever they choose to have their virtual session), McCullough says. Remote meetings may also allow therapists to see a more personal side of their client, because you’re seeing them in their own space. And while this isn’t true for everyone, the physical separation can also help some people feel more comfortable getting vulnerable and opening up about deeper issues, McCullough says.

Cons of Online Therapy

Depending on the person, there may be some drawbacks to online therapy. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Less Personal Connection
While some people may feel they’re able to open up more when talking over a screen, there are therapists who find it more difficult to read their client when they’re not in the same room together. “I think there are many subtleties that get missed over a screen, including body language and the exchanging of energy,” McCullough says. “There’s a sanctity to in-person therapy that is not as easily replicable on Zoom,” agrees Amy Vigliotti, PhD.
Potential Privacy Issues
From the patient’s standpoint, Angela Alston, LADC, LMSW, says certain clients are less open remotely. Often, privacy issues are at play: The client may hold back knowing their partner, child, or co-worker is in another room and could possibly overhear or walk in on them. Other times, internet issues or nearby distractions can create frustration.

Pros of In-Person Therapy

Depending on the person, there are some aspects to in-person therapy that you may like better than online sessions. Here are a few of the biggest benefits:

More Personal Connection
Many of the therapists who spoke to PS said it’s generally easier for them to read their clients and show support with in-person sessions. “I think being able to hold space for someone really struggling with safety concerns or extreme grief can be hard over a screen,” says McCullough. Some therapy-goers may feel more comfortable talking to someone face-to-face as well.
More Privacy
A therapist’s office can serve as a safe, comforting space for clients. They know no one will overhear them or accidentally walk in, interrupting their session. People who are less tech-savvy may also prefer discussing more sensitive issues in person, rather than online.

Cons of In-Person Therapy

These are a few of the downsides to in-person therapy to keep in mind:

Less Accessibility
There isn’t always an abundance of therapists in someone’s insurance network, and sometimes therapists don’t have the availability to take on clients in-person.
Distance
The nearest in-person therapist may also be further away. In order to make your appointment, you may face complications related to transportation, childcare, and scheduling.

Which Kind of Therapy Is Better?

The most effective type of therapy is going to be the one that feels right to you. Depending on who you are, where you live, and what you’re looking for, that could be online or in-person therapy – it might even be different methods at different times. “There is no ‘one size fits all’ rule, and the more options we provide to others, the more we empower others to make the best choice for them,” McCullough says.

One suggestion from Dr. Vigliotti: Whether you meet with a therapist virtually or in-person, building “buffer time” into your session can be beneficial. Take a few minutes before your session to mentally switch gears and prepare what you want to talk about. Then after your appointment, take some time to process what you discussed, rather than jumping straight from therapy into other tasks with no decompression time.

While Dr. Vigliotti, McCullough, and Alston personally prefer in-person therapy, they emphasize that not all clients feel the same way – and ultimately, their job is to best support their clients. To that end, if you feel your needs aren’t being met, remember that it’s OK to find a different therapist, says Alston.

– Additional reporting by Chandler Plante

Jenny Sugar is a former POPSUGAR staff writer. She reports on all things fitness, but especially loves CrossFit and yoga.

Chandler Plante is an assistant editor for PS Health & Fitness. Previously, she worked as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributed to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group. In her free time, she overshares on the internet, creating content about chronic illness, beauty, and disability.