Stress Center Peer Support

So I was going to two therapists simultaneously. I didn't like either. I have been a member on this board for a few years but I was really hoping to find someone that I could confide in. One of them I felt was judging me and the other one always answered my questions with a question.

Anyways, I started seeing this woman who does online therapy. I actually started seeing her, well speaking to her, because she was the cheapest. It was like ten bucks a session. I checked around and most places wanted hundreds of dollars a session, which I don't have. So far I really like her, and I don't get as nervous because I do it either through email or chat. I know it's always iffy doing things online but at the same time I think she has helped me more than anyone I have seen face to face. Has anyone else ever tried online therapy?

Hi,

I am not a therapist, but I have 45 graduate hours in social work, and I have been in therapy for myself consistently since 2001. I could see why that situation would be appealing to you. However, there are a few things about doing counseling that way that concern me. First of all, what are the criteria regarding your confidentiality in this situation? As a client, you have major rights concerning confidentiality under the law known as HIPPA. I am not certain about the guidelines under HIPPA regarding electronic communications, but I know that there are guidelines. I think doing counseling that way may put you at serious risks regarding your rights to privacy. It just sounds really "fishy" to me. Especially if you have not signed papers presented to you by the therapist insuring your protection and right to privacy under the law HIPPA. I just think the risks are great that this person could violate your privacy and store your e-mails. If the person is unethical, there is just no telling what could happen. Again, if this therapist did not even bring up these issues, then you can be assured that this person is not acting ethically. Therapy is an extremely intimate process in which clients are extremely vulnerable, and I don't think that everything should be written down that takes place during sessions to ensure protection for the vulnerable client.

Secondly, what are the credentials of this person? Is this counselor certified, and what is his or her training? Are you certain that this person is truly the person that they are portraying themselves to be? I know that the therapy is very cheap, and that also sets off alarm bells as well. It's so cheap that a client who uses the service may never check the credentials of the therapist or check to see if the law is being followed regarding his or her right to privacy. I know that therapy is expensive, and it's very discouraging when a therapist is not worth the money. However, there is some justification for the high costs of therapy. This includes the certification of the therapist and the insurance costs for the therapist. Although these costs are expensive and often translate down to the client, these added costs reveal that the therapist has had the training and passed certification requirements, and the higher costs reveal that an insurer was willing to take the risk of insuring the therapist which should mean added protection for the client.

I think that it is great that you have found help. This therapist could be completely genuine and qualified, but please consider these issues, especially regarding the law and protection of your privacy. If your privacy was violated in any way with this therapist, it would be completely unethical and hurt your chances of trusting a worthy therapist in the future which could hurt your recovery.

I have been in therapy for a while and had a number of therapists over the years. I've had good and bad. One of the worst therapists was a lady with a PhD who is on the board of the state psychiatric hospital in my state. She did not follow the law regarding HIPPA because she would frequently tell me about other clients that she had that worked at the same place I did. I just cringe when I realize that she divulged information about them in the name of protecting me. However, if she revealed information about them under the guise of helping me, what does that mean for me? I can assure you that that means that there is no telling what she has divulged about me. It's very violating. Sometimes she would keep talking to me out in the waiting room and say something that I had said in private in therapy in front of other clients. I would also hear her talk about other clients to her receptionist before they walked in the door. I could figure out who they were. She ended up doing something even worse than that, but I think my point is that there were smaller signs that she was unethical, and I wish I would have paid attention to those "subtle" signs.

The second horrible therapist I had did not have a degree and gave out cards advertising "Free Therapy" at a local church. At first, she seemed good and was a huge advocate of this program, but again, she would complain about her other clients to me. The last session with her was absolutely horrible. My husband happened to be present to witness her purposefully attack me. She seemed completely unstable. I have a son with severe autism, and she kept saying that her daughter's past anxiety was exactly the same as my son having severe autism. and she could 100% relate. She was very offended when I told her that it was not the exact same situation. My son can not talk and is not toilet trained even though he's almost a teenager. My husband and I have done everything we can for our son with the resources that are available to us, and she just kept saying that we weren't doing enough because his autism is so severe. She kept saying that if I was healed of my anxiety that he would get better. I'm here to tell you that I am better, and that our lives are better with my anxiety almost gone, but our son sadly still has severe autism, and it's still excruciating for him and us. She felt that she gave her daughter anxiety, and she believed that I had given my son autism, which research shows is not true. It was really bad, and it ended with her walking over and hugging me and saying, "I love you." My husband will often joke with me and go "I love you" while clenching his teeth as she did. This woman was clearly unstable.

I say all that to you to show you that I know how hard it is to find a good therapist. Credentials do matter, but I've had good and bad Ph.D's and good and bad therapists with less education and certification. So, I'm not automatically knocking this online therapist, but I do think you should do whatever is necessary to make sure that you protect yourself. Really pay attention to boundaries. Right now, I see a therapist with excellent boundaries and only have to see her about once a month. This program began my healing, and enabled me to break away from the therapists who had poor boundaries. I think boundaries really matter because they keep you safe.

Take care,
luvpiggy

I am currently doing telephone counseling with a therapist that has been recovered from panic an anxiety.

A friend of my recommended www.e-stressandjobhelp.com. They have therapists dealing with a wide varity of topics. They also have sites to help look for work.

Personally, I think the best therapy is from someone who has been there and done that.

I think personal advice from a good friend is the best therapy, ever, and it is free. Also, you don't have to concern yourself about someone breaking your confidentiality, since, they are doing it from the heart!!!

I am a true believer in friendship therapy!!!
This is not to take the place of a licensed therapist, but, to just have someone around who knows exactly what you are going through, and doesn't want anyone else to suffer in such a manner!!! You may want to call it free advice!!

I would be terrified to give out my private info. on the internet, especially for $10.00 a session. This sure seems like a scam to me!!!

I pray this helps...God Bless