Is online counseling right for you?

Counseling is an important service that can help you work through difficult emotions, navigate relationships, deal with past traumas, and improve your mental health. Living in South Korea has its own challenges. And finding the right support is not easy.

Thankfully there is a growing number of English-speaking mental health therapists, and client have more options to chose from. In addition, more therapists are offering online counseling, which further increases accessibility to crucial support. 

But what is online counseling?

Over the past couple of years, mental health counseling has undergone a significant transformation with the rise of telehealth counseling, also known as online counseling.

This form of counseling enables clients to connect with their therapists through digital means, providing a convenient alternative to traditional in-person therapy sessions.

Clients can connect through video calls and chat messages tailored to their preferences and needs. Since digital devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop) are more common, and equipped with high quality cameras and microphones, more and more people are able to access counseling regardless of their location.

The recent pandemic pushed therapists and healthcare providers to offer online visits. Initially to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the convenience and increased access to care became a major hit for clients. And once providers adopted to the technology, many decided to offer both in-person and online counseling.

But in-person therapy isn't always accessible or feasible, especially for those with busy schedules, mobility issues, or living far from counseling offices. That's where online counseling, also comes in.

Is online counseling effective?

Research studies have shown it is comparable in effectiveness to in-person therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues and general life stress. However, the effectiveness may depend on the conditions being treated, the therapeutic relationship, and the quality and stability of the technology used for the session.

An important concern clients have is the level of confidentiality and security of their online sessions. Therapists are required by HIPAA law and regulations to ensure their telehealth systems are secure and confidential. And they are required to be trained on the technology and conduct before starting.

What are the benefits?

Accessible

One of the major benefits of online counseling is increased accessibility. Being able to meet with your therapist online eliminates the need to travel. This is especially important for those living in areas with none or few providers.

Many English-speaking therapists are located in Seoul and Pyeongtaek, but clients living in other cities can still access them.

Prior to online counseling, I have seen clients travel from Pyeongtaek, Osan and Incheon all the way to Seoul for their appointments, which was usually a 2+ hour roundtrip! Now tremendous time and energy can be saved.

In addition, online access is an ideal solution for those with limited mobility, chronic illness, social anxiety or agoraphobia.

Selection

One of my favorite benefits of online counseling is providing client more options to see therapists who specializes in what they want to work on. Clients no longer need to feel restricted to who they can see in their area. They have more options and opportunity to find the right fit.

Flexibility

When travel is eliminated, online counseling offers flexibility, allowing clients to schedule sessions at times that work for them. This is especially important for those with busy schedules or have availability at irregular hours.

Privacy

Seeing a therapist online alleviates the fear of being recognized by someone they know while traveling to, or at the therapist's office. Many U.S. military members prefer the privacy as most mental health services are closely integrated on their base and community.

What are the drawbacks?

Technical issues

The major drawback to online counseling is the dependency on the speed and reliability of internet connection and electronic devices. Although Korea is known for their internet speed and availability, some people do experience poor connections.

Of course, even the best equipment and connections can occasionally experience problems, which could interfere with your therapy session. In these situations, most therapists will have a backup method like switching to a phone line during the session.

However, if you struggle to stream videos or experience frequent connectivity issues, it is unlikely to maintain a smooth video session with your therapist. Then in-person sessions will provide you a better experience.

Need to provide own private space

With the benefit of being in their own space, clients are responsible to prepare and ensure their space is private. Usually that means they are in a setting where other people cannot hear their conversation or easily walk into their space.

Young adults and university students in Korea may face more challenges obtaining their own private space. There are some solutions like reserving a private study room. However, it is best to discuss with your therapist if they have other suggestions.

Who is it not right for? 

Preference for in-person sessions

It is important to recognize some clients prefer in-person sessions. They may prefer a setting a therapist can establish for them. Some feel more engaged being in the same physical space.

And certain body language cues may be missed or misinterpreted, as it can be more challenging to pick up on the therapist's empathy and warmth when communicating through a screen.

Children under 8

During the pandemic, most children receiving counseling services could only meet with their therapist online.

Although some providers are very capable and effective at counseling children under age 8, I find most children struggle to engage well over video compared to in-person. Children often rely on reading body language and facial expressions to build connection, and a lot is missed over video.

Here at Online Korea Counseling, we only see clients age 14 and older as we understand the limitations of online counseling for children.

Considering online counseling

Online counseling is an increasingly popular option for those seeking mental health support in South Korea. It offers convenience, flexibility, privacy, and most importantly accessibility when English services are still limited.

If online counseling fits into your needs and preferences, don't hesitate to reach out to us to see how we can support your overall well-being.

Sources

Hubley, S., Lynch, S. B., Schneck, C., Thomas, M., & Shore, J. (2016). Review of key telepsychiatry outcomes. World journal of psychiatry, 6(2), 269–282. https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v6.i2.269

Greenwood, H., Krzyzaniak, N., Peiris, R., Clark, J., Scott, A. M., Cardona, M., Griffith, R., & Glasziou, P. (2022). Telehealth Versus Face-to-face Psychotherapy for Less Common Mental Health Conditions: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. JMIR mental health, 9(3), e31780. https://doi.org/10.2196/31780