Can Online Therapy Help with Stress?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Stress?Stress vs. Mental DisordersTypes of TherapyOnline vs. In-PersonBuilding RapportWhen to See a TherapistWhen Online Therapy Is Not AppropriateNext in Working With a Therapist GuideOnline Addiction Counseling

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Stress?

Stress vs. Mental Disorders

Types of Therapy

Online vs. In-Person

Building Rapport

When to See a Therapist

When Online Therapy Is Not Appropriate

Next in Working With a Therapist Guide

Are you interested in learning whether online therapy can help with stress? Whether you are currently receiving in-person therapy and looking to transition or wanting to start therapy for the first time through an online platform, this form of treatment is ideally suited to stress-related issues.Specifically, if you are unable to attend in-person therapy or going to in-person therapy would actually exacerbate your stress (for example, needing to travel or take time off work), an online platform could be the perfect fit for you.That being said, it’s important to understand what to expect from online therapy for stress.The Best Online Therapy for Anxiety, Tried and TestedWhat Is Stress?Stressis a physical and emotional reaction to a difficult or challenging life situation. Often, we experience stress during times of life changes. For example, a person going through a divorce or facing a disaster would experience stress.In addition, someone facing daily challenges might experiencechronic or continuous stress, while someone experiencing a particularly difficult but time-sensitive situation might haveacute stressthat eases after the situation is over.Stress vs. Mental DisordersAlthough stress is common and pervasive in the world we live in, you may not have thought about it as a mental health condition. In fact, stress is a risk factor for the development of mental health issues such asanxietyanddepression.Therefore, receivingonline therapy and supportto deal with stress may make it less likely that you will be facing mental health issues later on.It’s important not to minimize the stress you feel simply because you may not think of it in the same way you think about something like depression. Anyone who experiences stress knows how deeply it can affect you.The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and TestedTypes of Online Therapy for StressYour online therapist will determine the best strategies and techniques to use with you to combat your stress.Together with your therapist, you should choose the ones that seem best suited to your stress and that would be easiest for you to implement. Some might require direct instruction from your therapist, while others could be used on your own when you are not in touch with your therapist.Below is a list of some of the options that you might be given or the techniques that might be suggested during therapy:Relation techniques such asguided imagery,autogenic training,deep breathing, orprogressive relaxationBiofeedbackHypnotherapyor self-hypnosisMindfulness meditationoracceptance-based therapiesCreative arts therapies(art, music, dance, drama)Cognitive behavioral therapyInterpersonal therapyEye movement desensitization reprocessing(EMDR) forpost-traumatic stressGroup therapyGet Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.How Online Therapy Differs from In-Person TherapyHow does online therapy for stress differ from therapy that you would receive in person?Your online therapy or e-therapy would take place with a licensed mental health care professional, just as it would in an in-person therapy setting. Your therapist should be a mental health professional, such as one of the following:PsychologistLicensed social workerLicensed professional counselor or licensed mental health counselorMarriage and family therapistHowever, rather than going to an office for in-person appointments, you will be meeting with your therapist online either through video conferences, messaging chats, telephone, or email, depending on your preference.Given the nature of online therapy, there generally will be an opportunity to message your therapist throughout the week, even when you are not in a session; this is often not an option when working with a therapist in-person, and can provide an extra layer of support.This could be particularly helpful if you find yourself responding poorly to stressful situations. Having feedback within 24 hours of a situation happening could be more helpful than waiting a week or longer when the situation is no longer causing you stress or if things become increasingly worse.How to Build Rapport With an Online TherapistHow do youbuild rapportwith an online therapist? It’s not going to be the same as how it happens in-person, because you aren’t there with them in their office and they can’t as easily read your body language or pick up on many of the nonverbal signals that people send.What this means is that it’s helpful if you can be more verbally communicative than you might normally be if you are doing video conferences. If your stress also has effects on your ability to communicate, be sure to tell that to your therapist. It could be that you’ll need to take advantage of multiple methods of communication in order to develop the same level of rapport that you would through in-person visits with a therapist.Should I See an Online Therapist for Stress?As human beings, we are not built to be continually stressed. If you have multiple sources of stress in your life right now that are unrelenting, such as work problems, financial issues, health problems, or relationship issues, then talking to a therapist online could help.In addition, if you find it hard to escape mentally from your stress or you never feel relaxed or recharged, it could be that you are dealing withburnoutin addition to stress. Receiving help from an online therapist could be the early intervention that you need to prevent later complications in terms of your mental health.The advantage of an online therapist is that it’s a low-stress way of connecting with someone without a lot of upheaval to your life or schedule.How an Online Therapist Can Help You With StressYou might think that talk therapy alone would not be sufficient to make a difference in your stress. After all, if everything in your life is causing you stress, how can you escape it?The truth is that talk therapy with an online therapist can help to rewire your brain connections to respond to stress in a better way. in fact, research has shown that there are physical differences in the brains of people withpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They show a higher ratio of white matter to gray matter.This disruption in the balance of the brain structures means that the brains of those with PTSD exhibit actual physical changes due to the way their neurons are firing and the way their synapses have made connections between different parts of the brain.With PTSDStronger connection between the hippocampus (incoming signals) and amygdala (fear center)Without PTSDStronger connection between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (moderation/control center)When your hippocampus and amygdala have a stronger connection than your hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, your response to stressful or fear-inducing situations is a lot faster and your ability to calm down is impaired. You’ll have a stronger fear response and limited ability to stop that response once it starts. It’s as though you have a high-speed connection to stressful reactions and a slow, bumpy road to being calm and in control.Working with an online therapist can help to strengthen the positive connections in your brain that will allow you to better respond to stressful situations in a calm and rational manner.The Best Online Trauma Therapy, Tried and TestedWhen Online Therapy Is Not AppropriateIf you are in a crisis or experiencingthoughts of suicide, then online therapy is not appropriate. In that situation, you should reach out to your local emergency number (like 988) or a crisis line (like the Text Crisis Line at 741 741).If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.In addition, if you are living with a severe mental illness, such asschizophreniaor anotherpsychotic disorder, online therapy will probably not be able to provide the level of care and support you’ll need.Online therapy may also not be appropriate if you have better options locally due to your insurance coverage or other factors. You’ll need to investigate whether your insurance provider will cover online therapy.The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.A Word From VerywellOnline therapy for stress could be a good option for you if you are looking for support to develop strategies for managing stress and respond better to stressful situations as they arise. An online therapist will work with you just like an in-person therapist would, except the method of communication is different.Whether you are a long-time recipient of therapy or just thinking about it for the first time, online therapy could be a good option if in-person therapy has become unaffordable or out of your reach for whatever reason.In particular, if you are facing a situation in which online therapy is your only option (due toagoraphobiaor other reasons for not being able to leave the house), it should be comforting to know that the end result should be similar to seeing an in-person therapist.Online Addiction Counseling

Specifically, if you are unable to attend in-person therapy or going to in-person therapy would actually exacerbate your stress (for example, needing to travel or take time off work), an online platform could be the perfect fit for you.

That being said, it’s important to understand what to expect from online therapy for stress.

The Best Online Therapy for Anxiety, Tried and Tested

Stressis a physical and emotional reaction to a difficult or challenging life situation. Often, we experience stress during times of life changes. For example, a person going through a divorce or facing a disaster would experience stress.

In addition, someone facing daily challenges might experiencechronic or continuous stress, while someone experiencing a particularly difficult but time-sensitive situation might haveacute stressthat eases after the situation is over.

Although stress is common and pervasive in the world we live in, you may not have thought about it as a mental health condition. In fact, stress is a risk factor for the development of mental health issues such asanxietyanddepression.

Therefore, receivingonline therapy and supportto deal with stress may make it less likely that you will be facing mental health issues later on.

It’s important not to minimize the stress you feel simply because you may not think of it in the same way you think about something like depression. Anyone who experiences stress knows how deeply it can affect you.

The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and Tested

Types of Online Therapy for Stress

Your online therapist will determine the best strategies and techniques to use with you to combat your stress.

Together with your therapist, you should choose the ones that seem best suited to your stress and that would be easiest for you to implement. Some might require direct instruction from your therapist, while others could be used on your own when you are not in touch with your therapist.

Below is a list of some of the options that you might be given or the techniques that might be suggested during therapy:

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Get Help Now

We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

How Online Therapy Differs from In-Person Therapy

How does online therapy for stress differ from therapy that you would receive in person?

Your online therapy or e-therapy would take place with a licensed mental health care professional, just as it would in an in-person therapy setting. Your therapist should be a mental health professional, such as one of the following:

However, rather than going to an office for in-person appointments, you will be meeting with your therapist online either through video conferences, messaging chats, telephone, or email, depending on your preference.

Given the nature of online therapy, there generally will be an opportunity to message your therapist throughout the week, even when you are not in a session; this is often not an option when working with a therapist in-person, and can provide an extra layer of support.

This could be particularly helpful if you find yourself responding poorly to stressful situations. Having feedback within 24 hours of a situation happening could be more helpful than waiting a week or longer when the situation is no longer causing you stress or if things become increasingly worse.

How to Build Rapport With an Online Therapist

How do youbuild rapportwith an online therapist? It’s not going to be the same as how it happens in-person, because you aren’t there with them in their office and they can’t as easily read your body language or pick up on many of the nonverbal signals that people send.

What this means is that it’s helpful if you can be more verbally communicative than you might normally be if you are doing video conferences. If your stress also has effects on your ability to communicate, be sure to tell that to your therapist. It could be that you’ll need to take advantage of multiple methods of communication in order to develop the same level of rapport that you would through in-person visits with a therapist.

Should I See an Online Therapist for Stress?

As human beings, we are not built to be continually stressed. If you have multiple sources of stress in your life right now that are unrelenting, such as work problems, financial issues, health problems, or relationship issues, then talking to a therapist online could help.

In addition, if you find it hard to escape mentally from your stress or you never feel relaxed or recharged, it could be that you are dealing withburnoutin addition to stress. Receiving help from an online therapist could be the early intervention that you need to prevent later complications in terms of your mental health.

The advantage of an online therapist is that it’s a low-stress way of connecting with someone without a lot of upheaval to your life or schedule.

How an Online Therapist Can Help You With Stress

You might think that talk therapy alone would not be sufficient to make a difference in your stress. After all, if everything in your life is causing you stress, how can you escape it?

The truth is that talk therapy with an online therapist can help to rewire your brain connections to respond to stress in a better way. in fact, research has shown that there are physical differences in the brains of people withpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They show a higher ratio of white matter to gray matter.

This disruption in the balance of the brain structures means that the brains of those with PTSD exhibit actual physical changes due to the way their neurons are firing and the way their synapses have made connections between different parts of the brain.

With PTSDStronger connection between the hippocampus (incoming signals) and amygdala (fear center)Without PTSDStronger connection between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (moderation/control center)

With PTSDStronger connection between the hippocampus (incoming signals) and amygdala (fear center)

Stronger connection between the hippocampus (incoming signals) and amygdala (fear center)

Without PTSDStronger connection between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (moderation/control center)

Stronger connection between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (moderation/control center)

When your hippocampus and amygdala have a stronger connection than your hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, your response to stressful or fear-inducing situations is a lot faster and your ability to calm down is impaired. You’ll have a stronger fear response and limited ability to stop that response once it starts. It’s as though you have a high-speed connection to stressful reactions and a slow, bumpy road to being calm and in control.

Working with an online therapist can help to strengthen the positive connections in your brain that will allow you to better respond to stressful situations in a calm and rational manner.

The Best Online Trauma Therapy, Tried and Tested

If you are in a crisis or experiencingthoughts of suicide, then online therapy is not appropriate. In that situation, you should reach out to your local emergency number (like 988) or a crisis line (like the Text Crisis Line at 741 741).

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

In addition, if you are living with a severe mental illness, such asschizophreniaor anotherpsychotic disorder, online therapy will probably not be able to provide the level of care and support you’ll need.

Online therapy may also not be appropriate if you have better options locally due to your insurance coverage or other factors. You’ll need to investigate whether your insurance provider will cover online therapy.

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

A Word From Verywell

Online therapy for stress could be a good option for you if you are looking for support to develop strategies for managing stress and respond better to stressful situations as they arise. An online therapist will work with you just like an in-person therapist would, except the method of communication is different.

Whether you are a long-time recipient of therapy or just thinking about it for the first time, online therapy could be a good option if in-person therapy has become unaffordable or out of your reach for whatever reason.

In particular, if you are facing a situation in which online therapy is your only option (due toagoraphobiaor other reasons for not being able to leave the house), it should be comforting to know that the end result should be similar to seeing an in-person therapist.

Online Addiction Counseling

1 SourceVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chetty S, Friedman AR, Taravosh-Lahn K, et al.Stress and glucocorticoids promote oligodendrogenesis in the adult hippocampus.Mol Psychiatry. 2014;19(12):1275-1283. doi:10.1038/mp.2013.190Additional ReadingMartin L, Oepen R, Bauer K, et al. Creative Arts Interventions for Stress Management and Prevention-A Systematic Review.Behav Sci (Basel). 2018;8(2). doi:10.3390/bs8020028National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Stress.NHS.Types of Talking Therapies.Sucala M, Schnur JB, Constantino MJ, Miller SJ, Brackman EH, Montgomery GH. The Therapeutic Relationship in E-Therapy for Mental Health: A Systematic Review.J Med Internet Res. 2012;14(4). doi:10.2196/jmir.2084

1 Source

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chetty S, Friedman AR, Taravosh-Lahn K, et al.Stress and glucocorticoids promote oligodendrogenesis in the adult hippocampus.Mol Psychiatry. 2014;19(12):1275-1283. doi:10.1038/mp.2013.190Additional ReadingMartin L, Oepen R, Bauer K, et al. Creative Arts Interventions for Stress Management and Prevention-A Systematic Review.Behav Sci (Basel). 2018;8(2). doi:10.3390/bs8020028National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Stress.NHS.Types of Talking Therapies.Sucala M, Schnur JB, Constantino MJ, Miller SJ, Brackman EH, Montgomery GH. The Therapeutic Relationship in E-Therapy for Mental Health: A Systematic Review.J Med Internet Res. 2012;14(4). doi:10.2196/jmir.2084

Chetty S, Friedman AR, Taravosh-Lahn K, et al.Stress and glucocorticoids promote oligodendrogenesis in the adult hippocampus.Mol Psychiatry. 2014;19(12):1275-1283. doi:10.1038/mp.2013.190

Martin L, Oepen R, Bauer K, et al. Creative Arts Interventions for Stress Management and Prevention-A Systematic Review.Behav Sci (Basel). 2018;8(2). doi:10.3390/bs8020028National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Stress.NHS.Types of Talking Therapies.Sucala M, Schnur JB, Constantino MJ, Miller SJ, Brackman EH, Montgomery GH. The Therapeutic Relationship in E-Therapy for Mental Health: A Systematic Review.J Med Internet Res. 2012;14(4). doi:10.2196/jmir.2084

Martin L, Oepen R, Bauer K, et al. Creative Arts Interventions for Stress Management and Prevention-A Systematic Review.Behav Sci (Basel). 2018;8(2). doi:10.3390/bs8020028

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Stress.

NHS.Types of Talking Therapies.

Sucala M, Schnur JB, Constantino MJ, Miller SJ, Brackman EH, Montgomery GH. The Therapeutic Relationship in E-Therapy for Mental Health: A Systematic Review.J Med Internet Res. 2012;14(4). doi:10.2196/jmir.2084

Hannah Owens, LMSW

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?

Types of Online Therapy for Stress#

Get Help Now#

How Online Therapy Differs from In-Person Therapy#

How to Build Rapport With an Online Therapist#

Should I See an Online Therapist for Stress?#

How an Online Therapist Can Help You With Stress#

A Word From Verywell#