Member-only story
Julie Answers: Is online therapy a good option for me?
Brittany’s question: I have complex PTSD. A lifetime worth. I’m a mother, and chronically ill, currently in a custody dispute with an abusive ex. The stress is killing me. Should I consider pursuing therapy online? Do you think that would be a good fit for me?
Dear Brittany,
Your situation does sound overwhelming, and I commend you for reaching out in hopes of finding the help you need. I’d like to use this answer to explore:
How counseling or therapy in general can be helpful for someone who is facing numerous life challenges such as you are.
The pros and cons of online therapy for anyone who might be considering it, and for you specifically.
Point number one makes me think of a question I responded to last year. The person essentially asked: How can therapy help me deal with a situation that feels impossible? In other words, how can “just talking” to someone about your problems help when those problems are objectively real, concrete, and daunting? Here are some ways that talking things out in counseling can be helpful regardless of the scope or depth of the problem:
Perspective: The process can help you to break a problem down into more manageable pieces. I often use the analogy of looking at a tangled, knotted-up ball of…
