FAQ #1 7cups online therapy w/ Cynthia Stocker

#1 If you are coping with depression and anxiety for a long period of time but still feeling the effects of these challenges, how do you think online therapy can help me?

Cynthia Stocker, 7cups therapist reply First I think it would be important to ask if you have ever participated in therapy of any kind?

Therapy in general is a useful tool because it helps people pinpoint life events that contribute to their depression and help them find ways to change, accept or adapt to those situations and set realistic goals for the future. It also helps Identify distorted thought processes or unhelpful behaviors that contribute to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, as well as develop skills to cope with symptoms and problems and identify or prevent future episodes of depression and anxiety.

I don’t know your personal circumstances so I will speak in generalities about online therapy; Online therapy offers access to mental health information to people in rural or remote areas. Those who live in such areas simply might not have access to any other form of mental health treatment because there are limited or no mental health practices in their geographic area. E-therapy gives these individuals access to treatment that they might not have otherwise.

Individuals who are unable to leave their home for various reasons, such as physical or mental illness, may find online therapy a useful alternative to traditional psychotherapy settings.

Online therapy is usually fairly affordable and convenient. It is like a journal; you can write any time you want to. When you have a thought you go in and post it, and when your therapist is available, they come in and answer. This is different than in person where you have to wait a week or even more until your appointment.

You can go back and read over what you wrote. This is vital to change. You can see where you were a few weeks ago and the changes you have made so that your goals can be adjusted. I hope this helps :-) here is my link for therapy

#2 I've been feeling really down lately (and actually for quite a while before that) and it's been affecting my sleeping, eating, motivation etc. but I've been struggling with feeling guilt that my problems aren't bad enough or worthy of getting help. Do you think online therapy/therapy would help me?

Cynthia Stocker, 7cups therapist reply Thank you for reaching out. I do think that therapy would be quite helpful. It actually is not that uncommon for people to worry that their issues are not bad enough to seek help. However if something is impacting daily living i.e. "been affecting my sleeping, eating, motivation" then it does rise to the level of needing intervention. here is my link for therapy

#3 How can online therapy work with a person who due to their environment has learned over many years not to talk about feelings and thoughts, who simply has a blockage to talk?

Cynthia Stocker, 7cups therapist reply This is a great question and I believe one of the ways online therapy can be a good fit is that you can pace yourself. Unlike sitting in front of a face to face therapist, once a week or so, there is no pressure to "start talking" about something immediately. You can take your time getting to know your therapist without looking a therapist in the eye. Having your online therapist there, but not staring at you, creates some distance that can help you feel more safe. It takes the pressure off. Does that make sense? here is my link for therapy