When your mental distress feels like it’s affecting every aspect of your life, and you’re ready to take back control of your well-being, talking to a therapist is an effective course of action worth considering. What’s better, you’re no longer confined to the physical space of a therapist’s office to receive the insight and treatment that you need. There are online options available to you throughout Massachusetts.
Online therapy is outpatient mental health treatment that you can receive on your computer, tablet, or mobile device. It involves talking through your mental health challenges with a licensed mental health care professional. If you’re in Massachusetts and you’re looking for online therapy options nearby, we’re here to guide you through some possibilities.
Read on to learn about options for online therapy in Massachusetts and how to know if it’s right for you. Then we’ll discuss how Guidelight Health includes online therapy in our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program.
3 options for online therapy near you in Massachusetts
The amount of information that comes up for online therapy can be overwhelming, and you might not know where to start. This article will help narrow it down and make the process less daunting.
Here are three options for compassionate online therapy near you:
Community mental health centers
Just like any type of health care, your mental health deserves local support. You can consider community centers or clinics in your area that provide resources for mental health that don’t involve inpatient stays. Along with virtual therapy sessions, these outpatient facilities may offer support groups or online chat forums for you to gain insight from peers who can relate to your experience.
You can likely find affordable online therapy options through community resources or sliding-scale payment options.
APA Psychologist Locator
If you’re trying to take the first step toward improving your mental health, it may be helpful to start with the experts at the American Psychological Association. The APA has a Psychologist Locator tool that can help you find a trusted Massachusetts therapist nearby. It enables you to narrow down the provider results with many different options, including telehealth. You can also pick:
- Practice area
- Insurance
- Provider’s gender identity
- Age group
- Religious/spiritual specialization
Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program
If you’re experiencing severe or worsening mental health condition symptoms that are affecting your everyday life, you may need to seek an option that includes online therapy as part of a more comprehensive program. A Virtual IOP (vIOP) is one step higher than regular outpatient therapy, but still allows you to maintain most of your daily routines.
A Virtual IOP may be beneficial if you’re having trouble managing your symptoms on your own or solely with outpatient therapy.
How to know if you should seek online therapy in Massachusetts
Most people can benefit from therapy in one way or another. Whether you have a mental health condition that you’re trying to manage or you want to improve your relationship with yourself and others, a therapist can help. Online therapy brings the additional benefits of convenience, flexibility and accessibility.
If you’re trying to figure out when it’s time to book an appointment with an online therapist, here are a few potential indicators:
- You’ve wanted to go to therapy but you have a busy schedule.
- Your mental health condition symptoms are persistent or worsening.
- You’re struggling to adapt after a big life change, such as moving or a breakup.
- You’re in an underserved area that doesn’t have accessible therapy options.
- You’re experiencing significant mental health challenges that are affecting your productivity.
Guidelight provides online treatment in Massachusetts beyond therapy
If you’re in the Bay State, an online therapist can help you move along your mental health journey and improve your overall quality of life. But if you need a higher level of support for your symptoms than what outpatient therapy can offer, Guidelight’s Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program may be the answer you’re looking for.
Our vIOP combines virtual individual and group therapy, plus medication management, for an evidence-based curriculum that’s just as effective as our in-person treatment. Our vIOP involves attending virtual treatment three days a week, three to four hours per day. To give you the most flexibility possible, we provide day or evening options.
Everyone has a seat at Guidelight. Contact our team online or call us today for more information about online therapy near you in Massachusetts or to schedule an initial evaluation.