Our First Steps into Online Therapy
Our first experiences with online therapy practice began to emerge in 2017, along with office-based medical practice. Over the course of about eight years, the search for psychological support in their native language, especially among Turkish clients living abroad, drew attention. We observed that individuals who could not easily find a response to this need in the countries they lived in turned to online therapy.
Similarly, it was seen that clients living in different provinces of Turkey, who did not have the opportunity to come to Istanbul, also requested online therapy. In fact, some clients preferred to start the process face-to-face and then continue it through online platforms.
At that time, online therapy was not yet a very common method. It was mostly thought that it could not replace face-to-face sessions. However, over time, thanks to technological means, it was experienced that clients could receive support effectively and regularly. It was observed that being able to connect from home, eliminating time and travel expenses, had a facilitating function in terms of adaptation to the process.
This period contributed not only to the provision of services to clients but also to our better understanding of the boundaries and possibilities of online therapy. Thus, over time, online therapy became established as a stable option preferred by clients.
When the reasons for clients’ applications were examined, it was seen that depression, anxiety disorders, difficulties in adapting to a new country, work-related problems, family problems, and the difficulties experienced by spouses living abroad came to the forefront. In addition, alongside the search for coaching and mentoring support in professional life, communication problems with children were also among the frequently expressed issues.
The Pandemic and the Spread of Online Therapy Practice
The COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020 radically changed not only daily life but also the way mental health services were provided. Quarantine conditions and travel restrictions largely halted face-to-face therapies. During this period, online therapy became the only option for many clients.
At first, it was thought that online sessions might not be as effective as face-to-face therapies. However, both our clinical observations and the research in the literature revealed that online therapy was similarly effective to face-to-face therapies, especially in processes of coping with depression, anxiety, and stress.
From the clients’ perspective, the most striking aspects were accessibility and comfort. Being able to connect from home and participate in therapy without experiencing transportation and time loss provided an important advantage, especially for individuals living abroad. Over time, online therapy, which was seen as a “mandatory” solution, became a preferred method for many people.
The experiences that began before the pandemic diversified even more during this period. Sessions conducted with clients from Europe (England, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Albania), the Middle East (Dubai), and America (USA, Canada) made us realize that online therapy had become a sustainable support model that transcended geographical boundaries and was appreciated by clients.
Conclusion
Our experiences, as well as what has slowly begun to find its place in the literature, show that online therapy provides clients with both access in their own language and psychotherapeutic support without time and space restrictions. As a result of this, the number of psychotherapists practicing online therapy is increasing with each passing day.