Is online therapy really effective? What the scientific evidence says

Are you thinking about starting therapy but unsure whether the online format really works? It is a very common doubt. Today I'll tell you what science says and what we see in our practice after thousands of online sessions.

What does research say about online therapy?

The short answer is clear: online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy for most reasons for consultation.

A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Affective Disorders (2021) that reviewed 89 studies concluded that cognitive-behavioral therapy via video conferencing achieves results equivalent to in-person therapy in the treatment of anxiety and depression.

Another study in Lancet Psychiatry (2018) demonstrated that patients who received online therapy maintained the improvements at the 12-month follow-up, just like those who attended in person.

What we see at El Teu Espai confirms these findings: more than 40% of our sessions are already online and the results are the same.

What is online therapy especially well suited for?

Online therapy is especially indicated for:

• Anxiety and stress: accessing the session from a safe environment like your home can facilitate therapeutic work
• Depression: it removes the barrier of "I don't have the energy to leave the house"
• Relationship problems: both partners can connect from the same place or from different locations
• Grief and loss: the schedule flexibility allows sessions at moments of greatest need
• Follow-up and maintenance: ideal once you have completed the intensive in-person phase

When in-person therapy may be better

There are situations where in-person therapy is still preferable:

• Children under 7-8 years old: they need play and physical interaction
• Acute crises: when the person needs in-person containment
• Neuropsychological assessments: they require materials and direct observation

In all other cases, you choose the format you prefer. And you can alternate between the two depending on what works best for you at any given moment.

Practical advantages of online therapy

Beyond clinical efficacy, online therapy has practical advantages that many patients value:

• No travel: you don't waste time on transport or parking
• More scheduling options: we can offer morning, afternoon and evening slots
• Access from anywhere: wherever you live in Spain, you can reach our team
• Greater privacy: no one sees you enter or leave a practice
• Continuity: if you travel or move, your therapy is not interrupted

How our online sessions work

At El Teu Espai we work with a secure video conferencing platform with end-to-end encryption. You only need:

• A device with a camera and microphone
• A stable internet connection
• A quiet space where you can talk privately

The session lasts the same as the in-person one (50-60 minutes) and the price is the same. We use the same techniques and follow the same professional rigor.

Our professionals are registered to provide online care

The 11 professionals at El Teu Espai are registered with the COPC (Col-legi Oficial de Psicologia de Catalunya), which qualifies us to treat patients throughout the entire national territory in the online format.

It doesn't matter whether you live in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville or a village of 500 inhabitants: you can access the same quality of psychological care.

Conclusion

Online therapy is not an inferior version of in-person therapy. It is a format fully validated by science that also offers practical advantages that make it easier to start and maintain the therapeutic process.

If you are thinking about taking the step, check out our online therapy page or write to us on WhatsApp so we can guide you.