Online therapy vs in-person, which is better for you?

One of the questions we get asked most in our practice is: which is better, online therapy or in-person therapy? The honest answer is that it depends on you, on your situation and on your preferences. Here I'll help you decide.

What they have in common

Before talking about differences, the most important thing: both modalities share the essentials:

• The same licensed psychologist
• The same evidence-based techniques (CBT, EMDR, ACT, systemic therapy)
• The same session length (50-60 minutes)
• The same professional confidentiality
• The same price

The modality changes the channel, not the quality of the therapeutic work.

When to choose in-person therapy

In-person therapy can be the better option when:

• You need a physical space away from home: if your home is part of the problem (relationship conflicts, difficult cohabitation), getting out of that environment can be therapeutic in itself
• You are under 8 years old: young children need play and direct interaction
• You are in an acute crisis: the physical presence of the therapist can provide a holding that the screen does not offer
• You prefer full non-verbal communication: although you can see a lot over video, there are nuances that are perceived better in person

If you live in Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Badalona, Barcelona or Sant Adrià de Besòs, our practice is very well connected by metro (L1 Santa Coloma, L9 Can Peixauet) and bus.

When to choose online therapy

Online therapy is especially good when:

• You live far from the practice: you don't need to be in Santa Coloma or in Barcelona
• You have little time: you eliminate the commute and can do the session during your lunch break
• You value privacy: no one sees you go in or out of a psychology practice
• You have reduced mobility: disability, temporary injury, advanced pregnancy...
• You are abroad: if you speak Spanish or Catalan, we can see you wherever you are
• You have already completed the intensive in-person phase: online maintenance works very well

What our patients say

At El Teu Espai, more than 40% of sessions are already online. What our patients tell us:

• "At first it made me uneasy, but after 5 minutes I forgot it was through a screen"
• "I save an hour of transport every week, that's already therapeutic"
• "Being able to do the session from home lets me be more relaxed"
• "I started in person but when I moved to Madrid I was able to continue with the same psychologist"

The hybrid format: the best of both worlds

In our experience, many patients end up combining both modalities:

• They start in person for the first sessions (the initial connection is established more easily)
• They switch to online once they have confidence with the therapist
• They return to in person occasionally if they need to

You don't have to choose a single modality forever. You can keep changing according to your stage in life.

My recommendation as a psychologist

After more than 20 years of experience and thousands of sessions in both formats, my advice is simple: choose the modality that makes it easiest for you to start and keep up with therapy.

If in-person therapy means a logistical effort that makes you postpone starting, choose online. If the screen puts you off and you need direct human contact, choose in person.

What you must not do is fail to start because you can't make up your mind.

Take the first step

We are in Santa Coloma de Gramenet for in-person sessions and available by video call for online sessions. Write to us on WhatsApp and we'll advise you on the modality that best fits your case.