Research Articles Related to Online, Telephone and Walk & Talk Therapy Delivery

Research consistently shows that online treatment can be very effective for many mental health concerns. Listed are some interesting results from a sampling of studies on this topic.

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  • A 2014 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that online treatment was just as effective as face-to-face treatment for depression.

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  • A 2014 study published in Behaviour Research and Therapy found that online cognitive behavioral therapy was effective in treating anxiety disorders. Treatment was cost-effective and the positive improvements were sustained at the one-year follow-up.

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  • A 2020 study published in Science Direct found that clients reported walk-and-talk therapy equally or more therapeutic than traditional therapy and felt walk and-talk could be a less stigmatizing therapeutic alternative for individuals who find traditional, indoor therapy unappealing, inaccessible or inconvenient.

 

Online therapy offers some key benefits over traditional face-to-face treatment:

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  • Ecological: our carbon footprint is reduced when we don't need to drive to access services

  • Accessibility: no need to navigate the logistics of traffic, parking, childcare, etc.

  • Efficiency: less time is spent travelling to therapy when accessed from a client's preferred location

  • Anonymity: clients will not run into others in waiting rooms or have to engage in small talk

  • Privacy: clients only see their therapist without an admin staff or other clients in a busy, multi-care clinic

  • Scheduling: many clients find therapy-from-anywhere to be highly convenient

  • Affordability: clients save money on parking, hiring childcare, etc. 

  • Sustainability: when therapy is easier to access, clients may come more often and find more time to commit to this work

  • Effectiveness: due to the ease of access, clients may see results sooner when are able to engage in regular support

  • Inclusiveness: Individuals with anxiety, especially social anxiety, are more likely to reach out to an online therapist

 

Additional reading on this topic:

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https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/walk-and-talk-therapy#1

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https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/mind-matters-menninger/202001/take-your-talk-therapy-walk

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References:

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Cooley, S., Jones, C., Kurtz, A., & Robertson, N. (2020, March 04). 'Into the Wild': A meta-synthesis of talking therapy in natural outdoor spaces. Retrieved May 17, 2020, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735820300295

 

Morin, A. (2019, November 14). Does Online Therapy Work? Retrieved May 17, 2020, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-do/201911/does-online-therapy-work

The Potential Benefits of Online Treatment

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Wright, S. (2008, April 11). Walk and Talk Therapy. Retrieved May 17, 2020, from https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/walk-and-talk-therapy

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