The Doctor Will See You (Online) Now

Is virtual therapy the way of the future for our psychological needs?

- Nadine von Cohen

Therapy can be like dating – sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs before you find your perfect shrink. It’s essential to have a good rapport with your therapist, to trust them and value their advice. And if you don’t feel a connection with the first person you see, well then, just try another one. But what if you’re too cash strapped to shop around or simply don’t have the time to fit a therapist visit into your already jam-packed schedule? Until now, you may have been forced to go without. But thankfully things are changing.

E-therapy is a fast-growing industry, unsurprising considering one in five Australians experiences a mental illness in any year. From mood tracking to cognitive behaviour therapy, it’s become increasingly easy to access support from home. Websites and apps such as Moodgym and Smiling Mind have been around for a while, but now there are tools that dig deeper to help those seeking more than a quick pick-me-up.