Online Therapy and Counseling in San Diego, CA and California
Welcome to Cornell & Associates Marriage and Family Therapy, where we offer professional online therapy and counseling services tailored to meet the needs of individuals, couples, and families in San Diego, CA, and throughout California. At Cornell, we believe that adapting therapeutic methods for the online medium is a natural progression for today’s world. As such, improving access, reducing anxiety-related fears, and initiating modifications to fit the individual’s environment are all massive positives in this shift, and we strive to provide you with the resources and tools that you need in your times of need.
What Is Online Therapy?
Our clinic offers video and over-the-phone therapy sessions that maintain the same ethos and goals as our in-person methods. Depending on your therapist, email correspondence may also be an option, allowing you more time to reflect on emotions and feelings before checking in. This “zone of reflection” applies to video and phone therapy as well, creating a less pressured environment to answer exploratory questions. Our online therapy services are designed to provide the same level of support and effectiveness as traditional face-to-face sessions, ensuring you receive the best care possible.
What Are the Benefits of Online Therapy?
Technology and therapy are not strangers, and telehealth has been a supportive asset in the mental health world for a while now. Its importance is much more apparent in today’s climate, where if online therapy and counseling services weren’t offered, people wouldn’t be able to seek help. The benefits of telehealth/telepsychology/teletherapy have been widely studied over the past few decades, and countless trials have discovered that the use of online therapeutic services can be just as effective as in-person counseling and medicine. According to the Journal of Affective Disorder, The Cyberpsychology Journal, and The Journal of Behavior and Networking, even messaging therapy is as beneficial as traditional, face-to-face methods.
This advancement in the mental health field is a massive step for many individuals who did not have access to care, have chronic illnesses that prevent them from leaving their homes, or cannot afford traditional psychiatric care. The benefits of utilizing online therapy, regardless of the COVID-19 context, are vast. Unnecessary stigma, unfortunately, is still attached to seeking mental health treatment, and having the option to receive treatment in your own home can be a major supportive factor in even getting help.
For many people, especially those with anxiety, depression, and trauma, receiving treatment in their own safe space seems like a much more achievable and mentally doable option than traveling to an office for group or individual therapy. Being in an unknown environment for an extended period and not having the freedom to dictate some of the smaller, comforting details can be overwhelming. Using telehealth has also been shown to increase feelings of a more even playing field for the client, allowing discovery of the core issues much quicker. Alongside this is an increased sense of anonymity that is oftentimes a major barrier to digging into the actual roots of symptoms and mental health struggles. Our clinic aims to ensure a sense of horizontal learning and empathy throughout all of our online and in-person sessions and interactions with you.
How We Choose Your Therapist
To ensure you receive the best care, we consider several factors when matching you with a therapist:
- Your needs: What you need to reach mental well-being.
- Your personality and energy: Ensuring compatibility for a comfortable therapeutic relationship.
- Your communication style: Matching you with a therapist who understands and complements your way of expressing yourself.
- Therapist’s specialties: Considering our therapist’s specialties, training, interests, and lived experiences.
- Therapist’s approach: Ensuring the therapist’s approach and communication style align with your preferences.
In the Meantime
While waiting for your first session, consider incorporating these simple and mindful lifestyle changes that have a drastic effect on daily life:
- Meditation: Helps in reducing stress and enhancing self-awareness.
- Yoga: Promotes mental clarity and calmness.
- Reiki: Aids in healing and stress reduction.
- Experiencing nature: Boosts mood and reduces feelings of anxiety.
- Conscious, deep breathing: Improves mental and physical health.
- Maintain an active lifestyle: Enhances overall well-being.
- Healthy diet: Supports mental health and cognitive function.