Accessibility

The main reason for the increasing popularity of e-therapy is its exceptional accessibility. It is sufficient for a person to have a computer, access to Internet and the wish to talk to a professional in the field of psychic health – and the connection is realized – without having to leave your home or your workplace! Likewise, you can always write an e-mail at any time of the day or late at night, when most emotional torments become more intense. This is therapy that can be effected at any time from any place – even during your vacation or business trip abroad.

Swiftness

Another very important advantage is the swiftness of connection –the different Websites offer е-mail reply within the time interval of 24 to 72 hours from the time of receiving the request for electronic consultation. There is no need to wait for an appointment, or to postpone the seeking of an answer, if the matter is too urgent and cannot be delayed.

Anonymity

Е-therapy allows the client to reveal as much about himself as he/she feels safe and protected to do. His e-mails are all the information that the therapist learns about him/her and this depends entirely upon the wish and readiness of the client to disclose it.

Cheaper than traditional forms of psychotherapy

The electronic consultations not only save time and effort in receiving professional advice but also lower the price of the service twofold or more. This is another reason for the greater accessibility and hence – the greater popularity of this considerably new method of psychological consultation.

More effective use of language as a means of personality change

While the consulting-office psychotherapy makes use of the body language no less than spoken language, to understand the problem and work on it, distance therapy uses words as the main and only means of communication, i.e. the written text. This creates a lot of limitations that will be presented below in the chapter on shortcomings of e-therapy, but it also has the advantage that it offers an opportunity for more effective use of words as a language that cures. To this I can add the fact that, both the client and the therapist have the possibility to edit the written text in such a way that the main message comes through clearly. Also there exists the possibility to re-read the replies of the therapist many times until their understanding acquires greater depth.