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One of the first things you should be aware of is that there are a number of differences between seeking help from an online psychologist and seeking help from a licensed therapist. A licensed therapist is able to provide psychological therapy either face-to-face or over the telephone. If you are having problems functioning on a regular basis and you need to make use of psychological help, you might want to consider consulting a licensed therapist. Online counseling does not offer this kind of counseling.
You will also notice that there are some differences in the types of counseling offered by these counselors. For instance, free therapy typically involves one on one counseling with your counselor, although online counseling can include phone or video consultations as well. Some counseling services will provide ongoing contact after the initial session is over, while other services will offer free therapy but then require you to sign up for additional counseling.
Online psychotherapists also tend to ask more specific questions about your personal history, which can make you feel uneasy. Because there are no requirements for background checks when working with people over the internet, there is no way to determine whether the counselor has any previous complaints against him or her. You should never give your personal information to anyone you have never met.
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