Is Virtual Therapy Still a Thing After COVID? Here’s How to Know If It’s Right for You.

Posted by Ashley Waddell, LCSW-S, RPT™, NCSSW™

Founder of Wholistic Alignment Therapeutic Wellness Center

Therapy in Virginia & Maryland | Wellness Worldwide

July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, and I wanted to begin this month by talking about something that continues to matter: access to mental health care.

For many people, starting therapy is not just about finding a therapist. It is also about finding therapy that fits their life, schedule, privacy needs, responsibilities, and emotional capacity.

That is one of the reasons virtual therapy continues to be an important option.

Since the pandemic, there have been a lot of conversations about whether virtual therapy “really works” or whether therapy should happen in person. And if you have ever wondered whether virtual therapy is still a good option for you, especially as we move through summer and prepare for the second half of the year, you are not alone.

As a licensed therapist serving high-achieving Black women, caregivers, helping professionals, and teen girls across Virginia and Maryland, I know this question comes up but rarely is it ever asked during consultation:

“Is virtual therapy right for me?”

Let’s talk about it honestly.

Why Virtual Therapy Still Works

Virtual therapy became more common during the pandemic, but for many people, it was not just a temporary solution. It became the thing that made therapy more accessible, more consistent, and more realistic.

Here are a few reasons virtual therapy can still works well.

Flexibility

You do not have to rush through traffic, rearrange your whole day, or add another commute to an already full schedule.

You can log in from a private room, your office, your couch, or even your parked car if that is the quietest space you have. For many busy women, parents, and helping professionals, that flexibility matters.

Sometimes the issue is not whether you want support. The issue is figuring out how to make support fit into your real life.

Access to the Right Therapist

Depending on where you live, there may not be a therapist nearby who specializes in what you need. You may also run into long waitlists, limited availability, or difficulty finding a therapist who understands your lived experience.

Virtual therapy can expand your options. It gives you access to therapists across your state, not just within a few miles of your home.

This can be especially important for clients who are looking for culturally responsive care, trauma-informed support, EMDR therapy, somatic approaches, or a therapist who understands the pressure of carrying so much for everyone else.

Comfort and Privacy

For some people, being in their own space helps them feel more grounded during session.

You may feel more comfortable crying, journaling, breathing, pausing, or simply being honest when you are in an environment that feels familiar.

Let's dispel the myth that online therapy is less effective than virtual therapy. Therapy can still be deep, connected, and meaningful through a screen.

The key is making sure you have privacy and that your space supports the kind of work you are doing.

Easier Post-Session Integration

After therapy, especially trauma work or body-based work, it can be helpful to have a few moments to breathe, drink water, journal, stretch, or simply sit with what came up.

With virtual therapy, you do not have to immediately transition into traffic, a waiting room, or the outside world. You can give yourself space to ground before moving into the next part of your day.

This can be especially helpful with approaches like EMDR, IFS-informed therapy, mindfulness, breathwork, and somatic work.

And most importantly, virtual therapy still counts.

You are still showing up. You are still doing the work. You are still creating space for healing.

When In-Person Therapy Might Feel Better

Hear me out, virtual therapy is helpful for many people, but that does not mean it is the best fit for everyone all the time.

Sometimes your needs change.

You may want to consider in-person or hybrid therapy if you are feeling:

Disconnected during virtual sessions

Distracted at home

Tired of being on screens

Unable to find privacy

Stuck and needing a different kind of support

More comfortable processing in the same physical space as your therapist

That does not mean virtual therapy failed. It may simply mean your needs are different.

Healing is allowed to evolve too.

How Do You Know What You Need?

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when deciding between virtual or in-person therapy:

• Do I feel emotionally safe and supported having therapy in my chosen environment?

  
  

• Am I able to stay present and engaged when sessions take place through a screen?

  
  

• Do I have enough privacy to speak openly and honest?

  
  

• Would receiving therapy from the comfort of my own space help me stay consistent, or do I need to meet with my therapist face-to-face?

  
  

• What do I need in order for me to feel most connected to my therapist?

  
  

• Do I need more structure, support, or separation from my everyday environment to fully engage in therapy?

If you are not sure, that is exactly what a consultation is for. You do not have to figure it all out alone. A consultation can help you talk through your goals, your schedule, your concerns, and what type of support may be the best fit for you.

Who We Support

At Wholistic Alignment Therapeutic Wellness Center, we specialize in supporting Black women, women of color, teens, parents, and helping professionals who are navigating:

Anxiety

Stress and emotional overwhelm

Trauma and childhood wounds

Grief and life transitions

Burnout

Parenting stress

Difficulty feeling connected with themselves and those around them

Our approach includes traditional talk therapy along with mind-body based and wholistic approaches such as EMDR, IFS-informed therapy, breathwork, mindfulness, yoga, and somatic practices.

We believe therapy should be real, supportive, practical, and connected to your whole self.

A Note About the Summer Slump

Summer can throw everything off.

Schedules change. Kids are home. Travel happens. Routines shift. Energy dips. And sometimes therapy gets paused, delayed, or pushed to the bottom of the list.

If you have felt off track, that does not mean you failed.

It may just be feedback.

You can always begin again. You can always return to yourself. You can always restart the support you need.

As we move through the second half of the year, therapy can be part of your reset. Not another task on your to-do list, but a space where you can breathe, process, feel supported, and get grounded again.

Ready to Reconnect?

Wholistic Alignment Therapeutic Wellness Center is currently accepting new virtual therapy clients in Virginia and Maryland.

Whether you are returning to therapy, starting for the first time, or wondering if virtual therapy is the right fit for you, we would love to support you.

Book a free 15-minute consultation or email ashley@wholisticalignment-twc.com.

Not located in Virginia or Maryland? Ask us about our Wholistic Wellness Sessions for non-therapy support.

Let’s help you get grounded again on your terms, in your space, and with your whole self in mind.

Want more healing tools and reflections? Visit our home page, scroll to the bottom and join our email list for journal prompts, breathwork tools, and wellness updates.

Until next time,

be well, stay well

Ashley Waddell, LCSW-S, RPT, NCSSW