Online Therapy: What People Actually Mean When They Search
- Jessica Schladt
- Dec 14
- 4 min read
Online therapy can feel confusing when search terms like “therapist near me,” “telehealth,” or “virtual counseling” all seem to mean different things. Here’s what people are really searching for and how to find the right online therapist, no matter where you live.
Why This Topic Matters Right Now
If you’ve ever opened Google and typed “therapist near me,” “online therapy,” or “virtual counseling,” you’re not alone. That might even be how you found this post! When people look for in-person therapy, they’re looking for someone within a reasonable driving distance from home or work. But when they look for online therapy, it becomes much more flexible, and what they’re really trying to find is usually something like:
Flexible support that fits into real life
Comfort and privacy
A therapist whose style feels supportive
Fewer barriers, fewer logistics, fewer steps
Online therapy existed before 2020, but the post-COVID world made it far more accessible. I’ve been doing telehealth since 2018, and I’ve watched the shift firsthand- from insurance companies barely covering it to now widely accepting it. For many people, online therapy has become the only realistic way to get care when they don’t have the time, energy, transportation, or ability to get to an office.
Online therapy has reshaped how we seek mental health support, especially for people juggling work, family, caregiving, complicated schedules, or chronic stress.
Telehealth vs Online Therapy vs “Near Me”
Mental health terminology is often more complicated than it needs to be. Telehealth is the formal medical term for receiving care through technology. Online therapy and virtual counseling are the everyday terms people use. In practice, it all means the same thing- you and your therapist meeting through a secure online video platform.
When you look at search trends, people everywhere tend to type:
• online therapy
• virtual counseling
• therapist near me
• anxiety therapist online
• online counseling for life transitions
But underneath those searches are the thoughts most people struggle to say clearly:
“I can’t keep doing this on my own.”
“I need support, but I have no time to go anywhere.”
“I want someone who feels safe and human.”
“I don’t want therapy to become another stressful task.”
The phrase “near me” appears mostly because Google prioritizes local results, not because people truly want in-person care. Many people want online therapy, but still search “near me”. And that leads into the part most people don’t realize.
The Part Most People Don’t Realize: Location Matters, Not Distance
For online therapy, it doesn’t matter how close your therapist’s office is. It matters where you are physically located during the session and whether your therapist is licensed in that state. So whether someone lives in Virginia, Maryland, Rhode Island, Texas, or anywhere else, the rules are the same:
You can work with any online therapist who is licensed in your state- even if they live hours away.
This opens many more doors. Instead of choosing only from therapists within driving distance, you can choose based on personality, communication style, and specialization. For example, I live in Maryland but see clients across all four states where I’m licensed. I intentionally pursued licenses in those states because, at different times, I’ve lived in each of them and have an understanding of the cultures, paces, and people in each. The DMV feels different from West Texas; Rhode Island has its own rhythms. These things matter when you’re trying to find a therapist who is a good fit for you. Online therapy allows you to choose a therapist who fits you, not just one who is nearby.
Why Online Therapy Works for So Many People
Life is full. Work, kids, school, caregiving, relentless responsibilities, grief, burnout, military transitions, health concerns, and the pressure to “keep functioning” even when you’re struggling all take up space in our brains. When everything is stretched thin, support has to be realistic. Online therapy lowers many of the barriers that keep people from getting help.
Online therapy benefits include:
• No commute or travel time
• Easier scheduling around real life
• The ability to control your environment and comfort
• Sessions from a bedroom, office, or parked car
• Access for people in rural areas or crowded metro regions
• More choices in therapist style, identity, and approach
When therapy fits into your actual life rather than adding more strain, you’re more likely to keep showing up — and that’s what makes therapy effective.
What To Expect in an Online Therapy Session
If you’ve never tried it, online therapy (really, any therapy) can feel mysterious or overwhelming at first. Starting with someone new can be a lot. Meeting online can help lower some of those barriers.
Most online sessions look like:
• Logging in from a reasonably private space
• Meeting your therapist through a secure video link (I use the business version of Zoom)
• Talking about what’s been weighing on you
• Exploring how your thoughts, patterns, and past experiences shape your current stress
• Finding manageable, meaningful steps toward change or relief
There’s no performance required. Just your honest self, even if that self is tired, overwhelmed, anxious, or unsure. My aim is always to help you be comfortably uncomfortable. You might be discussing topics you don’t usually address, or in a way you’re not used to, but I don’t want the process itself to feel overwhelming. I want therapy to feel like a place you can return to consistently: unpack what’s been weighing on you, talk through it for an hour, and then, over time, figure out where and how it applies in your day-to-day life.
Just Try One Step
If you’ve been quietly searching for online therapy between meetings, after the kids fall asleep, or on your lunch break, know this: Nothing has to be “bad enough” before you reach out.
Online therapy lets you start at your own pace, in your own space, with support that fits your life. You don’t need a perfect plan. You need one small step you’re willing to try.
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