Top Myths About Online Counselling Debunked
Last Updated on February 21, 2025 by Prath
Reviewed by April Justice, LICSW
- Published on 21 February 2025
Many people imagine an online counselling session as a glitchy video call in which the client tries to get the attention of a distracted therapist.
In reality, counselling, in any form, is far from the misconceptions that we may have.
Online counselling is just as effective as traditional counselling. A counsellor who provides support through the Internet is highly trained in the ethics and morality of online services.
In recent times, many have shifted toward seeking support from the comfort of their homes. This is understandable. After the pandemic, we constantly seek opportunities to make our lives easier. And everyone deserves easy, accessible support.
That’s why we’re here to debunk the most common myths about online counselling in Malaysia so you can consider trying it.
This Article Contains:
Myth 1: Online Counseling Is Not as Effective as In-Person Counseling
The first myth we’re debunking is that online counselling is ineffective. Any service provided online is different in that people may need to adjust to the change in environment.
However, research strongly supports the notion that psychotherapeutic interventions provided online are effective in reducing:
- Psychological distress (eg depression, panic attacks, mood swings)
- Mental health issues such as obsessive-compulsive disorders
- Interpersonal sensitivity
In fact, through tele-support, counsellors may find it easier to:
- Understand your body language and verbal messages without influencing you
- Be in tune with your emotional reactions
- Use strongly expressive reactions and reflection to show empathy and unconditional support
Myth 2: Online Counselling Lacks Personal Connection
Contrary to the belief that clients may find it hard to build a relationship with an online counsellor, talking to someone over an audio or video call can, in fact, help the person become more comfortable and honest with themselves.
Any therapeutic alliance should have a strong foundation. The strength of this foundation depends on the counsellor’s skills rather than the medium of counselling.
Trust and rapport are the connective tissue for gaining and maintaining healthy relationships.
– Susan C. Young
But what do mental health professionals do to build a relationship? By identifying the counselling skills, you can tell if the counsellor is a good fit for you.
For example, some things an online counsellor may do to build rapport include:
- Maintaining a sense of calm and quiet in the therapy space as you share your problems
- Soliciting your opinions and feelings
- Being patient and understanding as you take time to open up
- Reflecting on your thought patterns, making you feel smart and insightful, and probing you to imagine realistic solutions
- Avoiding judgemental actions such as pointing out your flaws or correcting your feelings
- Using empathetic dialogue to make you feel at ease
As easily noticeable, most of these skills come from the counsellor’s professional training rather than the medium they use to provide the service.
Hence, the truth is that building a therapeutic relationship is possible in all types of services, including online counselling.
Myth 3: Online Counselling Only Works for Younger Generations
At TYHO, people of all ages book sessions with us, from those in their 20s to their 50s. This proves that online counselling works even for older generations.
The belief that online counselling only works for younger people is prevalent due to some valid concerns. For example, people who have never used technology may find it difficult to book sessions without support. Older adults may have eyesight issues or may be slow at typing.
However, many technology challenges can be solved by finding a user-friendly and accessible platform.
Older adults actually find online counselling in Malaysia to be a more convenient option. Imagine not having to travel all the way to a location on public transport on a hot day. Or feeling hungry in the waiting room and travelling back home.
Seeking support online eliminates many of these challenges for people across all age groups.
Myth 4: Online Counselling Services Are a Temporary Trend
The myth that online counselling services are a trend is common. People believe that online services have grown in popularity due to the COVID-19 pandemic – and they’re right.
However, online counselling is here to stay. Although the pandemic has increased the shift towards online support, the medium started long ago.
The popularity of this medium has made more people aware of its affordability, accessibility, and effectiveness.
For example, people with social anxiety disorder may struggle to meet anyone in person, let alone a mental health professional. For individuals such as these, talking to someone over a video or audio call can be a great way to break out of their fears.
Another example is people who may struggle to find the time to travel to a location. They may have busy schedules or have to care for children or older adults.
Mental health support should still be accessible to these people, and online counselling facilitates that. Hence, online counselling is not a trend but a means of convenient and sustainable support.
Myth 5: Online Counselling Is Only for Those With Minor Issues
Again, online counselling can help with minor, major, and all other types of issues. The challenges are just the same as in-person counselling.
The kind of issues that can be addressed during online counselling depends on the following:
- The counsellor’s skills of empathy and compassion
- The counsellor’s ability to dig deeper into the issues
- The therapeutic relationship built by the client and the professional
When the professional has all the essential skills and qualifications, they can help with major disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and personality disorders.
The therapeutic approaches used during sessions can be adapted to suit the needs of online counselling.
For example, CBT skills, such as reframing unhelpful thoughts, are much easier to practice over a video call. Sometimes, people have a more free flow of thought when talking over the phone, and this helps the professional ‘catch’ the unhelpful thought patterns.
Moreover, research has also shown that regardless of the type of issues, online counselling has a lower dropout rate than in-person counselling.
Myth 6: Online Sessions Lead To Distractions
The fact that people are distracted during online sessions could be true to an extent. However, we may have to analyse it with nuance.
Some people may ‘appear’ distracted as a coping mechanism. Perhaps this person struggles to open up and is unsure how to express their hesitation to their counsellor. Sometimes, people may avoid focusing on the conversation due to fear of judgement.
Distraction is just as common in in-person therapy. That’s why counsellors are trained to analyse and explore this aspect during sessions.
Conclusion
Online counselling in Malaysia is just as effective as in-person services. What’s important to observe is that the sessions are working for you, you feel comfortable to open up with the counsellor, and you can track and notice progress in your mental health journey.
Giving online services a try is definitely worth it. It may or may not work for you, but exploring different ways to seek support is always interesting.
If you’re hesitant about the quality of online counselling, reading about relevant research and its effectiveness can be helpful.
We recommend shortlisting counsellors who provide audio/video sessions and talking about them with their background and experience of providing counselling via the online mode.
At TYHO, online counselling is provided with the same amount of care and quality as in-person sessions.
