The Future of Therapy: How Online Counselling is Changing Mental Health Support
Last Updated on April 22, 2025 by Prath
Reviewed by April Justice, LICSW
- Published on 22 April 2025
Not too long ago, mental health was a topic reserved for hushed conversations and closed doors. Consequently, it’s no surprise that counselling used to be heavily misunderstood and stigmatised.
Fast forward to the present day, and we’ve seen a momentous shift in how we view the mental health landscape. Mental health is finally a part of everyday conversations, and counselling is now more accessible than ever, thanks in large part to online counselling.
In this blog, we take you through the evolution of online counselling over the years, how it’s changing mental health support and the future of counselling in Singapore.
This Article Contains:
Mental Health Then vs Now
As we saw in the introductory section, mental health care has come a long way over the years.
Traditional counselling, ie in-person psychotherapy, served as the foundation of mental health support for the better part of modern history.
However, growing awareness and technological advancements have led to the advent of other forms of counselling and support.
The 1990s
Mental health professionals started experimenting with technology as early as the 1990s, offering support through emails, chatrooms and online forums. These early tech-aided counselling formats may have been limited at the time, but they laid the foundation for modern-day online counselling.
The 2010s
By the 2010s, technology was rapidly adopted in the mental health space. Video conferencing, online bookings and secure messaging forums made it possible to provide counselling beyond the four walls of a counsellor’s office.
The 2020s
Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, making online counselling a strong necessity as opposed to an alternative option. Almost overnight, online forms of mental health support became a lifeline for many, and their popularity and use have only grown ever since.
The Present Day
Today, online counselling exists alongside in-person counselling as a meaningful, evidence-based mode of counselling in Singapore. It’s proven to be just as effective as its traditional counterpart while offering flexibility, freedom of choice, affordability and accessibility.
A Quick Overview of Online Counselling
Online counselling is a type of counselling where a professional provides mental health support over the internet or through digital platforms.
It helps make counselling more accessible, especially to those with mobility issues, health concerns and logistical, geographical or time-related constraints.
Issues Commonly Addressed in Online Counselling
- Mild to moderate anxiety and depression
- Work stress and burnout
- Relationship issues (romantic, family, or workplace)
- Life transitions (relocation, career changes, new parenthood, etc)
- Emotional regulation and self-esteem challenges
- Identity issues
- Agoraphobia
- Perinatal/postpartum depression & anxiety
Who Is Online Counselling Best for?
Online counselling is the ideal choice for people:
- With busy and unpredictable schedules
- Living in remote areas
- Who feel nervous or uncomfortable with in-person counselling
- Facing mental health issues like agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, etc, that make it challenging to attend in-person counselling
- Who wish to attend counselling from the comfort of their home
- Who may find it hard to travel or have mobility issues
- Who travel a lot and do not live in a particular city throughout the year
Different Modes of Online Counselling
When we say online counselling, we usually mean video counselling over the internet.
However, online counselling can be conducted through any of the following modes:
- Video sessions: The most widely preferred type of online counselling, it allows clients to see and hear their counsellors and vice versa.
- Audio-only sessions: Audio counselling is best for those with limited bandwidth or those who prefer a higher level of anonymity.
- Live chat sessions: Live chats allow clients and online counsellors to interact via a texting platform. It’s a low-pressure medium that’s ideal for those new to counselling.
- Asynchronous sessions: Some platforms/counsellors provide flexible, asynchronous counselling. Clients can communicate asynchronously with an online counsellor through text or email threads.
5 Ways Online Counselling is Rewriting the Mental Health Narrative
Online counselling has evolved to be more than a convenient alternative; it’s rewriting how people perceive, approach and experience counselling.
How, you ask? Below are five key ways online counselling is changing mental health support.
1) Ensuring Better Accessibility & Increased Convenience
Accessibility and convenience are probably the top benefits that come to mind when you think of online counselling.
Here are some ways in which online counselling ensures accessible and convenient mental health support:
- It allows you to talk to a counsellor from anywhere, whether at home, in the back of your car, or your office break room.
- All you need to attend online counselling sessions is any mobile device with good internet connection and a private space.
- Those living in remote areas with no/limited access to mental health support can now easily connect with qualified online counsellors in Singapore.
- People with mobility limitations or chronic illnesses and mental health concerns that hinder travel can access online counselling.
- Online counselling sessions can be scheduled beyond traditional working hours and rescheduled easily, offering more flexibility.
2) Bridging Cultural Gaps & Language Barriers
Finding the right counsellor can be especially tricky if you live outside your country or city.
Online counselling lets you reach out to counsellors who speak your native language fluently and understand your cultural context. It thus helps foster trust and increases the effectiveness of counselling in the long run.
Most platforms also allow you to filter online counsellors by language, background, and counselling style, making the match more personalised and fitting your needs.
3) Accommodating the Needs of Neurodivergent & Sensory-Sensitive People
For clients who are neurodivergent, highly sensitive or prone to overstimulation, travel and in-person social interactions can be overwhelming.
Online counselling sessions can be taken from anywhere one feels comfortable, increasing the sense of familiarity, safety and comfort.
Clients can also choose the communication mode they’re most comfortable with – audio, video, text/email.
4) Providing Continuity During Life Transitions
Online counselling could be your ideal choice if you plan to move cities or countries due to work, studies or any other reason.
It ensures a continuous and uninterrupted therapeutic relationship with the same counsellor, no matter your location.
For the same reason, online counselling is also best if you generally travel a lot for work.
5) Encouraging Early Intervention
This section ties back to the first one we explored.
Mental health support is now available at the click of a mouse or the tap of a finger. Because online counselling is so very accessible, it encourages people to take action and seek help before things get too bad.
Starting counselling early on before reaching a tipping point can help nip long-term mental health issues in the bud. It also equips you with the practical tools and skills to manage your mental health, ensures personal growth and helps you thrive in all areas of life.
The Road Ahead for Mental Health Support
The future of mental health care doesn’t stop with online counselling as we know it today; it’s evolving continuously, every day.
The following are some emerging trends in the field that use technology to ensure more accessible and inclusive forms of support:
1) AI-Powered Tools
AI might be the new buzzword, but its potential in the mental health arena is more than just hype.
While the human connection, empathy and intuition that counsellors bring to sessions are irreplaceable, artificial intelligence is starting to play a supportive role behind the scenes.
Here are some ways in which this co-pilot is helping counsellors ensure better therapeutic outcomes:
- AI note-taking assistants can help counsellors take detailed notes alongside their own, improving efficiency and leaving less room for missing key details.
- AI chatbots and digital assistants can be trained to offer instant check-ins and basic emotional support until a counsellor is available, especially during off-hours.
- Sentiment analysis tools, used with client consent, can help counsellors track mood patterns and progress over time.
2) Mental Health Apps
The 2020s saw an explosion of mental health applications that made support more personalised, portable, and proactive.
The Singapore mental health apps market was valued at $7.44 million in 2023 and is projected to reach $20.77 million by 2030.
These apps are helping put mental wellness tools literally into people’s pockets!
Here’s how:
- Integration with wearables such as fitness trackers allows users to better understand how physical and emotional health connect.
- A wide range of tools, like mood journals, guided meditations, CBT companions, and emotional trackers, makes mental health support accessible anytime, anywhere.
- Features like goal-setting and habit-tracking help users monitor progress, aiding counselling positively.
- Some apps offer bite-sized wellness content, quick recaps of self-care techniques and timely emotional check-ins, making it easier to prioritise mental health in daily life.
3) Hybrid Counselling Models
The most sustainable counselling model might just be one that brings together the best of both worlds!
Hybrid counselling models are becoming increasingly preferred, offering a personalised mix of online and in-person counselling.
Hybrid models provide the following benefits:
- Flexibility to switch between online and in-person counselling based on comfort, needs and circumstances.
- The opportunity for face-to-face interaction and deeper work in person while also having the convenience of remote follow-ups.
- For many, opening up in online counselling sessions may be easier at first – and if they’d like to transition to in-person sessions later, hybrid models are the perfect solution.
Conclusion
As technology continues to evolve, so does the way we access and experience mental health care. There are now more options than ever, with online counselling expanding the mental health ecosystem, making it more inclusive, accessible and affordable.
No matter which mode you choose, online, in-person or hybrid, what matters is that you take the step to prioritise your mental health!
If you’ve been thinking about speaking to a counsellor in Singapore but aren’t sure where to begin, online counselling can be an accessible and comfortable option.
Here are three simple steps to book an online counselling session at Talk Your Heart Out (TYHO):
- Sign in to/create a TYHO account
- Review counsellor profiles to find the right fit
- Schedule your first online counselling session!
