How Does Online Therapy Work in Ireland: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

If you're considering online therapy but unsure about the practicalities, you're not alone. Many Irish people wonder how video therapy compares to traditional office visits and whether it's truly effective. The answer is reassuring—online therapy has evolved into a professional, proven form of mental health care that works just as well as in-person sessions for most conditions.

Understanding how online therapy actually works removes uncertainty and helps you feel confident taking that first step toward better mental health.

The Technology Is Surprisingly Simple

Online therapy uses secure video conferencing designed specifically for healthcare. You don't need technical expertise or expensive equipment.

What you need:

Device with camera and microphone (laptop, tablet, or smartphone)
Stable internet connection (standard Irish broadband works perfectly)
Headphones for privacy
Private space where you can talk freely

The platforms:

CORU-registered Irish therapists use healthcare-grade platforms like Zoom for Healthcare, Doxy.me, or VSee. These include end-to-end encryption, GDPR compliance, and no recording capabilities—specifically designed to protect your confidential conversations.

You won't download complicated software. Most sessions work through a browser link sent via email. You click it at your appointment time and join immediately. If you can video call a family member, you can do online therapy.

Technical issues are rare. If your connection drops, simply rejoin using the same link. Irish therapists are experienced with online sessions and can switch to phone-only if video fails completely.

Finding Your Therapist

In Ireland, online therapy gives you access to specialists across the entire country, not just therapists in your local area. This is particularly valuable if you live in rural Ireland or need someone with specific expertise.

Feel Better Therapy's matching approach:

Rather than overwhelming you with dozens of therapist profiles, Feel Better Therapy handles the matching for you. Complete a simple form about your needs, and our team matches you with the most suitable CORU-registered professional.

Our therapists are accredited by Irish organizations including CORU, the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), IACP, and ICP. They specialize in online delivery and understand Irish cultural context.

Essential verification: Always verify your therapist's CORU registration at coru.ie. Check they specialize in your concern (anxiety, relationships, depression, etc.) and use secure, healthcare-compliant platforms. Confirm pricing and whether they provide insurance receipts.

Your First Session

First sessions typically last 50-60 minutes and focus on building rapport and understanding your concerns.

Preparation:

You'll receive a secure video link by email a day or two before. Find a private space, test your connection, and have headphones ready. Close your door, silence your phone, and ensure you won't be interrupted for the full hour.

What happens:

Your therapist confirms audio and video work properly, then reviews confidentiality and answers questions about the process. The session focuses on understanding what brings you to therapy, your background, current concerns, and goals.

Your therapist asks questions to understand your situation fully and explains their therapeutic approach. First sessions feel conversational rather than intensely therapeutic—you're building a foundation for future work.

Don't worry if you feel nervous, cry, or don't know exactly what to say. Your therapist is trained to guide the conversation and create a safe space. There are no wrong answers.

After the session:

You'll schedule your next appointment and may receive coping strategies to practice. Most people feel relieved after their first session, even when it's emotionally difficult.

Regular Session Structure

After your initial assessment, therapy settles into a consistent pattern. Most people attend weekly sessions, though frequency adjusts based on your needs.

Typical flow:

Sessions begin with check-in about your week, any homework from last time, and what you'd like to focus on today. The core work varies by approach—CBT focuses on thought patterns and coping strategies, while person-centered therapy explores feelings and patterns more deeply.

Sessions conclude with summarizing insights, agreeing on practice tasks, and scheduling your next appointment. Your therapist ensures you're emotionally stable before ending.

Duration expectations:

Short-term therapy (6-16 sessions) works for specific issues like stress or phobias. Medium-term (4-12 months) addresses complex concerns like chronic anxiety or relationship patterns. Couples therapy often shows improvement within 8-12 sessions, with research indicating 70-75% success rates.

Privacy and Practicalities

Creating privacy:

While your therapist handles technical security, you manage environmental privacy. Ideal scenarios include a room with a closing door, times when others are out, and headphones.

If perfect privacy isn't possible, many people attend from parked cars, bedrooms with locked doors, or during guaranteed alone time. Have a prepared response if interrupted: "I'm in a meeting, please come back later."

Between sessions:

Most therapists maintain clear boundaries about contact outside sessions. They'll respond to scheduling or homework questions within 1-2 days. For genuine crises, they provide emergency procedures, but therapeutic work happens during scheduled appointments.

For immediate emergencies, contact 999, Samaritans (116 123), or Pieta House (1800 247 247).

Technical issues:

Connection problems? Refresh your browser or rejoin. For persistent issues, switch to audio-only. Your therapist handles these situations routinely and guides you calmly.

Why It Works

Research consistently shows online therapy equals in-person effectiveness for anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. The therapeutic relationship develops just as strongly through video, and many people feel more comfortable discussing difficult topics from their own safe space.

Convenience significantly improves outcomes. People attend more consistently without travel, traffic, or excessive time commitments. This consistency drives therapeutic progress.

Online therapy excels for anxiety disorders (especially social anxiety), depression (when motivation is low), couples work (both attend from one location), and rural Irish clients lacking local specialists.

For comprehensive research, see our article on is online therapy effective in Ireland.

Getting Started with Feel Better Therapy

Ready to begin? Our three-step process makes starting simple.

Step 1: Tell us about you (5 minutes)

Visit feelbettertherapy.ie/get-started and complete our form about your needs, preferences, and availability.

Step 2: We match you (1-2 days)

Our team reviews your information and matches you with the most suitable CORU-registered therapist based on your concerns and preferences.

Step 3: Begin sessions

You'll receive your therapist introduction, booking link, and secure video access. Sessions fit your schedule, including evenings and weekends.

Why Feel Better Therapy:

We remove overwhelming choice through expert matching, provide quality assurance via careful vetting, and offer Irish expertise with professionals understanding your cultural context. Transparent pricing and ongoing support mean you focus on feeling better, not navigating systems.

Conclusion

Online therapy in Ireland provides professional mental health support through simple, secure video technology. You connect with qualified Irish therapists from anywhere, work on your goals using evidence-based approaches, and benefit from accessing care from home.

Whether managing anxiety, working through depression, addressing relationships, or seeking support through difficult times, online therapy offers accessible, high-quality care.

At Feel Better Therapy, our matching service makes starting simple. No overwhelming choices—just professional support matched to your needs.

Ready to start? Complete our form at feelbettertherapy.ie/get-started and take your first step toward better mental health.

For comprehensive information about online therapy including costs, therapist credentials, and effectiveness research, read our complete Online Therapy Ireland: Complete Guide to Virtual Counselling Services.

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Emergency Resources

If you're in crisis:

Emergency services: 999 or 112
Samaritans (24/7): 116 123
Pieta House: 1800 247 247
Text HELLO to 50808 (24/7 crisis text)

Last Updated: November 2024