Counseling and Therapy: Finding Emotional Support on the Web
Life's events can occasionally lead to an array of complicated feelings and emotions. Sometimes we're able to sort out these feelings ourselves, or with the help of family or friends. Other times, it might be necessary to talk to a trained counselor or therapist who can help us get to the root of our difficulties. If you or someone you know needs this specialized assistance, the Web sites in this guide can point you in the right direction.
Sharing problems with someone you've never met isn't always easy. Or maybe you want help, but the ... read more »
A variety of counseling/therapy options exist today and the help you choose depends primarily on ... read more »
Many times, counselors and therapists are trained to deal with a variety of mental, emotional, and ... read more »
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Financial considerations may affect your decision to seek therapy. The Web can tell you what you ... read more »
If you'd like support from an online community in addition to any advice you're receiving from a counselor or other therapist, the Web has several message boards and blogs where you're likely to find people chatting about the same situations you are facing.
- Remember that your safety is paramount when discussing personal issues on the Web. If you join a message board, consider using a nickname you've never used elsewhere. See our findingDulcinea Internet Security Web Guide for more tips about staying safe online.
- Blogs written by people struggling with an emotional problem or other disorder may have infrequent updates. Sometimes the authors have to focus more on handling their own difficulties than on updating their blogs.
For message boards …
All About Counseling
has discussion forums where users talk about the life issues they are facing. Registration is required to use this site, but posting messages is free. Make sure you understand the terms of use on the message boards as they are very strict and focus on complete confidentiality and user safety.
Families Anonymous
addresses drug and alcohol abuse in families, troubled children, codependency, and methods of improving family life. Check the "Meeting Directory" link to find in-person meetings in your area or participate in an online meeting.
iVillage
has message boards for all kinds of emotional health and addiction issues. Simply enter the topic you’d like to discuss, like depression, in the search box and click “Go!". Registration is required to post your own messages.
For blogs …
The Washington Post
reports that for many people struggling with a major (or minor) issue, writing about it in a blog often feels therapeutic.
The Reality of Anxiety
is a blog by a young woman named Aimee who suffers from social anxiety. She offers a detailed look at how a variety of daily activities can affect her anxiety problems, how she addresses the problems, and how she copes with her feelings when she fails to have an anxiety-free day. This blog has won an award for its helpfulness and usefulness to others.
The Eating Disorders Blog
provides information about current studies and research on eating disorders. Contributors of content for this blog include The New York Times and ScienceDaily.
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