Counseling and Therapy: Finding Emotional Support on the Web

TeensHealth has a great article that defines therapy and its purpose, and explains what happens during a therapy session. Don't be put off by the fact that the information from this site is geared toward teenagers. The overview is sound and helpful to anyone.

Psychology Today

briefly describes the different types of therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists who provide counseling and therapy.

Psychology Today has created a simple test that can provide a preliminary basis for determining whether you should seek help from a therapist. This site also features a “Diagnosis Dictionary” to help you understand therapy terms and conditions, as well as several "Topic Centers," which delve deeper into issues like anxiety, relationships, stress, and work problems.

The American Psychiatric Association presents HealthyMinds.org, which addresses mental health issues for individuals and families. Review the "Let's Talk Facts" brochures for information on specific mental health problems. The site also has several "Special Sections" discussing mental health needs for various demographics.

MSNBC has a “Test your relationship” quiz, a short interactive quiz that offers advice on how to proceed with your relationship.

Psych Central has a great article with a list of questions to ask your therapist, written in a conversational tone. At the end of the article, look for related links like “What to Expect in Your First Counseling Session” and “What If You Don’t Like Your Therapist?” There are also quizzes for all types of disorders and symptoms and news on the latest research. Register at the site (it's free) to participate in community forums.

The Counseling and Personal Growth Center of Minnesota State University at Moorhead suggests some ways you can help a friend who needs counseling, and what steps you should take if that person is unwilling to seek counseling on his own. Some of the advice applies only to Moorhead students, but much of it can be used by anyone.

Scholastic.com features “Children of Divorce,” which offers advice for teachers who feel they may need to recommend counseling for children whose parents are in the middle of a divorce. It also offers a list of suggested books to help deal with this difficult time.

The Mental Health Association of Westchester has an excellent introduction to finding a therapist that covers the types of medical professionals who are qualified to provide therapy, what to expect from therapy, and a general overview of what mental health treatment will cost and whether it is covered by health insurance. Some of the information is specific to Westchester County; to find a therapist in your area, the site recommends contacting your health insurance company for a list of providers.

Mayo Clinic here presents “Marriage counseling: Working through relationship problems,” an article that discusses what marriage counseling is, who can benefit from marriage counseling, and how to choose a marriage counselor. The article links to other topics such as addressing family conflicts, and the types of mental health providers available.

Helpguide introduces psychotherapy, and relationship and marriage counseling, pointing out the differences and discussing the many types of therapy approaches. Scroll down this lengthy article to read sections devoted to couples, group therapy, telephone and online counseling.

The National Board for Certified Counselors is an independent, not-for-profit body that certifies counselors who meet its standards for training, experience, and performance on a standard exam. The NBCC has credentialed 42,000 counselors across the country, and its examinations are used by many states for their own credentialing practices. The NBCC maintains a directory of certified counselors, searchable by specialty and city or state.

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy has information about several mental and emotional conditions affecting families. The site also provides a therapist locator tool enabling you to search for a therapist in the United States, Canada, or overseas.

Rochester Marriage Counseling includes advice on stepfamilies, parent-child relationships, coping with divorce, marriage, and other issues affecting families. Also look for information on ADHD and facts on anxiety and depression, anger management, and stress.

The Stepfamily Foundation is dedicated to helping stepfamilies make their new family structure work. The “Articles and Resources” section is loaded with helpful articles for specific family members (moms and dads, grandparents and children) as well as advice on how to navigate holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Looking for a counselor in your area? The site offers a directory of counselors and coaches in the United States and several other countries.

WebMD has published an overview of group therapy, its benefits, what you can expect in group therapy, and how to tell if you might be a good candidate for this type of therapy.

Psychology Information Online provides information about several psychological treatment services, including group, couples, and family therapy. The site also features a National Directory of Psychologists if you'd like to look for a psychologist in your area.

The American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) explains what group therapy is, who can benefit, and describes what a typical group therapy session is like. There’s a list of commonly asked questions and a search tool for finding a group therapist in your area.

ABC's of "Internet Therapy" found on metanoia.org, an online therapy site hosted by Psych Central, explains what you should know about seeking online therapy. This site helps you determine whether e-therapy will work for you, how to protect yourself from scam artists, and how to compare e-therapist qualifications.

WebMD explains the advantages, disadvantages, and safety issues related to online counseling. This article is a few years old but much of the content is still pertinent.

• Counseling and therapy are good places for people to talk about problems before they interfere with daily life. For some, problems are more significant and may require additional treatment, such as medication. To learn more, see the findingDulcinea Mental Health Web Guide.

Healthline has an article about depression, its causes, signs and symptoms, and methods of treatment, with advice about seeking professional help. Keep an eye out for the linked text throughout the article; these provide much more extensive information on specific topics.

WebMD has established a “Depression Health Center” that provides an overview of depression symptoms and contains articles, blogs, and message boards about depression. The "Support & Resources" page includes links to a support group and a tool for finding a therapist near you.

Depression Fallout was created by a writer and depression sufferer and aims to help individuals who are connected to someone with clinical depression or bipolar disorder. Learn ways to cope with the impact these disorders have on you and your relationships. A message board is available for support; use of the message board is free but registration is required.

The Center for Grief Recovery explains various types of grief in its "Grief and Loss Resources" section. For advice on how to manage grief in the workplace or during the holidays, visit the “Grief Recovery Articles” area.

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement is an organization of professionally trained pet loss bereavement counselors. Find a support group in your area, post a memorial for your pet, or visit the “chatrooms” to connect with others who are grieving.

The American Psychological Association teaches you to take control of your anger by understanding what anger is and learning how to keep your anger in check.

KidsHealth has a range of articles to help kids learn how to deal with their feelings. Articles include "Getting Along With Teachers," "Living With Stepparents," and "The Scoop on Gossip."

TeensHealth is a companion site to KidsHealth and has a wide range of articles on the mental health and emotional issues affecting teenagers. The articles are written in a friendly tone and offer teens advice on how to solve their problems and how to talk to parents or other adults.

The Center for Young Women’s Health at Children’s Hospital Boston teaches teens why they might want to go to counseling, what their counselor could ask them, and how they can find someone to talk to about their feelings and emotions. This guide also links to teen guides on depression and on coping with divorce.

Divorceandchildren.com helps parents and children cope with the changes brought on by divorce. Parents will find tips about raising children with their former spouses, helping children adjust to divorce, acclimating children to living in two separate homes, and more. A link is provided for a 30-minute complimentary telephone consultation.

The National Institute of Mental Health provides advice for parents wondering how to help a child cope with violence or some sort of disaster. The article explains what trauma is, how different age groups respond to an upsetting event, and offers parents suggestions for how to help.

The Relationship Resource Center has an article about the benefits of paying for mental health care out of your own pocket, including flexibility of treatment schedules, confidentiality in your medical records, and the ability to see the therapist of your choosing.

Inspiring Change is a site run by a family therapist in Minnesota who does not accept health insurance. This page explains some of the problems associated with using insurance coverage to pay for therapy, and offers a list of benefits of paying for it yourself.

The National Mental Health Information Center is a service of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Here you’ll find a list of frequently asked questions to get you started in finding mental health services and appropriate insurance coverage.

Inspiring Change explains some of the problems associated with using insurance coverage to pay for therapy and offers a list of the benefits you’ll experience when you pay for therapy yourself.

SAMHSA runs the National Mental Health Information Center, offering suggestions for uninsured individuals who would like to use mental health services but are limited in their options because of financial restrictions. Links to other helpful resources that can aid you in paying for mental health care are also provided.

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.

The Washington Post reports that for many people struggling with a major (or minor) issue, writing about it in a blog often feels therapeutic.

MyDepressionConnection.com features a variety of "SharePosts" from Deborah Gray, a woman who lived with undiagnosed clinical depression for several years. She is currently managing her depression with psychotherapy. With open and honest entries, Gray details her disdain for the side effects of depression treatment drugs, her search for a therapist, and other underlying issues she is trying to address, such as the passing of her biological father.

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.