In recent years, the market for online therapists and psychologists has exploded, as more and more people seek to remain anonymous or to practice in a safe manner while remaining physically distant from their charges. Virtual counseling provides a safe environment for clients to get the help they need, while also providing revenue to those who provide the service.
There are many challenges to becoming a virtual therapist. For one thing, you’ll need to have a reliable webcam so that your clients can see your facial expressions and body language. You’ll also need a quiet place to practice, free from distractions such as radio noise or neighbors chatting. And last but not least, you’ll need to have the skills to conduct a meaningful and effective therapy session as soon as possible after getting up off of your couch.
1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Coach
This is the first of our eight favorite apps for making money as a virtual therapist. CBT Coach provides a safe and affordable venue for people to get help with their mental health problems, particularly anxiety and depression. The app allows users to track their progress, identify patterns in their behavior, and set goals for improving their quality of life.
What sets CBT Coach apart from other mental health apps is its human-centered approach. Rather than just presenting users with a list of anxiety- and depression-triggering situations, the app aims to help its users understand why they are feeling the way they are and then develop a game plan to address those issues. In addition, the app encourages users to practice self-care, sets helpful reminders, and provides support via email in case users need it.
This app is ideal for someone who needs just a bit of help getting started, or for those who want to take their therapy more seriously and incorporate it into their daily routine. Because it is relatively inexpensive and offers such valuable information, we think this one makes sense as a place to start for virtually any therapist or counseling professional, regardless of whether they are experienced or in their learning stages. You can read our in-depth review of CBT Coach here.
2. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Coach
In our second suggestion, we come to the most experienced end of the spectrum, with DBT Coach, a full-fledged application that provides a platform for dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). For those who are unfamiliar, dialectical behavior therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy that focuses on the here and now, enabling users to develop a greater ability to regulate their emotions and behave in effective and responsible ways. The idea is to help users identify and examine their own assumptions, takeaways, and conclusions about a situation, and then actively engage in logical, measured, and considered debate with others.
DBT Coach offers a sophisticated socialization tool that provides a safe space for users to engage in healthy debate and build new social connections. Moreover, the app encourages users to keep a written journal, to identify and examine their own thinking patterns, and to challenge their beliefs. Through this type of environment, users can develop the cognitive skills necessary to challenge destructive and unhelpful thinking patterns, as well as explore more constructive ways of thinking. Finally, the app enables users to keep a record of their therapy sessions, and shares those records with their therapists. This is invaluable for ensuring that users are following the advice they’re given and are gradually improving their quality of life.
The reason we chose DBT Coach over the other apps in this category is that it provides a comprehensive package that enables users to get the most out of their experience. Not only does the app enable users to get a full course in dialectical behavior therapy, but it also includes a wealth of useful tools such as a timer, stopwatch, journal, and more. In addition, the app allows users to connect with other DBT Coach users, enabling them to form real-life communities and share their experiences. We think this one is great for anyone looking to make money as a virtual therapist, as it provides a complete package that enables them to get started quickly and effectively. We recommend this one to our readers.
3. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Coach
Our third app suggestion is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Coach, a relatively new entry to the market that sets itself apart from others in this category with its unique take on the problem-solving process. Rather than focusing on the traditional approach of identifying a problem and coming up with a list of solutions to address that problem, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) coaches get right down to the root of the issue, asking users what they need and want. Asking for feedback and implementing that feedback into action is at the heart of the SFBT approach.
The basic premise of the app is that users can be more effective and efficient in their problem solving if they have a clear idea of what they’re trying to achieve, rather than focusing on the task at hand, which is often subjective and open to interpretation. As a result, this approach can often be more effective, as there’s less room for error. Moreover, the approach often results in novel and creative solutions that wouldn’t necessarily occur to someone in the midst of a problem-solving exercise.
What we like most about this app is that it doesn’t just teach you the theory of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), it also puts that theory into practice, providing you with a wealth of tools, templates, and samples of case studies to help you get started quickly and effectively. In addition, the app provides you with the feedback you need to determine whether or not you’re on the right track and if you’re making any major errors along the way. This one is a great choice for someone who is new to the field and wants to learn the theory and then get right down to business. We highly recommend this one.
4. StrengthsFinder 2.0
Our fourth suggestion is StrengthsFinder 2.0, a free app that allows users to assess and improve their strengths – what I call their “assets” – that will help them succeed in life. The idea of this app is to help users recognize their innate talents and qualities, helping them understand how these strengths can be applied to different situations and helping them to develop the necessary skills to be successful. This is a popular choice among therapists and counselors who want to make money quickly and effectively, as many think that strengths-based therapy is a more effective way to approach counseling and therapy. Therefore, this is a great choice for someone who is looking for a solution-based approach to counseling and therapy, as well as anyone who is looking to develop greater confidence, self-awareness, and skills.
One of the distinguishing features of this app is that it takes a strengths-based approach, enabling users to identify their assets and then focus on developing the necessary skills to maximize those strengths. As a result, this makes the app suitable for a one-to-one setting, as well as for group settings such as social clubs and corporate teams. Moreover, the app tailors its content to meet the needs of the user, providing users with a personalized experience and a variety of scientifically-backed approaches to help them improve their lives. We think this one is a great solution for anyone looking to make money as a virtual therapist, as it provides a complete course that enables them to get started quickly and effectively.
5. Cognitive Therapy (COGNET) Coach
Our fifth suggestion is Cognitive Therapy (COGNET) Coach, an app that incorporates the latest advances in neuroscience and cognitive science into a toolkit that can help users get a handle on their mental health problems. What makes this app unique is that it combines traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with more modern neuroscience techniques such as neuroplasticity, executive function training, and mindfulness meditation. Therefore, this app is a great solution for anyone who wants to learn how to effectively use cognitive techniques in their practice.
This app offers a wide variety of cognitive therapy techniques, including thought stopping, cognitive restructuring, and distraction, but also introduces users to new concepts such as “executive function training” and “neuroplasticity,” which are just a few of the many neuroscience-based techniques that this app incorporates. Also, users can take advantage of this app’s flexible scheduling, as they can access their appointments and therapy sessions at times that work best for them, rather than having to fit their scheudles around an on-premise therapist’s appointments. This is especially useful for those who work remotely and don’t have much control over their schedules.