Online Therapy in Finland: A Comprehensive Guide to Remote Therapy

Online therapy has revolutionised the availability of mental health services in Finland. Previously, finding a therapist required a suitable professional to be available in your local area. Now you can work with a therapist from anywhere in Finland, or even from abroad. This guide tells you everything you need to know about online therapy.

What Is Online Therapy?

Online therapy means therapy delivered via a remote connection, usually through a video call. The therapy is otherwise the same as a traditional in-person session. You talk with your therapist in real time, the therapist uses the same methods, and you work towards the same goals.

Online therapy can take place via:

• Video call (the most common form): Using secure video connections that therapists prefer.
• Phone: Suitable for situations where a video connection isn't possible.
• Chat-based: Some services offer text-based therapy.

Who Is Online Therapy Suitable For?

Online therapy suits most people and situations. It is particularly useful for:

• People in rural areas: In Northern and Eastern Finland, finding a local therapist can be difficult.
• Busy working people: No need to set aside time for commuting.
• People with mobility limitations: No need to leave home.
• People experiencing social anxiety: Participating from home may feel safer.
• Parents: Arranging childcare is easier when you don't need to leave home.
• Finns abroad: You can attend Finnish-language therapy regardless of where you live.

Online therapy may not be suitable in all situations. In severe crisis situations, serious dissociative symptoms, or situations requiring body-based work, face-to-face therapy may be a better option.

Is Online Therapy as Effective?

Yes. Research consistently shows that online therapy is as effective as face-to-face therapy in most situations. This is particularly true for:

• Depression treatment
• Anxiety disorder treatment
• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• Solution-focused therapy

The quality of the therapeutic relationship: trust and a sense of safety: is, according to research, equally good in online therapy as in in-person therapy.

Practical Tips for Online Therapy

To make online therapy as smooth as possible, consider these points:

• Quiet space: Ensure you won't be interrupted. Use headphones for privacy.
• Good internet connection: Check that your connection works reliably.
• Technical preparation: Test the video connection beforehand. Download necessary apps in advance.
• Environment: Sit comfortably with good lighting. Treat the situation as you would an in-person visit.
• Timing: Choose a time when you're not in a hurry and won't need to rush back to work.

How to Find an Online Therapist

The advantage of online therapy is that your selection isn't limited to what's available in your area. You can choose a therapist with exactly the specialist expertise you need: whether that's someone experienced in trauma therapy, eating disorders, or another specialty.

Costs and Kela Support

Online therapy pricing is usually the same as in-person therapy: typically 80–120 euros per session. Kela's rehabilitative psychotherapy also covers online therapy, provided the therapist is Kela-approved.

Privacy and Security

Privacy is particularly important in online therapy. Reliable therapists use secure, healthcare-approved video conferencing applications. Make sure the therapist complies with data protection legislation.

Your responsibility is to ensure you're in a private space where others cannot hear the conversation. Avoid public places and shared spaces during therapy sessions.

Technical Requirements for Online Therapy

Online therapy works on most modern devices. Here are the basic requirements:

• Device: A computer, tablet or smartphone with a camera and microphone. A computer or tablet usually offers the best experience thanks to the larger screen.
• Internet connection: A stable broadband connection (at least 5 Mbit/s) is enough for video therapy. Mobile data works too, but a wired or wifi connection is more reliable.
• Application: Therapists use secure video conferencing applications. Common ones include healthcare-approved apps, for which you receive login details from your therapist.
• Headphones: Recommended for privacy, especially if you live with others.

Online Therapy and Kela

Kela accepts online therapy as part of rehabilitative psychotherapy. This means you can receive Kela reimbursement for online sessions too, as long as the therapist is Kela-approved. This is a significant benefit especially for those who live far from the nearest suitable therapist.

With some Kela therapists it is possible to agree that some sessions take place face to face and some remotely. This hybrid model combines the best of both: the closeness of in-person meetings and the flexibility of online sessions.

Online Therapy in the Future

Online therapy is here to stay. It has significantly expanded the accessibility of mental health services and lowered the threshold for seeking help. In the future, hybrid models: combining in-person and online therapy: will likely become more common.

Where to find a therapist

You can look for a therapist in several places:

• Search services run by the Finnish Psychological Association (Psykologiliitto) and professional bodies.
• Kela's service provider search, if you are applying for rehabilitative psychotherapy (only Kela-approved therapists qualify for reimbursement).
• The Valitse Terapia service and other directories.
• Your own health centre, occupational health service or student health service (YTHS), which can refer you onward.

You can contact several therapists and see with whom the collaboration feels natural.

Get help in a crisis now

If you are having thoughts of self-harm or are otherwise in an acute crisis, you do not have to face it alone.

• In an emergency, call 112.
• MIELI Mental Health Finland crisis line: 09 2525 0113 (English and Arabic), 09 2525 0111 (Finnish), 09 2525 0112 (Swedish).
• For under-29s: Sekasin chat (sekasin.fi).

Help is available anonymously, and you do not need to be sure your situation is serious enough.

Sources

• Mielenterveystalo: Self-help programmes
• Health Village
• Kela: Rehabilitative psychotherapy
• Valvira: JulkiTerhikki register of licensed professionals