It’s important to state this clearly, especially in a serious and transparent information environment: online psychotherapy is not a panacea for every psychological problem.
In recent years, online therapy has greatly expanded access to care, but it is not a universal solution that applies to all clinical situations, all people, and all stages of life. Presenting it as such would be incorrect, unethical, and misleading.
The right question isn’t “Does online therapy work?” but rather:
“Is online therapy right for this person, at this stage, for this type of difficulty?”
The initial screening interview: figuring out together if online is the right choice
Precisely for this reason, at MindSwiss we use an initial screening interview.
It is not a formality or a disguised sale: it is a clinical orientation space.
During this first interview:
- let’s explore the request and the type of suffering;
- we evaluate emotional stability and level of urgency;
- we understand the living context, available resources and risk factors;
- We ask ourselves, together with the person, whether online psychotherapy might actually be suitable in that specific case.
Sometimes the answer is yes, and online therapy proves to be an effective, sustainable, and profound resource.
Other times, the answer is more cautious.
When online psychotherapy may not be suitable
There are situations in which online psychotherapy may not be the best choice, or at least not as the only tool.
For example:
- particularly serious or complex clinical pictures;
- states of strong emotional dysregulation;
- active suicide risk;
- severe dissociative disorders;
- situations where close clinical monitoring is necessary;
- very unstable living contexts or those lacking even a minimum level of security.
In these cases, online therapy may prove insufficient or even unprotecting.
The clinical responsibility, in these contexts, is to know how to say no or revise the proposal, not to force a method because it’s more convenient.
The MindSwiss model: online yes, but not only
This is why MindSwiss does not work with an exclusively online model, but also provides a hybrid, flexible, and person-centered approach.
When possible – and when clinically indicated – interviews can take place:
- online;
- in person, at the Mendrisio office, in the Canton of Ticino;
- or with a combination of the two modes.
There’s no one-size-fits-all formula. It’s a case-by-case evaluation.
The value of a face-to-face interview (even just one)
In some situations it can be very useful:
- conduct an initial in-person introductory interview;
- create a more solid relational foundation;
- better evaluate some clinical aspects that emerge with more difficulty online;
- then possibly continue online.
In other cases, in-person meetings can be scheduled at specific times during the course, without always having to be done.
Here too, we evaluate together, without rigidity and without dogma.
Online or in person is not an ideological choice, but a clinical one
One of the most common mistakes is to turn the modality (online vs. in-person) into a question of principle.
From a clinical point of view, however, something else matters:
- the quality of the therapeutic relationship;
- the adequacy of the setting;
- personal safety;
- the real possibility of working in depth.
Psychotherapy doesn’t work because it’s online or in an office.
It works when it’s appropriate, thoughtful, and responsible.
In summary
- Online psychotherapy is a valuable resource and is reimbursed by health insurance.
- It is not suitable for all clinical situations
- MindSwiss uses an initial screening interview to assess the indication
- In the most serious cases, online treatment may not be suitable.
- MindSwiss also provides a hybrid model, online + presence
- When useful, interviews can also take place in person in Mendrisio (TI)
- Even a single face-to-face interview can be significant, if clinically sensible.
The real question isn’t “can I do online therapy?”
But: “What’s the best way for me, today, to address what I’m experiencing?”
And this answer, at MindSwiss, is never pre-packaged. It’s built together.