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By Ari Sotiriou UK Accredited Psychotherapist
Over the last few years, online therapy has become an everyday part of how many people access emotional support. Whether you are considering starting therapy for the first time or returning to it, you may be weighing up two main options: reaching out to a therapist in private practice, or signing up through a digital platform like BetterHelp or ReGain.
I offer both. In this post, I want to share a few reflections from my experience as a therapist working across both settings—with individuals and couples—so that you can better understand the psychological “climate” of each route and make the choice that is right for you.
Why Many Therapists Work on Platforms
I first joined BetterHelp during the pandemic, when the shift to remote work was both necessary and immediate. What drew me in was what draws many clients: it is quick, convenient, and removes the initial friction of searching for a practitioner. If you are in a state of acute crisis, if the idea of vetting therapists feels overwhelming, or if finances are the primary barrier, the platform model offers a vital entry point into care.
However, as a therapist trained in the British Psychodynamic tradition, I have found that this model raises significant questions about the nature of the therapeutic “encounter.”
The “Frame” as a Container for the Soul
In psychoanalytic theory—particularly following the work of Donald Winnicott and Marion Milner—the “frame” of therapy is not merely an administrative agreement. It is a “holding environment.” This frame includes regular sessions, a consistent fee, and a clear boundary around time and contact. This consistency allows the client to explore deeper, often “unthinkable” anxieties within a reliable structure.
• In Private Practice: I am able to offer a robust and reliable frame. We meet at the same time each week in a dedicated clinical space. This rhythm creates a psychological “container” where the work can settle and evolve. I carry you in mind between sessions, and that continuity allows for a deeper exploration of your “internal world.”
• On Digital Platforms: The model is inherently more fluid—messages can be sent at any hour, and the structure is designed for high-frequency interaction. While this feels “accessible,” the absence of a firm, traditional boundary can sometimes echo early relational experiences where care was inconsistent. Without a stable frame, the deeper “symbolic” work can sometimes be secondary to immediate, transactional communication.
Short-Term Relief vs. Structural Change
Many clients come to platforms seeking immediate support for a relationship crisis or work-related stress. While a few sessions can offer relief, the British School suggests that meaningful change requires understanding the “repetition compulsion”—the way we unconsciously recreate past patterns in our present lives.
In my private practice, Online Therapy Clinic, we take the time to look beneath the surface. We move beyond “symptom management” to uncover hidden conflicts and the internal objects that shape your reality. This process of integration—bringing together the fragmented parts of the self—requires a space where the therapist is not just a service provider, but a dedicated witness to your developing history.
The Capacity to Reflect
The structure of a platform is designed for volume and rapid response. While I always strive to be fully present with every client, the high-intensity nature of platform work can impact what we call “alpha function”—the therapist’s capacity to process and “digest” a client’s raw, overwhelming emotions.
In private practice, because I manage my own caseload and schedule, I am more resourced. I have the “mental room” required to hold the work with the depth and care it deserves. Furthermore, when a client chooses to work with me directly, it is a conscious object choice. It is a mutual agreement based on professional recognition, not an algorithmic match. That initial act of reaching out is, in itself, the first meaningful step of the therapy.
Which Route is Right for You?
If you are looking for immediate, short-term support or are working with a restricted budget, BetterHelp or ReGain can be an excellent starting point. I continue to see clients there and strive to offer as much consistency as those environments allow.
However, if you feel ready for a more sustained engagement—if you wish to explore how your past continues to inhabit your present, or if you value the absolute stability of a bespoke therapeutic relationship—I invite you to consider working with me privately.
Enquire About Private Therapy
Whether you are looking for Individual Therapy or Couples Counselling, finding a space that feels safe and reflective is paramount. If you would like to discuss working together outside of the platform model, you are welcome to reach out to me directly to enquire about availability and fees.
• Email: asotiriou@online-therapy-clinic.com
• WhatsApp: Message me on WhatsApp
• Clinical Blog: Explore further reflections at blog.online-therapy-clinic.com.
Aristogeiton (Ari) Sotiriou
UK Accredited Psychotherapist (BACP, UKCP)
Specialising in Psychodynamic Individual and Couples Therapy.
Working from a quiet home office at the foothills of the Pyrenees, I provide a thoughtful, attuned presence for clients across the UK, Europe, and beyond.