Online Therapy with Licensed Therapists in Malaysia
Online therapy is an effective option for mental health treatment, offering support and counselling from licensed therapists via internet video calls, text and audio messaging. It can be just as effective as in-person therapy, and it’s even easier to get started.
Thoughtful World offers online therapy services in Malaysia for individuals, couples and families. If you are seeking a mental health service for you or your loved ones, book an appointment with us today.
Benefits of online therapy with ThoughtFull
Accessible
Online therapy provides greater access to mental health care and emotional support for people who may have difficulty attending in-person sessions due to physical, geographical or scheduling constraints. It is especially useful for individuals who have physical disabilities or struggle with social anxiety. It also offers flexibility to people with hectic work schedules or who need to travel or relocate, and provides individuals with the option of quickly scheduling a session when they need it.
The availability of online therapy also allows clients to widen their search for a therapist who is a good fit and to continue sessions with their preferred therapist, regardless of where they may be located.
We provide seamless end-to-end mental healthcare for individuals and businesses. Through our digital platform, ThoughtFullChat, our users can readily access a wide range of mental health resources and services to meet their needs – including text and audio messaging, scheduling video therapy sessions, mental health coaching, self-care resources and progress tracking tools.
Comfortable and Convenient
The goal of our online therapy service is to provide access to mental health care that is as convenient and stress-free as possible. Online counselling can be conducted at any location, so long as participants have access to a reliable internet connection. Participants can also choose their preferred mode of communication, whether it is internet video calls, text or audio messaging. Being in a familiar environment and communicating through a channel that works best for them can help individuals feel more at ease and encourage them to share their concerns more openly. This is particularly helpful for those who may be uncomfortable with face-to-face interactions or experience social anxiety.
Effective
Various studies have shown that online counselling and therapy can be just as effective as face-to-face, in-office therapy for a range of mental health issues, including anxiety, stress and depression. Research on client satisfaction and outcomes in telepsychiatry sessions also reported high client satisfaction and comfort levels, with comparable results between online and in-person therapy.
Personalised
Online counselling can involve different approaches that suit clients’ varying needs and preferences. At ThoughtFull, our mental health professionals are counsellors, psychologists or psychiatrists who have varying areas of expertise and may adopt different approaches and methods to understanding and managing mental health.
Based on the biopsychosocial model of health and wellness, an individual’s mental health can be understood by considering biological factors (e.g. genetics, physical health, diet, sleep, illness pathology) psychological factors (e.g. thoughts, emotions, beliefs, behaviour, addictions) and social factors (e.g. relationships, support, culture, and socioeconomic factors). In particular, psychiatrists may focus more on the biochemical aspect (involving the balancing of brain chemicals and medication), while psychologists and counsellors may tend to focus on the psychosocial aspects (involving psychotherapy, social support and rehabilitation).
Our clients can choose the best licensed therapist for their needs, based on what is most effective for them and what they personally prefer.
Affordable
Online therapy sessions are generally more affordable than in-person sessions, though this will vary depending on the type and extent of mental health support you may require. At ThoughtFull, we understand the importance of mental health care and aim to provide access to online therapy at affordable costs. Our platform offers the option of monthly, three-monthly or six-monthly billing cycles, and our users can pay a lower fee depending on their subscription duration. This allows you to achieve cost savings when you commit to long-term mental care.
Common types of online therapy in Malaysia
What you do in each online therapy session depends on the issues you are hoping to address as well as the preferred methods of your therapist – many therapists use a combination of techniques from different types of therapy. Understanding the differences between each type of therapy can help you figure out which approach is best for you and make an informed decision when finding the right therapist for your needs.
Here is a look at the five most common types of therapy in Malaysia and some mental health issues they are useful in addressing:
Psychodynamic therapy
Psychodynamic therapy involves uncovering hidden patterns in thoughts or behaviour by exploring past experiences. The aim is for clients to explore the connection between their unconscious mind and their actions and to develop healthier coping mechanisms over time. Clients can expect to have open conversations with their therapist about topics like their childhood and past.
Research suggests that psychodynamic therapy can often lead to increased self-awareness and personal growth, even after therapy is completed. It may be a good choice for addressing depression, anxiety, eating disorders, personality disorders and somatic symptoms.
Behavioural therapy
Behavioural therapy is an action-oriented approach to mental health treatment, which is founded on the belief that all and any learned behaviour or habits can be unlearned over time with the right guidance and tools. The aim is to identify certain behaviours that affect your life negatively and replace them with positive behavioural responses. Unlike psychodynamic therapy or CBT, this form of therapy does not involve as much time exploring unconscious reasons for behaviour or unhelpful thought patterns. Instead, the focus is on understanding the relationship between the environment, behaviour and consequences, and finding ways for the client to change behavioural patterns and reactions.
Behavioural therapy may be a good option to address social anxiety, phobias, addictions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, self-harm and panic attacks.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
CBT is a structured, goal-oriented type of therapy that focuses on addressing existing symptoms and making changes. It is similar to behavioural therapy in that it does not spend much time addressing past events, though it also addresses unhelpful problematic thought patterns. The idea behind CBT is that certain beliefs you have about yourself or your situations can lead to distress that contributes to mental health issues.
In CBT, therapists will help you learn how to identify unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours, understand how these may affect you, and replace them with more helpful and accurate ones. It may involve homework or practice outside therapy sessions. The aim is for clients to be able to apply these skills independently, which can result in sustained benefits long after therapy is completed.
CBT may be a good option for addressing mood disorders, anxiety and phobias, eating disorders, addictions, obsessive compulsive disorder and insomnia.
Humanistic therapy
This approach is based on the theory that individuals already have the necessary resources to overcome their difficulties and are best able to understand their own needs and experiences. Humanistic therapists offer guidance on how clients may identify and access the tools they already have, and aim to help clients better understand what they are currently experiencing without interpreting their feelings for them.
An important principle in humanistic therapy is for the therapist to offer acceptance to clients even if they disagree on certain points, which can be useful for clients who are trying to cope with negative judgement from others. Generally, clients will direct the therapy session and the therapist will be actively listening and stepping in where required.
Humanistic therapy can be useful in addressing relationship and self-esteem issues, depression, effects of trauma, addictions and feelings of worthlessness.
Postmodern therapy
Postmodern therapy involves collaboration between the therapist and client to determine where the client is and where they want to be. Instead of the therapist taking the position of the expert who is trying to diagnose and solve the client’s problems, this approach views the client as the expert and seeks to understand the client’s own narration of his/ her life. It is rooted in the idea that reality is not fixed but is influenced by our personal and shared experiences, so each person’s life story is unique and valid.
Postmodern therapy aims to challenge social constructs, helps clients rewrite their stories to form new meanings, and is focused on solutions for personal growth.
How to communicate with your online therapist
Text or voice messaging
Online therapy can take place through asynchronous messaging via our ThoughtFullChat app. With this option, you can send text messages or audio notes to your default therapist at any time, via your dedicated chat room within our ThoughtFullChat platform. Your therapist will respond within the day from Mondays to Fridays, as soon as they are available. It can be a good option for clients who are not comfortable with speaking with a therapist through a phone or video call, or through face-to-face therapy. Some clients prefer this medium as it allows them more time to formulate their thoughts and responses.
Video calls
Conducting online therapy via video calls is also available as an option in one of our packages. This offers an experience that is most similar to an in-person therapy session, as it allows for the client and therapist to see each other’s facial expressions and body language, and hear each other’s tone of voice. It is highly recommended as it tends to strengthen the therapeutic relationship between the client and therapist, and can produce the best results.
Professional, vetted and licensed therapists in Malaysia whom you can trust
At ThoughtFull, you can expect the same quality and professionalism from our online therapists as you would during traditional therapy that is held in person, but with the ability to communicate when and how you want using our online counselling platform.
How we verify our mental health professionals for your benefit
Our team of mental health professionals are fully certified counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists who specialise in diverse areas and are deeply committed to providing our clients with effective therapy.
Before they are accepted onto our online counselling platform, our therapists are required to go through a rigorous application and onboarding process to ensure the quality of their services. This process involves thorough due diligence into their identity and professional qualifications, and comprehensive training on the use of our online therapy platform.
Expertise and mental health support
Our licensed therapists at ThoughtFull are trained to offer professional support and guidance for a wide range of issues relating to mental wellness. Some of these issues include:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Managing emotions
- Work-related stress
- Relationship issues
- LGBTQ+ issues
- Low self-esteem and body image issues
- Identity and self-discovery
- Grief and loss
- Substance abuse
- Issues relating to career, academics and life transitions
- Financial wellness
Meet Our Online Therapists in Malaysia
Ammar Saifullah Kamalie
Counsellor
Asha Raj
Counsellor
Cassandra Lee Pei Chin
Counsellor
E. Laine Loh
Counsellor
Fatin Nurafiqah
Clinical Psychologist
Goh Xin Qi
Clinical Psychologist
Hanisa Najib
Clinical Psychologist
Jackie Yong
Counsellor
John Pinto
Counsellor
Our Online Therapy Fees
Our aim is to provide affordable online therapy to clients. For more information on fees and pricing, please contact us
You may also wish to check with your health insurance providers on whether your plans for insurance cover online therapy.
Common Concerns About Online Therapy
Does online therapy work? Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Yes, various studies have shown that online counselling and therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy in providing mental health care and support for various conditions:
- A 2022 study revealed no significant differences in effectiveness between face-to-face and online psychotherapeutic interventions.
- Another 2022 study showed that online counselling interventions can be as effective as face-to-face counselling, particularly for psychological distress.
- A study was conducted in 2022 to evaluate client satisfaction and one-month mental health outcomes for clients who underwent telepsychiatry and face-to-face psychiatric consultations. Telepsychiatry clients reported that they could present the same information as they would in an in-person session (93%), were satisfied with their session (96%), and were comfortable in their ability to talk (85%).
Who should not use an online counselling and therapy platform?
Online therapy is not suitable for individuals who are unable to get access to a reliable Internet connection or a device that can connect to the Internet. Online therapy may also not be ideal or appropriate for individuals who are:
- Currently in an urgent crisis or emergency situation requiring immediate intervention or physical assistance
- At risk of causing harm to themselves or others
- Experiencing or diagnosed with severe or long-standing mental health issues, or who have been advised to be under psychological supervision or psychiatric care
- Experiencing psychosis such as hallucinations, delusions or paranoia
- Engaging in excessively risky behaviour, such as heavy alcohol or drug use
- Minors or under the care of a legal guardian
If you or someone that you know is in a crisis or experiencing a mental health emergency, please contact a mental health emergency hotline or head to the nearest emergency centre. It is also recommended that you seek in-person psychological support should you be experiencing severe or long-standing mental issues.
Will I be able to choose my own online therapist?
Yes, clients will be able to browse the profiles of the available online therapists and select a therapist that best suits their needs.
How do I find the right therapist for my needs?
Finding a therapist who is a good fit for you and your needs will increase the effectiveness of your online therapy sessions.
Can I be anonymous during online therapy?
Yes, for increased confidentiality, our users have the option to be identified only by a nickname. Any emergency contact information provided to ThoughtFull will only be accessed in a situation where you or those around you are deemed to be in danger.
How does ThoughtFull ensure that my data and privacy remains protected?
We have taken the following steps to ensure that our clients’ data and privacy are protected:
- ThoughtFullChat’s mobile application requires two-factor authentication, to add an additional layer of security for customers and professional accounts.
- All messages on our ThoughtFullChat platform are secured with 256-bit encryption.
- Our databases are fully encrypted and secured.
- All data connections between mobile apps, websites and servers are encrypted with SSL and are in line with best practices for security.
FAQ
What to expect from an online therapy session?
Your experience with online therapy is largely dependent on your specific therapist, what issues you are seeking therapy for, and your goals for yourself for therapy. As mentioned above, different therapists may adopt different interventions, and different types of therapy styles can be more effective for certain conditions.
At the beginning of each session, your therapist will likely ask you to share what you have been thinking about or feeling, and may also ask if you have specific issues you would like to focus on in that session.
Your first few therapy sessions are an opportunity for you and your therapist to get to know one another and increase your therapeutic alliance. Your therapist may ask some basic questions about your personal life, family history, career, mental health history and symptoms, and other relationships. Subsequent sessions will typically be more therapeutic and can vary based on your progress and preferences, and may involve exploring a specific topic.
What are some tips for a successful online therapy session?
1. Set up your environment for a successful session
You will need an internet-connected device (with a microphone and video access, where applicable) and a reliable Internet connection to communicate with your therapist. Be sure to test out your camera and microphone before the session and ensure that your device is positioned such that you are visible on screen.
It is also important to find a private and safe space free from distractions, where you will be comfortable opening up about personal issues and challenges pertaining to your mental health.
2. Intentionally create time and space for online therapy
While the convenience of online therapy increases its accessibility, it can be beneficial for clients to be intentional in setting aside time and space for online therapy sessions, and to reflect and process after each session.
3. Be open and expressive about your thoughts and feelings
As far as possible, it would be helpful for clients to honestly express how they feel to their therapist. The more open clients are, the better their therapists can understand them and provide assistance to them.
Is online therapy available for families and couples?
Yes, we offer online therapy sessions for families and couples as well.