Messaging-first + scheduled sessions
Side-by-side highlights with clear “Visit” buttons (swap URLs anytime).
BetterHelp Top pick
Best overall fit for most people
Talkspace
Good for messaging-first support
Online-Therapy.com
Structured tools + sessions
Emily S. Starr, CELA is a Fitchburg-based attorney with a focus on helping families with elders, individuals with disabilities, and special needs. She is a Vassar College and Boston University School of Law graduate, a member of the Special Needs Alliance and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Ms. Starr is certified as an Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation and has extensive experience in benefits planning, estate planning, guardianship/conservatorship, and estate and trust administration. She serves on the boards of Elder Home Care Services of Worcester Area, Inc., the Massachusetts Chapter of NAELA, the Boylston Public Library Foundation, Salem Community Corporation, and the Advisory Board of Trustees of the Seven Hills Foundation. She has been awarded the annual Award for Community Service by the Theresa Foundation in 2007 and the Scholar Mentor Award by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education in 2009. Additionally, she has been recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of elder law, Boston’s Best Lawyers, and a Super Lawyer in various categories including elder law, top 100 lawyers in Massachusetts, and top 50 women lawyers in New England. Ms. Starr has written extensively and was the co-editor of a three-volume treatise on Estate Planning for the Aged and Incapacitated Client in Massachusetts for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE). She has been a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs and other professional and non-professional groups for the past 25 years.
Not sure whether to see a therapist in person or online? This comparison highlights why online therapy is often the more flexible and accessible option.
| Aspect | In-Person Therapy | Online Therapy (often more flexible) |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience & Time | ✖️ Requires travel, scheduling time off, and a fixed location. | ✔️ No travel; join from home, office, or car when it suits you. |
| Scheduling Flexibility | ✖️ Mostly office hours; fewer last-minute or out-of-hours options. | ✔️ Early morning, evening, and lunchtime sessions are easier to find. |
| Comfort & Privacy | ✖️ Waiting rooms, chance of meeting someone you know, commuting when feeling low. | ✔️ Talk from your safest private space at home or elsewhere; no waiting room. |
| Therapist Availability | ✖️ Limited to providers within driving distance and local specialties. | ✔️ Access a much wider pool of therapists, including niche expertise. |
| Cost & Extra Time | ✖️ Parking, travel expenses, and extra commuting time around each session. | ✔️ No travel or parking costs; time is spent on the session, not the journey. |
| Accessibility | ✖️ Harder for rural areas, busy parents, chronic illness or mobility issues. | ✔️ Accessible from anywhere with internet; ideal for busy or remote lifestyles. |
| Consistency | ✖️ Travel, moving, or bad weather can interrupt or cancel sessions. | ✔️ Continue therapy even while travelling or during bad weather days. |
| Best For | ✖️ Situations where physical presence or hands-on support is essential. | ✔️ Most stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues and life transitions. |
| Limitations | ✖️ Less flexible; easier to miss sessions due to travel or schedule conflicts. | ✔️ Requires internet and a private space; not suitable for emergency situations. |
Bottom line: For most people, online therapy offers the best mix of convenience, comfort, and therapist choice—while still providing high-quality support.
👉 Prefer a flexible option? View trusted online therapy providers
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Online Therapist is a directory and does not provide crisis intervention or emergency services.
If you are in crisis, feeling unsafe, or experiencing thoughts of self-harm, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
In the United States, you can also contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
