What is online therapy and how does it work?

Online therapy means psychotherapy or counselling sessions held via video, chat or phone. Client and therapist connect remotely — no travel, no waiting room.

Short answer

Online therapy is psychotherapy or counselling delivered remotely via video, chat or phone.
The client connects to the therapist from a private location, with no travel to the practice.
A session usually lasts about 50 minutes, the same as an in-person session.
For online sessions the therapist chooses the conferencing tool; 4therapy only stores the join link on the appointment.

What the law says (briefly)

In Romania, online therapy is legal and practised by therapists licensed by the Romanian College of Psychologists.
The therapist must hold a certificate of free practice issued by the College of Psychologists and comply with the Code of Ethics.
Client data confidentiality is regulated by GDPR — the platform used must comply with security requirements.
Professional secrecy and informed consent apply in exactly the same way to remote sessions.

How it works in practice

The client books a session online from the therapist's calendar and receives a connection link.
At the agreed time, client and therapist connect through the video platform the therapist has chosen.
The session runs for about 50 minutes — the therapist tracks progress in the client's electronic record.
At the end of the session, the therapist adds session notes to the record and, if needed, sets the next appointment.

Practical examples

Example 1: a person with social anxiety from Cluj works with a therapist in Bucharest. The session takes place on Tuesday at 7 pm via video, with no travel. The therapist tracks progress in the client's electronic record.

Example 2: a Romanian from the diaspora (Berlin) attends therapy with a certified therapist from Romania, in Romanian, with no additional travel costs.

Common mistakes

Confusing online therapy with coaching or wellness apps — these are not psychotherapy and do not treat mental disorders.
Choosing a therapist without a College of Psychologists certificate — always verify credentials on the College's website.
Using public video platforms (free Zoom, WhatsApp) without checking whether they comply with GDPR requirements for sensitive data.

How 4therapy helps

Integrated online calendar: the client books their own therapy session, with no phone calls.
Electronic client record: the therapist adds encrypted session notes after each session and tracks progress over time.
SMS and WhatsApp reminders, following the rules you set, to reduce no-shows (starting with the Plus plan).
Join link: 4therapy keeps the online session link on the appointment, but it is not a video-conferencing platform — the call takes place on the tool you choose.
Practice website, starting with the Plus plan: the therapist publishes a professional site with services, therapists and a booking button.