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Online Therapy in Indiana & Ohio: What to Expect and Why It Actually Works
Looking for online therapy in Indiana or Ohio? Learn how virtual therapy works, who it helps, and why private pay therapy might be the best choice for your mental health.
Let’s get this out of the way first: Online therapy isn’t a watered-down version of “real” therapy.
In fact, for a lot of people, it’s better.
If you live in Indiana or Ohio and you’re struggling with anxiety, burnout, ADHD symptoms, or just the existential dread of being a human in 2025, online therapy might be exactly what you need—especially if you're tired of one-size-fits-all mental health services.
I’m Jennifer Branstetter, a licensed therapist offering virtual therapy for adults in both Indiana and Ohio. I specialize in helping anxious people-pleasers, former gifted kids who feel stuck in adulthood, and adults navigating undiagnosed ADHD, chronic illness, or depression.
Let’s break down what online therapy actually looks like—and why it works.
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What Is Online Therapy?
Online therapy (also called virtual therapy or telehealth) is exactly what it sounds like: Therapy sessions that happen via a secure video platform, instead of in an office. It’s confidential, HIPAA-compliant, and can be just as effective as in-person therapy (backed by research and actual human experience). Most of us got used to telehealth in 2020 when therapists had to pivot immediately, and unfortunately it wasn’t always great. According to my licensing board, some therapists were showing up to sessions in their car, smoking, and drinking wine. That’s not professional online therapy. I’ve been working virtually from my home office since 2018, so there wasn’t a learning curve to adapt my practice.
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Who Online Therapy Helps Most
Online therapy isn’t right for everyone, but it’s a game-changer for people who:
Struggle with anxiety or sensory overwhelm and prefer the comfort of their own space
Have chronic illness, fatigue, or mobility challenges that make in-person therapy a chore
Are balancing a million things—like work, parenting, or caregiving—and need something that actually fits into their life - even in the middle of a workday
Live in Indiana or Ohio but don’t have easy access to therapists who get their specific challenges
Want therapy that’s tailored, practical, and grounded—not rigid or overly clinical
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“But What If It Feels Weird?”
It might at first - just like meeting a new therapist in their office. That’s normal. I even feel weird meeting a new therapist the first time. Many people feel more comfortable because they’re in their own environment. Now that video calls are so common, doing therapy on video isn’t that different.
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What to Know About Private Pay & Insurance
I’m a private pay therapist, which means I don’t bill insurance directly. I’m a better therapist when I get to decide with the client what type of therapy they get and how many sessions. Rather than spending hours chasing down claims, I have time to plan for sessions, collaborate with doctors, make referrals, and come to sessions from a balanced place.
Some clients use their out-of-network benefits to get partial reimbursement. If you want to explore that, I can provide a superbill (an itemized receipt with a diagnosis code) that you can submit to your insurance company.
Important note:
Insurance companies may request your records to process reimbursement.
They can choose to deny reimbursement based on diagnosis, provider type, or other criteria.
A mental health diagnosis is required for insurance reimbursement.
Some clients prefer private pay for the added privacy, flexibility, and control—no waiting for approval, no session caps, no surprise denials.
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Ready to Try Online Therapy?
Whether you’re in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Fort Wayne, or anywhere else in Indiana or Ohio—I’ve got space for you.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, burned out, stuck in your head, or like life just hasn’t turned out how you expected, therapy can help.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
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Let’s work together.
Click here to schedule a free consult or call/text 513-461-2045 to get started.
Convenient Online Psychotherapy: Serving Clients in Indiana and Ohio
Offering convenient and effective online psychotherapy for residents of Indiana and Ohio. Access virtual cognitive behavioral therapy to manage anxiety, stress, and more from the comfort of your home.
Accessible Care for Indiana and Ohio Residents
I was born a Buckeye and have been a Hoosier for the past decade or so, living close to the Indiana/Ohio border near Cincinnati. So like many of us, I see doctors in both states. Though I’ve worked in-person in both Indiana and Ohio (as well as Kentucky), since going all-virtual in 2018 I have maintained both licenses so I can serve people like me who are on either side of the border at different times of the day or year.
The Benefits of Virtual Psychotherapy
I have maintained a virtual practice since having an infant at home, noting it worked better for me to have flexibility in scheduling and reducing commute time to an office. I can therefore serve more people and at more flexible hours.
The benefits for clients are all about access. So many people I work with would not have the time to drive to an office in the middle of their day, or after work, in addition to the hour of therapy. Being able to close an office door or go to a quiet room in their house makes it much more likely they’re getting care. I also notice a difference in the level of vulnerability people are comfortable with, compared to when they were in a stranger’s office. I think I’m even more comfortable working from my home office than when I shared an office building with other businesses.
Who Can Benefit from Online Therapy?
Anyone who can operate a computer or smartphone can benefit. I think busy people or those with a lot of anxiety around seeking therapy have been the most helped. Literally if you got way too anxious in session, you could just hang up. That hasn’t happened yet, but it’s a nice option to tell a very anxious brain :) It’s also great for someone who is so depressed they’re struggling to leave the house. Therapy can meet them literally in bed and healing can start.
I’ve had many people who have said they would never have gotten care if we didn’t have virtual therapy. There are some cases where in-person care is more appropriate, and I assess that on a case-by-case basis. And of course, many people prefer to go in-person for their care.
Access for people in rural areas is a huge passion of mine, as I myself would need to drive an hour to get to good in-person care. As a working mom, that just isn’t going to happen. As a client, I like being able to snuggle up in a blanket with a cup of coffee on my own couch to start a session.
Part of my standard practice is to connect with, or refer to, any treating physicians you see in order to collaborate on your care. I can do that virtually the same way I did in-office. Being from Cleveland and previously living in Youngstown, Columbus, and Cincinnati, I usually have familiarity with the local resources or can easily find them. I’ve been able to connect people with local providers in the far corners of Indiana too, thanks to the internet.
How Virtual Sessions Work
After having a consultation call, if you’re ready to schedule then I put you in my electronic health record system and you’ll get a link to the appointment by text and email. Just click the link a few minutes before therapy, and the session will begin. The only parameters are that you’re in a quiet place with privacy so you can get the most out of your session.
Licensed to Serve Both Indiana and Ohio
Many people travel between our two great states. I see several college students coming to Indiana from Ohio, or vice-versa. So we can continue care when they’re home for breaks without interruption. Or some people live in Cincinnati but are from Indiana, so again when they’re home visiting family but need a session, we can meet. Many Southeast Indiana residents commute to Cincinnati for work, and may only have time do their session on their lunch break in Ohio. Being licensed in both states allows care to continue without interruption. I’m also licensed for telehealth in Florida, so if you need a session during vacation (hey, I’ve been there), it’s available.
Why Choose Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
CBT is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety and depression. Being virtual means it’s much easier to fit into your life without interrupting treatment due to commuting, road conditions, etc. One benefit of CBT is consistency early on as we change habits. My EHR allows me to send you worksheets through the portal for you to complete homework between sessions. Online CBT has been just as effective as in-person CBT in my practice.
Start Your Journey to Better Mental Health Today
Are you looking for a therapist licensed in both Ohio and Indiana? Click here to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with an experienced online anxiety therapist from Cincinnati today for online counseling in Indiana and Ohio. Or call/text 513-461-2045.