A long time ago, I was working with a marketing agency that suggested my tagline be “Dr. Teralyn’s Couch of Change.” Honestly, it made me laugh. The idea that a therapist’s couch could magically create change? Ridiculous. But it also perfectly illustrates how traditional therapy has long been romanticized and misunderstood.

I was once that therapist with a serene office, calming music, and a perfectly arranged environment. I thought the space itself helped my clients feel safe, comfortable, and ready to change. But the truth is, real transformation doesn’t happen in a staged office—it happens in the places where life actually unfolds.

Once I switched to telehealth, that’s when things really started to change. I could no longer rely on my artificially created environment to do any of the work for me. Every connection, every insight, and every breakthrough had to happen intentionally, grounded in the client’s real world, in their own space.

Online therapy allows clients to practice communication, coping, and problem-solving where it truly matters: at home, in their routines, and in their relationships. They can reach for the comfort tools they actually have, notice real triggers, and build skills that stick in their daily life.

By stepping away from the “Couch of Change,” therapy becomes less about staged safety and more about empowerment. Change is not outsourced to an office—it’s cultivated by the client in the environments that matter most.

So, forget the couch. Real growth happens where life happens. Online therapy makes that possible.

Ready to leave the couch behind and start real work? Schedule your online therapy session today and bring growth into your life where it counts.

Medically Reviewed By: Teralyn Sell, PhD, Mental Health Professional