Online or Face-to-Face Therapy, in Arabic or English?

If you are starting therapy in New Cairo, or online therapy in Egypt or from abroad, two choices come up early. Face to face or video call? Arabic, English or both?
On average, video therapy works about as well as meeting face to face, so the choice often comes down to privacy, travel and comfort. For language, choose the one you find easiest for talking about feelings, or tell us if you would like both.

Is online therapy as effective as face to face?

On average, yes. In a 2023 British Journal of Psychiatry review of 32 randomized trials, video and face-to-face treatment worked about equally well, with similar dropout rates. A 2026 review of 12 therapy trials, in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, also found no clear difference.
Research also suggests your bond with your therapist can be just as strong over video. Still, the evidence is limited. Most trials in the 2026 review were American and tested cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and results may differ by condition.

When might face-to-face therapy suit you better?

Some people feel more at ease starting therapy in person. Face to face may also suit you better if:

• You have nowhere private at home to talk without being overheard.
• Someone at home might listen in, check your phone or make you feel unsafe.
• You keep going through crises. Professional guidance suggests therapists then offer other options, such as in-person care.

Sessions for children and teenagers are held at our center in New Cairo, and teenagers can also attend online. Psychological assessments are carried out by our psychologists at the center in New Cairo. Many standardized tests were designed to be given face to face.

When might online therapy suit you better?

Online sessions save travel time and can fit more easily around a busy week. Online therapy may suit you better if:

• You live far from New Cairo, or your work or studies leave little spare time.
• You travel often and want to keep your sessions going.
• You live outside Egypt and want sessions in Arabic or English with a therapist based in Cairo.

If you live outside Egypt, or will join sessions while traveling, mention it when you book. Rules on online therapy differ by country, and you and your therapist will need a plan for emergencies where you are.

Arabic, English or both?

Choose the language you can talk about feelings in most freely. Research on bilingual people often finds that emotional words feel stronger in the language learned first. Childhood memories also tend to come back in more detail, and with more feeling, in that language.
Not everyone feels this way. If you grew up speaking English daily, at school, at home or with friends, it may carry as much feeling as Arabic, or more.
In a small 2025 master's thesis at the American University in Cairo, 20 Egyptian bilinguals talked about trauma and loss. They described Arabic as the language of closeness, and English as a buffer that helped them step back.
Some people find painful or embarrassing topics easier to begin in a second language. Others feel they cannot fully express themselves in it.
Switching languages mid-session is common. In a 2017 survey of 109 multilingual therapy clients, nearly two-thirds said they briefly switched languages. Therapists are encouraged to notice these switches with you, since a switch can bring a feeling closer or hold it at a distance.
Whether you want an English-speaking therapist in Cairo or an Arabic-speaking therapist online, tell us your preferred language when you book. We will match you with one of our therapists. Inji Farid also offers sessions in French.

How to prepare for an online session

The UK's NHS and the British Psychological Society suggest these steps:

• Choose a quiet, private, well-lit room where no one can overhear you.
• Use headphones or earbuds so others cannot hear your therapist.
• Check your internet, camera and microphone, and log on a few minutes early.
• Keep your phone nearby, and agree with your therapist what to do if the call drops.
• Ask the people at home not to disturb you.

Your therapist may ask where you are at the start of each session, a routine safety step that professional guidance recommends.

What if you need help urgently?

Therapy sessions, online or face to face, are not an emergency service. If you are thinking about ending your life, or you or someone else is in immediate danger, go to the nearest hospital emergency department. In Egypt you can also call 123 for an ambulance or 122 for the police.
For urgent emotional support, call 16328, the 24-hour psychological support hotline run by Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population. If you are outside Egypt, call your local emergency number.

How to start therapy in New Cairo or online

Sessions are held at our center in 3Sixty by LMD, New Cairo, or online by video call.
When you are ready, message us on WhatsApp at +20 109 429 2553 or request a session. We are open every day, 10 am to 10 pm Cairo time.
When you get in touch, tell us whether you prefer online or face to face, and Arabic, English or French. If you are not sure yet, say so, and we will help you choose a therapist.