Telehealth Psychologists Australia

Studies show that online counselling is as effective as face-to-face counselling.

Here are some findings of the efficacy of remote therapy:

• Remote mental health care across a range of age groups and conditions is effective and increases access to care
  Hilty, D.M., et al., The Effectiveness of Telemental Health, Telemedicine and e-Health, Vol. 19, No. 6, 2013
• Online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy for various mental health conditions
  Pescatello M.S., et. al., Treatment engagement and effectiveness of an internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy program at a university counseling center, Psychotherapy Research, Vol. 31, No. 5, 2021
• PTSD interventions delivered in-person and via video telehealth are equally effective in the majority of cases
  Turgoose, D., et al., Systematic review of lessons learned from delivering tele-therapy to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, Vol. 24, No. 9, 2018
• Phone and video counselling are effective for depression, anxiety and adjustment disorder
  Varker, T., et al., Efficacy of synchronous telepsychology interventions for people with anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and adjustment disorder: A rapid evidence assessment, Psychological Services, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2019
• Phone and video counselling are effective for substance use, eating disorders and other problems in children and adolescents
  Slone, N.C., et al., Telepsychology outcome research with children and adolescents: A review of the literature, Psychological Services, Vol. 9, No. 3, 2012
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for major depressive disorder delivered face-to-face and over the phone have equivalent outcomes
  Mohr, D.C., et al., Effect of Telephone-Administered vs Face-to-face Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Adherence to Therapy and Depression Outcomes Among Primary Care Patients, JAMA, Vol. 307, No. 21, 2012
• Online CBT is just as effective as in-person therapy in treating moderate depression
  Luo C., et. al., A comparison of electronically-delivered and face to face cognitive behavioural therapies in depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis, EClinicalMedicine. Vol. 24, 2020
• Audio-only (phone) psychotherapy reduces depression symptoms among geographically isolated HIV-positive adults with depression
  Heckman, T. G., et. al., Tele-Interpersonal Psychotherapy Acutely Reduces Depressive Symptoms in Depressed HIV-Infected Rural Persons: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Behavioral Medicine, Vol. 43, No. 4, 2017
• Therapeutic alliance does not suffer when CBT for depression is delivered by phone compared to in-person
  Stiles-Shields, C., et. al., Therapeutic alliance in face-to-face and telephone-administered cognitive behavioral therapy, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 82, No. 2, 2014
• Online CBT is as effective as face-to-face treatment for panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and generalised anxiety disorder
  Andrews G., et. al., Computer therapy for the anxiety and depression disorders is effective, acceptable and practical health care: An updated meta-analysis, Journal of Anxiety Disorders, Vol. 55, 2018
• Online therapy is effective in reducing problem gambling behaviours
  van der Maas M., et. al., Internet-based interventions for problem gambling: Scoping review. JMIR Mental Health, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2019

For phone sessions:

You will just need a phone. This can be a mobile or landline.

For online/video sessions:

You will need an internet connection and a laptop, tablet or mobile with a webcam.

For telehealth sessions at New Vision Psychology, you may either connect via Health Direct or Zoom.

Health Direct is a secure government video platform that ensures privacy. There is no need to download any software on your computer or phone.

If you prefer to use Zoom, your psychologist will be able to accommodate this. Please advise this when making your appointment.

Test your equipment prior to your appointment to prevent any delays. Check if you have enough data or credit in your mobile and a reliable internet connection. To ensure a smooth experience, you will need a minimum of 350Kbps bandwidth per video stream. Click here to check your bandwidth.

Yes. Get a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP and email it to intake@newvisionpsychology.com.au.

This will enable you to claim a Medicare rebate of $98.95 per session for a Registered Psychologist or $161.05 per session for a Clinical Psychologist.

You can currently receive Medicare rebates for a maximum of 10 sessions per calendar year. Your rebate will be provided immediately after each session.

All our psychologists provide counselling through telehealth.

Click here to book your telehealth appointment.

Once your booking is confirmed, we will email you your intake forms. These include our privacy information, your Medicare details and a Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Please complete these forms and email them back to us prior to your first session.

Telehealth makes mental health care accessible to a wider range of clients, offering another avenue of care to suit different circumstances and preferences.

Access mental health support from anywhere

For geographically isolated populations, telehealth can be the difference between accessing treatment and going without – many people in remote or rural areas simply have no local option. It also removes mobility as a barrier, bringing counselling to people with physical limitations, including those who are disabled or housebound.

Convenience

Telehealth suits people who are time-poor, lack childcare, or have limited transport, saving travel time and costs. It also works well for those who are frequently on the move, such as people who need to travel for work. 

Privacy

Telehealth can also lower the barrier of stigma. Online counselling sessions can be done privately from home, making it an approachable entry point for those who fear being seen at a clinic. It may also be a less intimidating option for people with social anxiety.

Shorter waiting periods

Psychologist schedules can be booked out weeks in advance due to high demand for psychology services. Rather than waiting for a certain psychologist’s schedule to open up, people can access more options and timings through online counselling and get support sooner.

Online counselling may be the right choice for you if you recognise that you need counselling support, but find it difficult to attend an appointment in-person. 

It may take a few sessions to get used to online counselling. Some people may find it challenging to communicate through a screen, while others may find it comforting to do so in a familiar environment. 

The best way to know whether telehealth support is the right choice for you is to try it out. It is not uncommon for people to start accessing mental health support through telehealth as a first step, and later transition to face-to-face sessions, or vice versa. 

Telehealth suits people who are time-poor, lack childcare, or have limited transport, saving travel time and costs. It also works well for those who are frequently on the move, such as people who need to travel for work.