Online Therapy
Online therapy sessions have become increasingly popular in the wake of the pandemic. Due to their convenience and accessibility, online sessions are often preferred to in-person sessions by some clients, especially those with limited access to appropriate therapists or who are time-poor and working from home.
Medicare rebates are available for these sessions, as for in-person sessions with a Psychologist.
Online Therapy has comparable outcomes to in-person therapy
Numerous research studies have found that telehealth psychological services can be just as effective as traditional in-person sessions for treating a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders. For example telepsychology sessions delivered via video conferencing have been found to have comparable effects to face-to-face therapy for both adult and adolescent populations (Lange, van der Wijk, and Mewes, 2022, Journal of Clinical Psychology).
Online therapy sessions are especially beneficial for:
Clients whose symptoms manifest primarily in the home environment, a this enables opportunities for exposure therapy. For example, contamination OCD symptoms can involve compulsions centred around keeping parts of the home 'clean' or 'germ free'. Online sessions enable these types of fears and compulsions to be challenged with the therapist while the person is in the home environment, in a way that wouldn't be possible with sessions held at an in-person practice.
People who are working from home who can more easily fit sessions in during their lunch hour or at the end of their working day.
Clients with limited access to appropriate therapists with training and experience in the treatment of OCD, due to living in rural areas or due to mobility/transport issues.
Clients with mental health issues which are impacting on their ability to leave their home, and so who would struggle to attend in person therapy sessions
Online therapy sessions may not be appropriate for:
Individuals with complex psychiatric conditions requiring intensive, in-person intervention (e.g., severe personality disorders or psychosis).
People in crisis who may be at risk of acting on suicidal thoughts or who are engaging in significant repeated self-harming behaviours.
People who do not have access to a private place at home with a reliable internet connection.
