Telehealth Psychology: Online Therapy available now at Dynamic Psychotherapy
Telehealth psychology appointments are a convenient and effective way to access mental health support from a qualified therapist. For people who find it hard to get to their therapist’s office, psychology telehealth services can be a better option.
This article looks first at how telehealth psychology works and explains some of its advantages. After that, it tells you how to prepare for a telehealth session. It goes on to reassure you (hopefully) about any security concerns you might have. Finally, it tells you what types of therapy are available as telehealth appointments at Dynamic Psychotherapy.
How does Telehealth psychology work?
Telehealth psychology, sometimes called ‘online therapy’ or ‘online counselling’, allows you to see your therapist without having to go to their office. Instead, you meet your therapist in an online video session in the comfort of your own space.
Not long ago, many people found the idea of using online video software daunting. But that’s largely changed. Thanks to smartphones and the pandemic, most people have probably used Zoom or Skype at some point. And telehealth psychology is now widely available in Australia.
In a telehealth appointment offered by Dynamic Psychotherapy, you interact with your therapist using Zoom. Your online appointments follow the same structure as in-person sessions. Each one lasts for 50 minutes and takes place weekly to fortnightly. You discuss your thoughts, feelings and concerns with your therapist online just as you would if you were in the same room as them.
Does Telehealth Psychology work?
Telehealth psychology has been shown to be as effective as in-person care.[1] The key is to find the right therapist for you. Dynamic Psychotherapy has a team of experts who can help you out with your telehealth needs.
[1] According to a systematic review and meta-analysis, telemedicine was found to be comparable to in-person treatment in efficacy, patient satisfaction, and dropout rates. See Tyler Woods, ‘What Works Best: Online or In-Person Therapy?’, Psychology Today, July 15, 2023.
What is Telehealth Psychology good for?
The biggest advantages of telehealth psychology are that it’s convenient and easy to access.
- With telehealth therapy, you can meet your therapist without any worry about driving or catching public transport to and from their office. This is especially useful for people who have busy lives, limited mobility, or transportation issues. It’s a great way to save time and reduce stress.
- If you live in a remote or rural area, you can still get access to online telehealth if you have a good internet connection. It’s a very workable option for anyone who needs mental health help, no matter where they live.
- With online psychology sessions, you can keep seeing your therapist even if you’re away from home or if you move to a different state.
- Many therapists offer flexible schedules, so you don’t have to worry about fitting therapy into your busy life. You can book your sessions at any time that works best for you. And you’ll be able to prioritize your mental health while still meeting your other obligations.
- You can access telehealth psychology sessions from the comfort and privacy of your own home or any other safe and comfortable place. Even your workplace.
There might be other reasons it’s hard for you to get to your therapist’s office. Telehealth can come to the rescue here. A couple of examples:
- You might be in an environment where there’s a lot of shame around talking about mental health issues. Online therapy is a very discreet and private way to access mental health services.
- You might find the idea of being face-to-face with a psychologist just too daunting. Online sessions can be a first step towards in-person therapy.
Telehealth is not only convenient and easy to use, it is also an affordable option.
- Most insurance companies cover telehealth psychology sessions, just like they do for in-person therapy. But check with your insurance company to make sure you’re covered.
- Telehealth can save you money because you don’t have to pay for things like travel, parking or childcare.
What about privacy and security?
Please be reassured, telehealth therapy appointments are private and confidential. During a telehealth session, you and your therapist are the only people in the room, just like in a regular therapy appointment. Importantly:
- You have your session in any room in your home or a place where you feel comfortable and safe. It should be somewhere you can talk freely and without distractions.
- You may want to use headphones to block out background noise and also to protect your privacy.
- Dynamic Psychotherapy puts measures in place to protect your privacy in online psychology and counselling sessions. For example, they send you an individual link to access each appointment. Also, end-to-end encryption means that no third party has access to your session.
How to prepare for a telehealth session
1. First, find a quiet and private space where you will not be disturbed. This might be in your home, but it doesn’t have to be. (For example, some people feel most comfortable doing the session in their parked car in a safe place.)
2. Next, make sure you have a reliable internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone. The device could be a smartphone, laptop, tablet or desktop computer.
3. Also, make sure your device is fully charged or plugged in before your session.
4. Then, test your video conferencing software before your appointment to make sure it is working properly. Dynamic Psychotherapy telehealth sessions use the Zoom platform.
5. Finally, have a notebook and pen handy to take notes during your session.
At Dynamic Psychotherapy, you are emailed a Zoom link to follow at the time of your appointment. Clicking on this link takes you to an online waiting room. Once you are in the waiting room, your therapist welcomes you to your appointment.
If you don’t already have the video-conferencing software downloaded, you’ll have to do this before your first session. Once you’ve downloaded the software, you won’t have to do it again.
Dynamic Psychotherapy therapists use Zoom software for telehealth sessions. If you don’t already have Zoom downloaded, the friendly staff at Dynamic Psychotherapy can help you with this one-off step.
Which therapies are available as telehealth sessions?
So far this article has been about what telehealth psychology is good for and how it works. Now it’s time to look at which therapies are available as telehealth appointments. Dynamic Psychotherapy’s team of qualified and caring therapists offer online sessions to help with a wide range of mental health issues. These include:
- anxiety
- depression
- eating disorders
- stress
- trauma
- relationship issues
You’ll be paired with a telehealth psychologist who is experienced in handling your issues. Telehealth counselling is available with all our therapists and for the following therapies.
- Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)
- Schema Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Intrapersonal Therapy
- Mindfulness
Our Psychologists and Therapists
Here at Dynamic Psychotherapy, we have a professional, caring team of Clinical Psychologists, Psychologists, Counsellors and Therapists ready to help you.
Chris Bolton
Clinical Psychologist
Julie Cochrane
Clinical Psychologist
Moulya Ramesh Kumar
Clinical Psychologist
Click the button below to view all of our team.
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