Online Counselling

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The fast pace of modern society means that many people are looking for ways to save time in the day. Whether you’re managing a busy schedule, juggling work and family commitments, or simply seeking support from the comfort of your own home, online therapy services offer a practical solution. FIFO-based work in Western Australia presents unique challenges for mental health and well-being, making our online counseling services particularly valuable. Online therapy Australia services may be the only practical means to get support while working away. You can find out more about what’s involved in our Telehealth page.

What is Online Counselling in Australia?

Online Counselling services is the process whereby a Counsellor conducts a counselling session with you via electronic audio and/or video communication platform like Skype or Whatsapp. You can be in a location or setting of your choice that may help make you feel safe, and comfortable and protect your privacy.

Online therapy with us costs no more than a face-to-face session in Perth. Our Online Counselling services, telehealth service, telephone counselling and eTherapy from Perth can fulfil many aims of a traditional counselling or therapy session.

As the client, you initiate the session and if video streaming (webchat) is included, then a face-to-face contact service is made.

The only restriction on this type of service is the counsellor may not be able to have you undertake psychodynamic recreations and processes, as often these involve resources found in a therapist’s office.

How does Online Counselling Work

Our Online Counselling approach with you is to determine the time zone difference between us on AWST (Australian Western Standard Time) and you, such that we can determine a suitable time for both parties to connect.

At the moment, the platforms that we use for Online Counselling are Skype and Whatsapp. You can decide if you want audio-only contact, or audio mixed with video contact. We are fine with that choice when it is requested. If you prefer audio only, you can also consider doing a Phone Counselling session.

Feel free to contact us to schedule an Online Counselling appointment. Appointments generally last 55 minutes. We’ll confirm a suitable time, taking into account any time zone differences, and finalize the payment method, with payment due 24 hours before the session begins. Depending on the platform we use to connect, we may also need to confirm your username, email address, or phone number in advance.

For your appointment, make sure you have a device like a laptop, tablet, or smartphone equipped with a camera, microphone, and speaker, as well as a stable internet connection. If we establish a video session with you that has numerous internet drop-outs moments on the session status, we may request that the session be terminated and then re-established. Alternatively, we may drop the session to audio only, as the absence of video will require less session bandwidth, and so the session may proceed without interruption using audio mode only.

As a client, we preserve your privacy and confidentiality when using Online Counselling and we do not record such sessions or stream any content to third parties. We expect you to engage with us on using these same terms, so there cannot be any potential breach of session content.

The therapy costs for our Online Counselling are the same as if you are present face-to-face in our therapy room. We secure Online Counselling costs in the client’s local currency. Payments made in foreign currencies are set at the same rate as in-person sessions at our practice, though prices may vary slightly over time due to significant fluctuations in exchange rates. Payment for Online Counselling is normally made 24 hours before the session via Paypal, Credit Card or Internet Banking. Check out our Fees page from more information.

Advantages of Online Counselling Services in Australia

The Advantages may be:

Convenience for you by saving travelling time that would be used to commute to and from our practice.
Safety as you feel secure in the setting and place you choose to conduct the session.
The best choice for you, particularly if your local choices are non-existent or of poor quality.
Remote workers such as FIFO can get online counselling or online therapy if your work location is remote from mental health services.
Typically no additional cost versus our face-to-face equivalent service.

The Disadvantages may be:

The relational container does not exist in the same way online. When two people come together their social engagement system of the brain triggers a relational entrainment or synchronicity that through body-centric nuances, creates a synergy and attunement that is felt as safe and supportive.
The mirroring and modelling that occurs between two people who come face to face is interrupted by the online dynamic.
Because of the above two constraints, the therapist may make a cognitive error, and you as the client may take offence, disconnect, or feel unsupported or unseen.
Online streaming technologies are prone to dropouts or poor quality, so one or both parties may find there are delays, session breakdowns or loss which create anger and frustration, which may upset the session.
Your state may not be easily determined in a session by the counsellor. So the risk that you may be affected by drugs, alcohol, trauma etc. may go unnoticed and which otherwise may have flagged to stop the session from proceeding.
There is a risk that the confidentiality and privacy of the session are compromised by a third party, or that the session is recorded illegally without the explicit consent of both parties.
If you have a crisis or episode in the online session, then the counsellor may not be able to effectively intervene and contain the session.

Techniques Used by our Online Mental Health Team

Much like a professional counsellor in an office, an online therapist can utilise many therapy techniques and is able to assist with all areas of mental health including: