Telehealth Psychologist: Online Sessions Anywhere in Australia
A telehealth psychologist offers the same therapy you would receive in the room, delivered by secure video wherever you are in Australia. Perfectly Aligned Psychology is based in Balgownie, near Wollongong, and sees clients online from every state and territory, with Medicare rebates available under a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
For many people, online sessions are not a second-best option. They are the only realistic way to get help. The nearest psychologist may be two hours away. Shift rosters may make a weekday appointment impossible. Young children at home, a chronic illness, or simply the thought of a waiting room can all stand in the way.
Others choose telehealth because it suits them better. Talking from a familiar space, without a commute before and after, helps some people settle and speak more freely.
Research has found that therapy by video can produce outcomes comparable to face-to-face treatment for many common concerns, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. What matters most is a skilled psychologist, a good working relationship and a private, reliable connection.
This page covers how online sessions work, who they suit, which services are available, Medicare rebates, setting up, privacy, time zones, when in-person care is better, fees and booking. It is one of the ways to access the care described on the Perfectly Aligned Psychology homepage.
How does telehealth psychology work?
Telehealth psychology works like an in-person session held over a secure video link. You book a time, receive a private link by email or text, and join from a laptop, tablet or phone. Sessions last about 50 minutes, follow the same treatment approaches, and are recorded in your clinical file in the same way.
When you start with a telehealth psychologist, session one is about getting to know you. It covers the reason you reached out, relevant background and your goals, and ends with a shared plan.
Later sessions follow the treatment chosen for you, whether that is cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, EMDR or another evidence-based approach. Worksheets and resources are shared on screen or sent by email.
Between sessions, you may be given small tasks to try, such as noticing a pattern, practising a skill or keeping a brief record. These are discussed at the next session, just as they would be in person.
Video is preferred over phone, because seeing each other supports the connection and lets the psychologist notice body language. Phone can be used as a backup if the video drops out.
At our practice, the same psychologist sees clients in person in Balgownie and online, so you can switch between the two if your circumstances change.
Because psychologists are registered nationally through AHPRA, [Psychologist name] can see clients in any state or territory. Registration number [registration number to confirm] can be checked on the public register.
Who does telehealth psychology suit?
Telehealth suits people in regional and rural areas, interstate clients, people working rosters or remote sites, busy parents, people with health or mobility limits, and anyone who finds it easier to talk from home. It also suits people who want continuity when they travel or move.
Online sessions widen the choice of psychologist. You can look for the right skills, such as EMDR training or experience with emergency services, rather than settling for whoever is closest.
It can also help people who want privacy in a small community. Seeing a psychologist in another town means no chance of running into a neighbour in the waiting room.
Regional and rural
No long drive for each appointment, and access to specialist approaches not available locally.
Interstate
Clients anywhere in Australia, with times adjusted to your time zone.
Shift and FIFO workers
Sessions that fit around rosters, including from site accommodation with privacy.
Parents
Sessions during nap time, school hours or after bedtime, without arranging childcare.
Health and mobility
No travel or waiting room for people with chronic illness, pain or disability.
Anxiety about going in
A gentler start for people who find new places or waiting rooms overwhelming.
Which services are available by telehealth?
Most of our services are available by telehealth, including individual therapy for adults, EMDR therapy, trauma treatment, sessions for teenagers, and parent sessions for younger children. Parts of assessments, such as parent interviews and feedback, can be done online, while testing with the child usually happens in person.
Individual therapy for anxiety, depression, stress, burnout and life transitions translates very well to video.
EMDR can also be adapted for video, using on-screen visual tracking or self-administered tapping. Our page on online EMDR therapy explains how this works and who it suits. For a full overview of the approach, see EMDR therapy in Wollongong.
Teenagers often take to telehealth naturally, and some find it easier to open up from their own space. Our teen psychologist page describes sessions for young people aged 13 to 18.
Younger children usually do better in person, where play and drawing are easier. Parent sessions for child concerns, however, work very well online.
Trauma therapy, including care for emergency services workers and people injured at work, is also available online. Many first responders prefer telehealth because it fits rotating shifts and avoids being seen at a local clinic.
Couples and family sessions are not currently offered [confirm], but individual sessions can focus on relationship concerns, and parents can attend together for sessions about a child or teenager.
For child and adolescent assessments, parent interviews and feedback can be done by video, which reduces travel for families outside the Illawarra.
Are telehealth sessions covered by Medicare?
Yes. Once your GP has written a Mental Health Treatment Plan, a video session is rebated at the same rate as a session in the room, for as many as ten sessions in each calendar year. You must be physically in Australia when the session takes place.
The rebate depends on the psychologist's registration type and the length of the session. For a session of 50 minutes or more by video, Medicare currently pays $101.55 for a registered psychologist under item 91170, and $149.05 for a clinical psychologist under item 91167. [Psychologist name] is a [registration type to confirm].
A GP can write the plan at a normal consult or over a video appointment. Once you have it, send it through before your first session so the rebate can be processed.
If you are not sure whether you are eligible for a plan, ask your GP. Plans are for people with a diagnosed mental health condition, which covers common concerns such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and adjustment difficulties.
Rebates are paid back to you after the session, usually within a day or two, into the bank account linked to your Medicare record.
Detailed rules, item numbers and eligibility are explained on our Medicare rebates for telehealth page.
How do I set up for a telehealth session?
To set up, you need a device with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, and a private room where you will not be overheard. Headphones help with privacy and sound. Join a few minutes early to check your camera and audio, and keep a glass of water and tissues nearby.
A laptop or tablet on a steady surface works better than a phone held in your hand. Position the camera at eye level if you can.
If your internet is patchy, move closer to the router or ask others in the house to pause streaming during your session.
Choose a space you can return to each week. Many people use a bedroom, study or parked car. Consistency helps sessions feel less like a video call and more like therapy.
Put your phone on silent and close other apps and notifications. Let others know you need uninterrupted time.
If you are joining from your car, park somewhere safe and quiet, turn the engine off, and never take a session while driving.
After a session, give yourself a few minutes before jumping back into work or family life. A short walk or a cup of tea can help mark the transition.
How do you protect my privacy and security online?
Sessions run on [platform name to confirm], a secure telehealth platform designed for health care, with encrypted video and no downloads or accounts needed on your side. Sessions are never recorded. Clinical notes are stored securely under Australian privacy law, just as they are for in-person clients.
Each session has its own private link. Only you and your psychologist take part, and the link is not reused for anyone else.
At the start of every session, we confirm your location and a phone number to call if the connection drops. This is also important for safety, because if an emergency occurs we need to know where you are.
Privacy at home matters just as much as technical security. If you are worried about being overheard, headphones, a white noise app outside the door, or a session from your car can help.
If your home is not a safe place to talk, tell us. We can arrange times when you are alone, use chat features for part of the session, or talk about in-person options.
Emails and texts from the practice are kept to appointment details and forms. If you would rather we did not leave messages, or you share a device with others, let us know how you prefer to be contacted.
Our privacy policy explains how your information is collected, stored and shared, and you can ask for a copy at any time.
How do time zones and appointment times work?
All appointment times are set in New South Wales time, which is Australian Eastern Standard Time, or Australian Eastern Daylight Time from October to April. Online booking shows times converted to your own time zone, and confirmations list both, so interstate clients always know exactly when to join.
Daylight saving causes the most confusion. Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia do not use it, so the gap with NSW changes by an hour twice a year.
| If you are in | NSW 10am in winter is | NSW 10am in summer is |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland | 10am | 9am |
| South Australia | 9.30am | 9.30am |
| Northern Territory | 9.30am | 8.30am |
| Western Australia | 8am | 7am |
| Victoria, Tasmania, ACT | 10am | 10am |
Appointments are available on [days and hours to confirm], including some early morning and evening times that suit Western Australian and shift-working clients.
Reminders are sent the day before each session, with the link and the time shown in your local zone. If you miss the start, you can still join the link for the remaining time.
If you travel between time zones during your course of treatment, let us know so we can adjust reminders.
When is face-to-face therapy the better option?
Face-to-face therapy is usually better for young children, for people at high risk of harm, for some intense trauma work, and when you have no private space or reliable internet at home. It may also suit people who find it hard to switch off distractions, or who simply prefer being in the room.
Young children communicate through play, movement and drawing, which are harder to follow on screen. For them, in-person sessions at our Balgownie rooms are usually recommended, with parent sessions online.
When someone is at high risk of self-harm or is in crisis, closer local support may be needed. We will talk honestly about whether telehealth is safe and suitable, and help connect you with local services if not.
Some trauma processing can be very intense. For certain clients, EMDR is better started in person and continued online once stabilising skills are strong.
Telehealth is also less suitable when the only private space available is shared with the person you want to talk about, for example in situations of family conflict or violence. In that case we will work with you to find a safer option.
Some people start online and later switch to in person, or combine the two. Our resource on telehealth versus face-to-face therapy compares the options in more detail.
How much do telehealth sessions cost?
Telehealth sessions cost the same as in-person sessions: [$ session fee to confirm] for a standard session of about 50 minutes. With a Mental Health Treatment Plan, the Medicare rebate reduces your out-of-pocket cost. Payment is taken by card after each session, and the rebate can be processed straight away.
The out-of-pocket gap depends on the session fee and the rebate for the psychologist's registration type. We will tell you the exact figure before your first appointment.
Cancellations need [cancellation notice to confirm] notice, the same as for in-person sessions. If a technical problem on our side stops a session, you are not charged.
Workers compensation clients with an approved claim can also use telehealth, billed directly to the insurer. Extras cover may also return part of the fee, depending on your fund and policy.
The full list of prices, rebates and funding options is on our fees and rebates page.
How do I book a telehealth appointment?
Pick a telehealth slot through online booking or ring 0435 165 763. We then email intake forms, a consent form and your secure video link by email. Send any GP treatment plan across before the first session so we can process the rebate on the day.
If you live in New South Wales outside the Illawarra, our telehealth psychologist for NSW page covers regional access and local services you can link with.
Whether you live in regional NSW, another state or a capital city, the booking process is the same. If you are outside Australia at the time of a session, Medicare rebates do not apply, so check your location before booking.
Before your first session, it helps to think about what you would like to change, and to note any questions about the process. There is no need to prepare anything formal.
Our new clients guide explains forms, consent and the first appointment in more detail.
Telehealth questions
Can I see you if I live in another state?
Yes. Psychologists are registered nationally, so we can see clients anywhere in Australia by telehealth. Appointment times are set in NSW time, and booking confirmations show your local time too. Medicare rebates apply in every state and territory with a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Is telehealth covered by Medicare?
Yes. A GP-written treatment plan gives video sessions the same Medicare rebate as face-to-face ones, for up to ten sessions each calendar year. You need to be in Australia at the time of the session. The rebate amount depends on the psychologist's registration type.
Do I need a referral for telehealth?
No, you can book without a referral and pay privately. To claim a Medicare rebate, you will need a treatment plan written by your GP, which can be arranged in person or by a GP telehealth appointment. Workers compensation clients need their claim approved and a GP referral.
Is video therapy as effective as in person?
For many people, yes. Studies of video therapy for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress have found outcomes comparable to in-person treatment. What matters most is a good working relationship, a private space and a reliable connection. We review progress regularly and suggest in-person sessions if they would help more.
What platform do you use?
We use [platform name to confirm], a secure telehealth platform built for health care. You join through a private link, with no account or download needed on most devices. Sessions are encrypted and never recorded. If video fails, we switch to phone for the rest of the session.
Can my child or teen do telehealth?
Teenagers usually do well with telehealth, especially if they have a private space. Younger children generally do better in person, where play and drawing are easier. Parent sessions for child concerns work very well online, so many families combine the two.
Therapy that fits where you are
Book a telehealth session from anywhere in Australia, with Medicare rebates available under a treatment plan.