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Telehealth Rising in Australian Counselling

Telehealth & Counselling

The global shift towards digital services has significantly reshaped the counselling industry in Australia. Telehealth, has been a part of the counselling landscape for over a decade, using Skype and then Zoom and Teams. Since the pandemic telehealth has gained traction and has proven to be more than just a temporary solution. It has become a cornerstone of modern counselling practices, offering unparalleled flexibility and accessibility to clients from all walks of life. With telehealth, individuals in remote or underserved regions now have the opportunity to access mental health services. This is starting to break down traditional geographic and logistical barriers. You know something has become mainstream when Doctors start using it, it’s now a normal part of our lives.

The integration of technology into counselling practices has brought about a wave of innovation. Secure, user-friendly platforms, have been developed to facilitate virtual sessions, ensuring client confidentiality and ease of use. Counsellors are embracing these digital tools, but the trend also highlights the importance of digital literacy among professionals. Therapists need to be adept at navigating online platforms and addressing challenges unique to virtual sessions, such as establishing rapport and managing technical difficulties.

The Future of Telehealth

Looking ahead, hybrid models that combine face-to-face and online counselling are likely to dominate the industry. This approach caters to diverse client preferences, allowing individuals to choose the format that best suits their needs. As telehealth continues to evolve around the world, it is set to play a pivotal role in making mental health support more accessible and adaptable to modern lifestyles.

I professionally, have been using telehealth for my practice for over a decade and now find that most of my supervisors prefer using Zoom instead of coming to the clinic, due to the downtime it takes to drive, part & then do it all again in reverse. It becomes convenient for us, we can shop around and have supervisors in different areas, states, even countries.

I have several therapists who are in Canada and China & the USA, who I work with regularly, as we have created that therapeutic alliance, they know what they’re going to get. The bonus of using telehealth is, they are members of the ACA, so my supervision is recognised. Also group supervision is much easier to do. I run regularly at least one group supervision session a month, which is for 2 hours. I don’t have room rental, travel etc to take into consideration, it’s brilliant and everyone gets the chance to engage, discuss and learn, regardless of where they live.

Helpful Links

This is a link to The ACA’s Telehealth Guidelines ACA-Telehealth-Counsellor-Toolkit-2024.pdf

Here is the AHPRA’s Telehealth Guidelines Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency – Revised telehealth guidelines now in effect

This is PACFA’s Telehealth Guidelines Telehealth Platforms: Security and additional information for PACFA members