Does online therapy work?  

Yes.

Research shows online therapy is effective for treating many common psychological issues, including: anxiety disorders (4,8), depression (1,2), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (5), addiction (3,10) and grief (9).

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the relationship you form with your psychologist has been shown to play an important role in recovery, predicting much of the improvement experienced as a result of therapy. Studies have also shown that the therapeutic alliance between psychologist and client can be at least as effective in online therapy as it is in traditional therapy when carried out with the approach we use at Happy Place Psychology (6,7).

Am I covered by Medicare or private health?

Yes!

Both our telehealth and face-to-face therapy services are eligible for Medicare rebates and in some circumstances Bulk Billing. You will need a Mental Health Care Plan completed by your GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician. Many GPs are also currently offering telehealth services and can complete a MHCP for you remotely.

Some private health funds also cover online and face-to-face therapy – if you are unsure, please check with your health fund.  

Dr. Spurrier currently provides face-to-face therapy at his office in Sandy Bay, Hobart. Please contact us for details.

How much does it cost?

Eligible telehealth and face-to-face clients currently receive the same rebates after upfront payment for services.

For clients who are concessional, under the age of 16 years, or in a vulnerable category (i.e., at high risk from COVID-19), your telehealth sessions will be Bulk Billed with an eligible Mental Health Care Plan.

Our goal is to make our services as sustainably affordable as possible, particularly during this challenging time.

If your financial situation has worsened as a result of COVID-19 please speak to us, we may be able to offer you a reduced fee.

I haven’t done therapy before. what’s involved?

We currently offer video call and face-to-face appointments for adolescents, adults and couples.

We will try our best to answer any questions you have before or during your first session. Appointments are available during business hours and after hours (usually 8:30am-8:00pm), Tuesday to Friday, and run for the standard 50 minutes..

During your first therapy session you will be asked questions so your therapist can better understand the issues you want help with. Towards the end of your first session your therapist will usually give you a summary of what they think are the relevant issues, what your options are, and an estimate of the number of sessions you will most likely need to achieve your goals. The number and regularity of your sessions will depend on several factors, including: your personal circumstances, preferences and the complexity of your difficulties.

We can arrange various methods for payment at your convenience, including Paypal, direct bank transfer, debit or credit card. It may also be possible for you to pay for services for another individual, such as a family member.

For more details send us an enquiry, or speak to us directly during your initial consultation.

How do you ensure my personal information is secure?

We use HIPAA-compliant encrypted software to conduct video calls. We do this because it is important to the security of your personal data. Many common consumer-based video call apps (e.g., Google Hangouts, Skype, Facebook) are not HIPAA-compliant. Microsoft, for example, has refused to sign a Business Associate Agreement covering Skype, and is thereby effectively admitting to therapists and their clients that they do not guarantee the privacy and security of their data within the requirements of the law.

In addition to the steps we have taken to securely protect your online data, whatever we talk about in therapy is confidential, except under a few specific circumstances, according to Australian law.

A Clinical Psychologist cannot discuss anything with anyone about what is spoken about in therapy, unless: the patient gives permission to do so, the Clinical Psychologist suspects that the patient is likely to cause harm to themselves, someone else, or a child is at risk of abuse, a court subpoenas a patient's file, or the Clinical Psychologist is subpoenaed to give evidence in court.

How do I book or cancel a session?

We offer appointments 8:30am to 8:00pm - Tuesday to Friday.

Requests for appointments can be made via email or phone. If you are an existing client you will soon be able to book appointments directly via our online calendar.

We will do my best to arrange in advance a regular time to meet and a convenient payment method, as well as alternative ways you can access sessions if we experience technical difficulties.

So that session times can be offered to someone else, we request that reasonable notice be given (usually 24 hours) by phone or email for cancellations.

How do I access online video call appointments?

Our online system is designed to be intuitive and easy to use.

Before we meet for our first session we will work with you to make sure you are set up for the best possible experience, and are comfortable and familiar with how everything works, including what to do if our call is disconnected.

To access video call sessions, you will need a computer, smart phone or tablet connected to a reliable broadband internet connection with built-in or externally connected camera and audio. Most modern laptops, tablets and mobile phones have adequate quality cameras, microphones and speakers built in for this purpose.

Is online therapy right for me?

Online therapy offers a number of advantages over face-to-face therapy (convenience, flexibility, privacy), however, it may not be the best option for some clients. 

If you are currently experiencing any of the following symptoms, online therapy ,is unlikely to be appropriate for you and we strongly recommend that you seek help from your GP: domestic violence, emotional, physical or sexual abuse, serious mood swings from big highs to terrible lows that leave you feeling unstable and emotionally fragile, any impulse to harm yourself or anybody else, a heavy dependence on drugs and/or alcohol, sustained low mood over a period of months where you constantly sleep or can’t get enough sleep. Any of these issues may indicate that you have a serious mental health issue that may require a multidisciplinary team approach.

If you are unsure or concerned, please contact us - if our services are not appropriate we may be able to refer you to a service or team that may be able to help.

References

1. Andersson, G., Bergstrom, J., Hollandare, F., Carlbring, P., Kaldo, V., & Ekselius, L. (2005). Internet-based self-help for depression: Randomised controlled trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 187, 456-461.

2. Christensen, H., Griffiths, K., & Jorm, A. (2004). Delivering interventions for depression by using the internet: Randomised controlled trial. British Medical Journal, 328, 265.

3. Gainsbury, S., & Blaszczynski, A. (2011). A systematic review of internet-based therapy for the treatment of addictions. Clinical Psychology Review, 31, 490-498.

4. Klein, B., Richards, J., & Austin, D. (2006). Efficacy of internet therapy for panic disorder. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 37, 213-238.

5. Lange, A., van de Ven, J.P., & Schrieken, B. (2003). Interapy: Treatment of post-traumatic stress via the internet. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 32, 110-124.

6. Preschl, B., Maercker, A., & Wagner, B. (2011). The working alliance in a randomized controlled trial comparing online with face-to-face cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression. BMC Psychiatry, 11, 1-10.

7. Sucala, M., Schnur, J.B.,  Constantino, M. Miller, S.J.  Brackman, E. &  Montgomery, G. (2012). The therapeutic relationship in e-therapy for mental health: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 14, 1-13.

8. Titov, N., Gibson, M., Andrews, G., & McEvoy, P. (2009). Internet treatment for social phobia reduces comorbidity. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 43, 754-759.

9. Wagner, B., Knaevelsrud, C., & Maercker, A. (2006), Internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for complicated grief: A randomized controlled trial. Death Studies, 30, 429-453.

10. White, A., Kavanagh, D., Stallman, H., Klein, B., Kay-Lambkin, F., Proudfoot, J., Drennan, J., Connor, J., Baker, A., Hines, E., & Young, R. (2010). Online alcohol interventions: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 12, 62.