Online Counselling and Mental Wellbeing in Australia

In recent years, online counseling in Australia has emerged as a convenient form of mental health support. With one in five Australians experiencing mental health conditions each year, online therapy can provide a lifeline—especially for those in rural or remote areas, where traditional mental health support options like face-to-face counseling may be limited. Plus, while in-person counselling often comes with set appointment times, online counseling can enable greater scheduling flexibility. In addition to greater accessibility and flexibility than face-to-face appointments, online counseling can also offer evidence-based practices for Australians seeking help with stress management, low mood, or self-esteem challenges. Even for those without a specific mental health challenge, online therapy can help protect well-being.  

How online counselling works

Online counselling, also known as virtual counseling, teletherapy, or telehealth, is a type of therapy provided online. On platforms like BetterHelp, online therapy allows individuals to connect with qualified mental health professionals through digital channels like secure: 

• Video sessions 

• In-app audio-only calls

• Synchronous in-app chats

Clients can get started by sharing a few details about their background, support needs, and preferences to get matched with the right counselor, typically within 24-48 hours. Whether in-person or online, counsellors are dedicated to prioritizing their clients' emotional safety, providing a supportive environment tailored to the individual needs of their clients.

Online therapy can provide people with a convenient and often more comfortable way to receive quality mental health support without geographical constraints. 

Finding the right counsellor: Qualifications and care

If you start looking for an online therapist, you might notice lots of different types of counsellors, therapists, and other providers with a variety of accredited qualifications. Here are a few types of providers you might come across: 

• Clinical psychologists
• General psychologists 
• Clinical social workers 
• Professional counsellors 
• Marriage and family therapists 

The term “counsellor” is not a protected title in Australia, so you may want to check the specific qualifications and training of a provider using that title. Trained counsellors and therapists are dedicated to providing their clients with quality, evidence-based practices, and many are trained in specialties like trauma-informed care. 

Accessing support through Medicare and insurance 

Eligible Australians with a Medicare number and card can access counselling through Medicare rebates or private health insurance. To access Medicare-rebated therapy, there are a few steps to take: 

1. See a General Practitioner (GP): Australian citizens and permanent residents can see their GP for a mental health assessment to gauge whether a condition may be impacting their life. 
2. Get a GP Referral: If, after providing an assessment, the GP determines that life is impacted by a condition, they will provide a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a referral.
3. Use Medicare Rebates: The Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral allow eligible Australians to see an approved provider for 6 initial sessions. After 6 sessions, clients must return to their GP for a mental health review before being able to access an additional 4 sessions. The 10 sessions are valid for one calendar year. 

Individuals using private health insurance will need to assess what services and providers are covered in “extra policies” and the amount of coverage included. For individuals with other forms of plan-managed funding, it may be possible to use funds to pay for counselling services. 

What’s the difference between online therapy services and in-person therapy services?

Online therapy services are typically similar to traditional in-person therapy aside from the medium through which the participants communicate. Both involve trained professionals like registered psychologists or other qualified therapists using techniques like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, talk therapy, and solution-focused mental health strategies to help provide potential relief for people experiencing mental health conditions.

Types of online counselling services and programs 

Mental health professionals, such as a registered psychologist or trained therapist, can often provide individuals with support for whatever mental health-related conditions or circumstances they may be facing. Even for people without a specific concern, therapy can help individuals build mental strength, develop coping skills, and navigate life’s challenges effectively.

For many issues, there are specialised programs available. For example, some providers have extra training and expertise in issues like stress management, trauma, alcohol use disorder, and relationship problems. 

The benefits of online counselling

The demand for online counselling has surged in recent years, driven by factors like increasing public acceptance of mental health care, convenience, and a growing need for mental health support in general. As a result, online counselling is being offered by more and more healthcare providers.

Here are a few benefits of online therapy that many clients mention: 

• Scheduling flexibility: Online therapy platforms can make it easier to plan around your schedule, including outside standard business hours, and book sessions quickly 
• Accessibility: It’s easier for many to access care when they don’t have to get to a therapist’s office 
• Privacy: Many clients appreciate attending therapy from the privacy and comfort of home, without having to worry about running into someone they know in their therapist’s waiting room

High-quality care can be delivered in a way that’s more accessible for individuals with mobility issues, with busy lives that are difficult to plan around, or anyone who feels more comfortable attending sessions from home.  Online therapy can also be a convenient option during a crisis; however, it may not always be an appropriate option for severe crises or complex mental health challenges. 

Convenience and flexibility of online counselling

Online counselling eliminates travel barriers and allows Australians to receive mental health services from their home or another place where they feel comfortable and have an internet connection. Many online services also offer sessions outside of traditional working hours, catering to individuals who might otherwise struggle to attend in-person appointments due to scheduling. Additionally, online counselling can benefit those with mobility challenges or limited transportation, since there’s no physical travel required.

Increased acceptance and reduced stigma

The act of seeking mental health services in general has become more mainstream in recent years. One reason is that the stigma around having mental health conditions and seeking mental health support has begun to decrease. 

After the COVID-19 pandemic began, a rising need emerged for healthcare services that wouldn’t put people at risk of spreading the virus. As a result, Australia and the rest of the world saw a spike in the demand for and usage of telehealth services. 

How online counselling treatment can benefit remote and rural Australian communities

Opportunities for mental health treatment service in Australia’s rural and remote communities have historically been limited due to a shortage of local mental health professionals and resources. According to the Australian Psychological Society, nearly three in ten people living in remote communities rate the availability of local mental health services as either “poor” or “very poor.” Online counselling may help bridge this gap by providing people living in remote areas a way to more easily connect with professional mental health support.

The many benefits of removing barriers to mental health services in urban areas

While online counselling can be especially valuable for promoting good mental health for those in remote areas, it may also benefit those living in Australia’s major cities. Urban life can bring its own unique mental health challenges, like stress caused by fast-paced lifestyles, crowded environments, or demanding careers. 

Many city dwellers also face barriers to in-person care like long commutes, long wait times for appointments, costly in-person therapy sessions, or difficulty finding an available trained therapist who suits their needs. Online counselling can help individuals overcome these obstacles by providing a quicker and more convenient way to speak with a professional mental health care provider. 

How effective is online mental health care?

Research consistently demonstrates the effectiveness of online counselling in many cases, with studies suggesting that it can often provide significant improvements in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, not only do many people prefer online counselling to traditional face-to-face counselling, but it can often be just as effective, if not more effective, than the traditional alternative in many cases.

Many individuals feel that the freedom to engage in therapy from the comfort of their home is preferable to meeting in person. This newfound level of comfort may have an impact on the effectiveness of therapy. For instance, when people are more comfortable, they might also be more likely to experience:

• Increased willingness to proactively seek help when experiencing early signs of mental health struggles
• More openness to sharing personal thoughts and emotions because they are in a familiar, safe environment
• Reduced levels of stress and anxiety, which can be caused by commuting, waiting rooms, face-to-face interactions with strangers, or unfamiliar settings
• Improved consistency in attending sessions, since many barriers have been significantly reduced or removed
• An enhanced sense of control, since online therapy allows individuals to choose when and where they receive support
• Improved emotional readiness, because being in a comfortable environment can make it easier to engage in meaningful therapeutic work

The freedom to choose mental health care services tailored to you

In an ideal situation, individuals seeking help would have the freedom to pursue the type of mental health services that would fit their specific lifestyle. Those who prefer face-to-face counselling could get the help they want, and those who prefer some social distance could get the help they want. With online therapy and online counselling services, this is becoming increasingly possible. 

Choosing the right online counsellor

Selecting the right mental health counsellor for you can sometimes be a challenge. Finding a good match can also be key for promoting positive therapeutic outcomes, since it’s usually important that you feel comfortable opening up to your therapist.

When you pursue online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp, you can fill out a brief questionnaire about your needs and preferences and then get matched with a provider accordingly. You can also switch providers at any time for no additional cost until you find the right fit. 

What to look for in Australian online counsellors

When searching for an online counselling provider, Australians might benefit from considering factors like professional credentials, areas of specialty, therapeutic approaches, and therapist-client compatibility. Is it easy to talk to them? Do you feel comfortable sharing your struggles? These are the types of questions you can ask yourself to help you decide if you’ve found the right online counsellor. 

The affordability of online mental health support

One of the most significant benefits of online counselling is its relative affordability. Online therapy sessions can cost less than many in-person sessions without insurance, which can help remove another barrier to care.