Videoconference Therapy FAQs
Who provides videoconference based therapy at Couch in the Cloud?
In keeping with Couch in the Cloud's commitment to professional excellence, all of our clinicians are trained Clinical Psychologists. This means they are specialist mental health professionals accredited to practice clinical psychology by the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Authority (Australia's peak body overseeing health carer registration). A clinical psychologist undertakes more psychology training than most mental health professionals. Specifically, each of our clinical psychologist have undertaken 4 years of basic psychology training including an honours research year; in addition to a further 2 years of postgraduate training in clinical psychology practice that is followed by a further 2 years of supervision by an experienced Clinical Psychologist. Following this, most of our clinicians complete PhD research in the field of clinical psychology (a further 3 years of training). Many of our clinicians have published research in the field of adult and child mental health. In total, our clinicians will have completed approximately 8-11 years of training.
Can I find out about my clinician before I get started?
Sure, no problem. We can send you information about each of our clinicians. You can confirm their credentials on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency website. http://www.ahpra.gov.au/registration/registers-of-practitioners.aspx
What is videoconference based therapy?
Video based therapy is the same as face-to-face therapy with the exception that the interaction is carried out via videoconference using webcam technology. This form of therapy offers increased flexibility because it cuts out the time restraints imposed by travelling to a face-to-face session.
What is the evidence for video based therapy?
All of the intervention strategies used at Couch in the Cloud are evidence-based, and could be broadly termed cognitive-behavioural interventions. Cognitive-behavioural therapy is the psychological therapy with the greatest support for use with most acute and chronic mental health conditions.
Is my GP involved in this process?
We certainly always encourage collaboration and involvement with GPs. Therefore, in most but not all instances we require contact and collaboration with your General Practitioner (GP).
How long does each session last?
A typical session runs for 1 hour, however we believe it is important to be flexible to your needs.In some cases only a brief session (e.g., 20 minutes) is required, and in some cases a longer session (e.g., 2 hours) is required.
How do I book sessions?
For your initial session you and your therapist will agree upon a time to meet.
Where do I attend sessions?
We use Adobe Connect for all of our video sessions. It is a reliable and secure videoconferencing platform. When you have been allocated to a clinician they will send you a welcome package in a pdf or word format document with instructions on how to connect.
What does it cost?
At present we offer 50 minute therapy sessions plus 10 minutes of administration (i.e. writing notes and liaising with other professionals on your behalf) for $75.
Am I eligible for a rebate?
At present Medicare does not provide rebates for online psychological services to all people. However, shortly (in November) Medicare will start to offer rebates for people in certain remote areas. The Medicare rebatable psychological services via telehealth will be available for patients living in Modified Monash Model regions four to seven, which cover smaller country towns and remote and very remote locations
Do you charge for an initial chat?
No. After you contact us we will email or phone you so you can find out more about our service and whether it would be a good fit for you.