Many of us struggled during all the lockdowns. Relationships were put to the test as couples were living on top of each other 24 hours a day with nowhere to escape. Even the strongest relationships started to show signs of fraying. It’s no wonder that Australians turned to the new phenomenon of telehealth therapy to help bring some harmony back to their lives.
What is telehealth?
No, it’s not referring to the condition of your new flat screen TV. It’s simply a video call with a therapist that is usually done using your computer or mobile phone.
Improvements in webcams and faster internet speeds have made telehealth therapy an easy and popular way of connecting with a therapist. Normally you would have to leave work early, battle with traffic, struggle with directions, just to sit in an unfamiliar room on an uncomfortable chair. With telehealth therapy you can avoid all that nonsense and chat with your therapist from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Is telehealth effective?
Some of the latest research has shown telehealth therapy to be just as effective as being face to face with your therapist. Many people find it easier to open up and be honest when they are in familiar and safe surroundings.
How do I find a telehealth therapist?
With the increase in demand for therapy there have been many new services pop up. A lot of them ask you to fill in a questionnaire and then match you with a therapist automatically. We found this approach to be useless for us, as finding the right therapist is a very personal thing.
In many ways it’s similar to dating, you need to find the right match and get a feel for the person before you can really be comfortable enough to open up to them.
This is why we liked using the Talked Therapy Platform. It made it super easy to browse through therapists and gave us a good feel for them as we were able to watch an introductory video and even book a free 15 minute consultation.
Tips for finding a therapist
If you are looking for a therapist to help you with a specific issue, such as depression then you can use the search filters to narrow down the list of therapists who specialise in that area.
The search filters also make it really easy to find therapists within your budget and who match other criteria you might have, such as gender or availability. If you are wanting to book an ‘in person’ appointment then you can add your location to find therapists who are closest to you, it will even show you how far they are from your location which is super handy.
Getting to know a therapist
With so many therapists to choose from it’s important to find one that really speaks to you.
When you view a therapist profile, you’ll be able to see all their information, including their biography, therapy methods, associations and fees.
Once you have found one that matches your criteria you can click on their video to get a better feel for how they can help you. If you have a specific question for them you can even send them a quick message before booking.
How to make a booking
The Talked website makes it really easy to make a booking – this is one of the main reasons why we loved using the site so much.
Normally when booking a therapist you need to contact them to find availability and then bank transfer the payment. With Talked you can see their availability straight away, find a time that best suits you and pay for the appointment in just a few easy clicks.
Each therapist has different booking options. Some therapists allow you to book in-person appointments as well as telehealth, so be careful you choose the right one before placing your booking.
If you are unsure that the therapist is right for you, then you can book a free 15 minute consultation with no strings attached. It’s a great way to find out more about the therapist before fully committing.
Connecting to your telehealth appointment
So you’ve booked a telehealth appointment with a therapist, you’re probably thinking – now what?
With improvements in technology it’s easier than ever to connect to your appointment. When you place your booking on the Talked platform you will be emailed a join link. All you need to do is click on that link and you’ll be connected with your therapist directly.
You can connect on your mobile phone or desktop computer, but we do recommend using your computer as the video quality can often be better.
Private and secure
Unlike other websites, Talked uses its own secure video service which is developed specifically for telehealth. All sessions are directly between you and your therapist and no one else can listen in. No video sessions are ever recorded or saved, so you can be sure your privacy is kept safe.
Counsellor or Psychologist – which one?
One of the biggest factors for most people when deciding is the Medicare rebate. Counsellors are not covered by Medicare, so no rebates can be claimed. But in order to claim a rebate for a psychologist you do need a referral from a doctor and a mental health care plan.
Psychologists generally are looking to diagnose a client. With counselling, it’s less focused on labels and more focused on helping clients work through their challenges, understanding thought and behaviour patterns and providing tools and strategies to assist in achieving your goals.
Therapy is worth it!
Most people do some form of weekly exercise, such as running or weight lifting, but then neglect to work on their emotional and mental strength. This is often due to the fact that we see our mind as being esoteric and abstract, but the truth is that it’s just an organ that requires training, tuning and correction.
One of the best tools we have to improve our mind and overall wellbeing is therapy. A good therapist will guide you along a path of self exploration and realisation that will promote change and balance in your life.
Taking that first step can be daunting, but it’s incredibly rewarding, so when you are ready we definitely recommend checking out Talked Therapy.
This is a sponsored post by Talked.com.au
