Emerald Psychology Practice offers Telehealth appointments. During the current pandemic, there are some benefits of telehealth / video conferencing therapy sessions. These can include:
- Continued access to my therapist during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Continued therapeutic support as part of my treatment plan
- Avoiding the need for me to travel to my psychologist and increase the risk of exposure to myself and others
In addition, there may also be some potential risks and down sides of telehealth / video conferencing therapy sessions. These can include:
- Telehealth / video conferencing may not feel the same as a face-to-face sessions
- There could be technical problems that could affect the video / sound quality or connection, and this may disrupt the session in some ways
- Although the psychologist chooses video conferencing software, which has end-to-end encryption and high security standards, there is still a small risk of hacking or others tapping into the video connection
The team at Emerald Psychology Practice take all the necessary precautions to ensure confidentiality including:
- Ensuring the privacy of the telehealth session is upheld in the same way an in-person session would be, by choosing a private location or using headphones
- Not allowing any voice or video recording of the session
Payment & Billing
If you are attending a session via telehealth, our reception staff will process payments, in advance over the phone. You can attend the clinic to have your Medicare rebate processed or our staff can provide you with the necessary documentation for you to claim your own rebate.
Attending a session via telehealth / video conferencing is not compulsory. The Government guidelines note that where clinically indicated, sessions with a psychologist or Counsellor can be face-to-face. Please consult with your Psychologist or Counsellor to determine the best way to access your mental health care.