Online Counselling Australia: Is It Right for You?

From shopping to socialising, and now to mental health support, the internet has become a central part of how we manage our lives. It’s only natural that many of the things we used to do in person are now offered online, and counselling is no exception.

Online counselling, also called telehealth or eTherapy, has grown significantly across Australia in recent years (especially after Covid19), particularly for people who find it hard to fit a face-to-face appointment into a busy schedule, or who live too far from a suitable practitioner. But is online counselling actually right for you? At Integrated Health Specialists, I offer both in-person and telehealth sessions, and clients often ask me how to weigh up the two. In this guide, I’ll walk you through what online counselling actually involves, its genuine benefits and drawbacks, what the research and safety standards say, and how to know if it’s the right fit for your situation.

What you’ll learn about online counselling in Australia

What online counselling actually is, and how a session works
The genuine benefits and the realistic drawbacks of counselling online
Who tends to benefit most from telehealth counselling
What Australian quality and safety standards say about choosing an online provider
What to check before you book, including costs and Medicare rebates

What is online counselling?

Counselling online, sometimes called telehealth or eTherapy, is a form of therapy that happens via video calls online, rather than in person. According to Healthdirect Australia, online therapy includes psychological support, online counselling and other help provided through video calls, phone calls, structured programs or messaging platforms, accessed via your smartphone, computer or tablet. This digital approach allows people to seek help from the comfort of their own home or wherever suits them, which can be particularly helpful for those with mobility issues, busy schedules, or those living in regional or remote areas. Just like an in-person appointment, your counsellor or psychologist will use their therapeutic approach to understand what you’re struggling with and help you develop strategies to work through it.

The benefits of online counselling

One of the biggest advantages of online counselling is the flexibility it offers. You can schedule sessions to suit your timetable without factoring in travel time, which can make therapy more accessible if you’ve previously found it hard to attend in-person sessions due to time or distance. It also means you can attend a session even if you’re managing a minor illness and want to avoid spreading germs, though resting instead is always a reasonable choice too.

Another benefit is increased comfort for some people. Sitting in a therapist’s office can feel intimidating for some, and being able to talk from a familiar environment can make it easier to open up. Online counselling also broadens your choice of practitioner, since you’re no longer limited to those in your local area. This means you can choose someone who specialises in your specific needs, wherever they’re based, and if you’re already seeing a therapist and you or they relocate, you can often continue working together.

Potential drawbacks of online counselling

While there are genuine benefits to online counselling, it’s worth weighing up the drawbacks too. The therapeutic relationship can feel slightly different online, and some people find it harder to build a connection through a screen. Technical issues can also be a hurdle. A slow or unreliable internet connection can interrupt a session and disrupt the flow of conversation.

Privacy is another consideration. It’s important that your therapist uses a secure, purpose-built private platform to protect your confidentiality, and it’s entirely reasonable to ask about this before your first session. Healthdirect Australia also notes that online therapy might not suit everyone, particularly if you’re in crisis and need urgent help, in which case a helpline or in-person support is more appropriate. It’s worth discussing with your counsellor or psychologist which format best suits your particular circumstances.

Who can benefit from online counselling?

Online counselling can be genuinely useful for a wide range of people, including:

Busy professionals: fitting sessions around a demanding job or long working hours can be far easier without the added travel time.
Parents and carers: attending therapy from home removes the need for childcare, support care or juggling complex logistics.
People in regional or remote areas: telehealth breaks down geographical barriers, giving access to specialists who might not be available locally.
Those with mobility issues: physical disability, chronic illness or temporary mobility limitations no longer need to be a barrier to getting support.
People managing anxiety, particularly social anxiety: the idea of travelling to and sitting in an unfamiliar office can feel daunting, and online sessions offer a more comfortable starting point.
Expats and frequent travellers: telehealth allows continuity of care regardless of location, including the ability to continue with an Australian therapist while overseas.

What Australian quality and safety standards say

Because the quality of online therapy services can vary, it’s worth understanding what to look for before you commit. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards, which exist specifically to make sure online mental health services provide accurate, safe and good-quality care, as outlined by Healthdirect Australia. Before booking with any provider, it’s worth checking their qualifications.

In Australia, psychologists must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, and you can check a practitioner’s registration status online. Counselling, on the other hand, is not a government-regulated profession in Australia, so, according to Healthdirect Australia, it’s worth checking whether a counsellor is registered with a professional body such as the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. This applies whether you’re booking an in-person or an online session, but it becomes especially important online, where it can be harder to verify who you’re actually speaking with.

It’s also worth being cautious about AI chatbots marketed as counselling or therapy tools, or using AI platforms, such as Claude or ChatGPT for therapy advice. As I always tell people (and I get this question more and more these days), this technology is still very new, has not been fully tested for safety and accuracy, and should not replace support from a qualified mental health professional. If you’re looking for genuine therapeutic support online, working with a registered psychologist or an appropriately qualified counsellor remains the safest and most effective option.

What does online counselling cost?

Costs for online counselling vary depending on your practitioner and whether you’re seeing a counsellor or a psychologist. If your GP diagnoses a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression, they can prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan, which allows you to claim a Medicare rebate for up to 10 individual sessions with a psychologist each calendar year, whether those sessions are delivered in person or via telehealth. According to the Medicare Benefits Schedule, the current Medicare benefit for an eligible registered psychologist session is $101.55, though this is indexed periodically and worth confirming at the time of booking. Counselling sessions are privately funded, though some private health funds may cover part of the cost depending on your level of extras cover. For our current fees and rebate details, see our FAQ’s page, or confirm fees directly with your provider before your first session.

How online counselling differs from in-person therapy

One of the most significant differences between online and in-person therapy is the lack of physical presence, which can affect your sense of connection with your therapist. Some people find it easier to open up when they’re not in the same room, while others feel the connection is less deep. Online communication can also mean some non-verbal cues or body language are harder to pick up on, though experienced online therapists are trained to notice subtleties in tone of voice, pace of speech and facial expressions during a video call. In addition, experienced therapists will also utilise relevant technological tools to make video calls more interactive, such as whiteboards, screen sharing, and so on.

On the plus side, the convenience and accessibility of online counselling can make therapy feel more integrated into your everyday life, which many people find genuinely beneficial. Whether it’s the right choice ultimately comes down to your personal circumstances, your comfort with technology, and what feels right for you. If you’re also weighing up whether counselling or psychology is the better starting point, our guide on counselling vs psychology covers that decision in more detail.

A Gold Coast client’s experience

A client of mine had been seeing me in person at our Mudgeeraba practice for a couple of months when her partner’s job relocated the family to regional Queensland. She was understandably worried about losing the progress we’d made together, particularly around a long-standing pattern of anxiety she’d been working through. We moved her sessions to telehealth, and she later told me she was quite concerned that sessions would not be as effective, but in fact she was pleasantly surprised how well they went, and that having a familiar therapist she trusted made a far bigger difference than whether we were in the same room. She’s continued with online sessions for over a year now, alongside occasional in-person visits when she’s back on the Gold Coast visiting family. Her experience reflects what I see often: continuity and trust with the right practitioner tend to matter more than the format itself.

How to choose an online counselling provider

If you’re considering online counselling, a few practical checks can help you choose a provider with confidence:

Check registration: confirm a psychologist’s registration with the Psychology Board of Australia, or a counsellor’s membership with a recognised professional body.
Ask about the platform: make sure your provider uses a secure, purpose-built video or messaging platform, not a casual consumer app.
Clarify costs and rebates: ask whether Medicare rebates apply, and what the out-of-pocket cost will be per session.
Discuss suitability: talk with your prospective therapist about whether telehealth suits your specific situation, particularly if you’re managing a more complex or acute concern.
Trust the relationship, not just the format: if a session doesn’t feel right, it’s completely reasonable to discuss switching to in-person sessions, or trying a different practitioner.

Online and in-person counselling at Integrated Health Specialists

At Integrated Health Specialists, I offer both in-person sessions at our Mudgeeraba practice and telehealth appointments, so you can choose whichever format suits your circumstances, or move between the two as your needs change. As a holistic practice, my approach remains the same either way: understanding you as a whole person, not just a set of symptoms, and working with you to build strategies that genuinely support your wellbeing. If you’d like to understand more about the everyday issues a counsellor can help with, our article on everyday issues a counsellor can help with is a helpful next read, as is our overview of mental health counselling on the Gold Coast. Whatever you’re working through, get in touch today to find out more about booking an online or in-person session.

FAQs about online counselling in Australia

Is online counselling as effective as in-person counselling?

For many people, yes. Many clients find online counselling just as helpful as in-person sessions, particularly once they’ve adjusted to the format. Some people like to meet in person at first to build rapport, and then change over to telehealth. Effectiveness often comes down to the strength of the relationship with your therapist and consistency of sessions, rather than whether you’re in the same room. That said, some people, and some more complex or acute concerns, are better suited to in-person support, so it’s worth discussing with your practitioner.

Can I get a Medicare rebate for online counselling?

If you see a psychologist under a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you can claim the same Medicare rebate for telehealth sessions as you would for in-person sessions, for up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year. Counselling sessions with a non-psychologist counsellor are not typically Medicare rebatable, whether delivered online or in person.

Is online counselling safe and confidential?

It can be, provided your practitioner uses a secure, purpose-built platform designed for clinical use rather than a casual consumer video app. It’s reasonable to ask your counsellor or psychologist about the platform they use and how your privacy is protected before your first session. At Integrated Health Specialists I use a

What do I need for an online counselling session?

You’ll generally need a reliable internet connection, a smartphone, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone, and a private, quiet space where you feel comfortable speaking openly.

Can I switch between online and in-person sessions?

Yes. Many practices, including Integrated Health Specialists, offer both formats, and it’s common for clients to move between the two depending on their circumstances, such as travel, relocation or simply personal preference.

Is AI chatbot therapy a safe alternative to online counselling?

Not currently. Healthdirect Australia notes that AI chatbot tools for mental health support are very new and have not been fully tested for safety and accuracy. They may offer general information, but they should not replace support from a registered psychologist or appropriately qualified counsellor.