Online Counselling Services – Cairns and Queensland

Online Therapy Sessions

Online counselling (sometimes called Telehealth counselling) enables you to access a qualified and experienced counsellor (me, Crispian Jones) using programs called: Meetn or WhatsApp.

Using these program means your session is protected by highly developed encrypted data protection protocols. Nothing is recorded anywhere so our conversation is secure.  Your counselling appointment will be conducted just like a face-to-face session – you will be able to see, hear and interact with me ‘virtually’.  Research evidence suggests that the online platform is just as effective in terms of therapy outcomes as meeting face-to-face with me.

Who Is Best Suited For Online Therapy?

Basically, almost anyone, and for a number of reasons. Online counselling offers a really easy and very convenient way of reaching out for help. For example; you may have difficulty travelling to appointments, either because of distance/remoteness or mobility problems. You may have childcare commitments, work conflicts and even anxiety issues which prevent you from leaving your home. You may not want to go through the usual referral pathway, for any number of reasons. So the online space is likely the best pathway for you.

What Are The Advantages Of  Online Therapy?

• It is easily accessible and you can get help from wherever you are in the world. All you need is a computer, tablet or mobile phone.
• It saves you time and money as you don’t need to drive to my office, even if we are located in the same area
• It is private and anonymous – there is no risk of “being seen” in the waiting room
• It is secure & confidential – no notes are kept online

What ‘Issues’ Can Be Treated Via Online Therapy?

Well, pretty much anything that can worked with in the ‘face to face’ context. Common psychological issues such as depression, worry, anxiety (including agoraphobia), stress, grief, life direction, relationship issues, pain management and anger management are all suitable for the online counselling platform.  Relationship/marriage issues are also suitable for online counselling.

Research over a number of years now, has shown that the online platform helps some people feel less inhibited and more confident during their counselling sessions and that often means they are more easily able to open up to discuss issues that are perhaps awkward, embarrassing or that involve feelings  such as shame or guilt.

Some, issues around sexual difficulties, such as sexual orientation, sex addiction (e.g. porn addiction) or sexual dysfunction, can be particularly well suited to online counselling as the ‘distance’ between you and the counsellor often makes it easier to talk about.

Which ‘Presentations’ Are Not Appropriate For An Online Counselling Platform?

As a general rule, online counselling is not appropriate where your life may be in danger through self-harming behaviour, or where threats to harm others are involved.

There are some severe and ongoing psychiatric presentations that benefit from a multidisciplinary approach, such as psychosis or perhaps severe depression. Where those patients are closely supported by other health services such as psychiatry and evidence can be produced of such support, then online counselling may be considered as an option.

What You Will Need To Access An Online Counselling Service.

Of course, you will need a computer with a good camera, and a reliable internet connection.  If you have a set of headphones/earbuds that will make the session even better,  especially if we do some hypnosis, as part of your treatment. When you first make contact with me you will be sent an information message advising the time and the date of your online appointment and there will be some paperwork for you to complete. Please be aware of the time zone as I work with people all over the world. My current zone is GMT + 10). Simply follow the instructions on the email, and we will be set to go.  Payment is to be made before each session. I accept Credit Card payments or you can make a direct deposit.

You will need to establish a space in your home that is free of distractions (pets, children, other people, phones, TV, etc) where you can focus without interruption for your 55 minute session.

Does Online Counselling Actually Work?

Yes: It’s just the same as if you are doing counselling in a face-to-face context. The actual protocols and techniques that are used in a normal counselling arrangement apply equally well in the online context. You are able to interact at pretty much the exact same level as you can in a face-to-face situation and as mentioned above, sometimes it is even more beneficial to you.

My counselling framework is known as Brief Solution Focused Therapy (BSFT). My aim is to work with you to find solutions to your problems,  that are long lasting and robust.  I am known to get very good outcomes for most of my clients in a relatively short time frame due to my ability to establish rapport with you and the skills sets that I use (see elsewhere on this site for how I work i.e. read about some of the techniques I use and check out the reviews on Google).  These techniques are just as effective online, as in the counselling room.

So, if you think online counselling might be right for you, or you have some questions, then please give me call or send an email and I will be pleased to answer them. That can clear the way for us to work together,  if we decide we are a good fit. No matter how skilled I might be, if you are not comfortable with me you will not get the outcomes you desire, so being a “good fit” is imperative.

There you have it. I can be contacted by phone on +81 8051206364  (remember my time zone is GMT + 9 – Japan) hrs. This link () is a good time zone converter)  for a 15 minute complementary strategy call.  Wishing you all the best in your quest for health – Cris