Telehealth psychology & neuropsychology · Australia-wide Care that reaches you, wherever you are.
Therapy, clinical interviews and feedback can be provided Australia-wide by secure video. Some standardised assessment needs your attendance in Southport.
Telehealth suits adults, families, referrers, and people living outside South East Queensland.
Clinical and technical suitability are confirmed with you before anything is booked. If you are not sure whether telehealth suits your situation, call us on 0452 452 262 and we will talk it through.
Service by service
What can be done by telehealth
Some cognitive tests must be administered in person to be valid, while interviews, feedback and therapy sessions generally work well by secure video.
Neuropsychological assessment
Partly by telehealth. The clinical interview and the feedback appointment can be provided by secure video. Some cognitive tests must be administered in person to be valid, so we confirm which parts, if any, need to be conducted face to face in Southport or across the Gold Coast.
Memory & dementia assessment
Partly by telehealth. The clinical interview, and a conversation with a family member with consent, can often be arranged by telehealth. Standardised memory and thinking testing is normally conducted in person, for the same reason: some cognitive tests must be administered face to face to be valid.
Adult ADHD assessment
Partly by telehealth. The clinical interview and the standardised rating-scale questionnaires can be completed by telehealth. Direct testing of attention, working memory, processing speed and executive function is normally conducted in person.
Child & adolescent assessment
Partly by telehealth. The initial conversation and the feedback appointment can be arranged by telehealth. Sessions with your child, play-based for little ones and game-like tasks for older children, are normally conducted in person in Southport, for the same reason standardised testing generally needs to be face to face.
Psychological therapy
Fully by telehealth, where clinically suitable. Therapy does not involve standardised testing, and telehealth works well for interviews, feedback sessions and therapy sessions. Some people prefer to attend in person, and either way we confirm what suits you before booking.
Capacity assessment
Partly by telehealth. The clinical interview can often be conducted by telehealth. Standardised testing of the relevant thinking skills is normally conducted in person, set against what is expected for the person's age and background.
Medico-legal & forensic assessment
Assessed case by case. Assessments are conducted in Southport and across the Gold Coast, and by telehealth where appropriate. Standardised testing, including measures of effort and engagement, requires the conditions of testing to be documented, so we confirm suitability with the instructing party before booking.
Cogmed working memory training
Largely at home, where suitable. The daily exercises are completed at home on a computer or tablet, and we confirm the coaching arrangements with you when you enrol.
Practicalities
What you need for a telehealth appointment
Platform and privacy
We use a secure video platform for telehealth consultations, and phone consultations are also available where video is not practical.
Your device and connection
A smartphone, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone, and a stable internet connection, are enough to take part.
A private space
A quiet space where you feel comfortable talking helps a telehealth appointment run smoothly, particularly for feedback and therapy sessions.
Support person
You are welcome to have a support person with you on the call. As with an in-person appointment, we will let you know in advance if a particular part of an assessment needs to be completed without a third party present, for test-security reasons.
If the connection drops
If the video connection drops, we will try to reconnect, or continue by phone if that is more reliable on the day.
Funding
How telehealth appointments are funded
A Medicare rebate can apply to eligible psychological therapy sessions with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP or psychiatrist; we confirm your eligibility and the amount before booking. Neuropsychological assessment is not covered by the Medicare Better Access program, whether by telehealth or in person. Current fees and rebate figures are on our Fees and Policies page.
NDIS, DVA and WorkCover Queensland funding can extend to telehealth appointments where that is part of an approved plan or claim, and clinically suitable. We confirm your funding pathway before booking, in person or by telehealth.
If you are not sure whether your funding covers a telehealth appointment, call us and we will help you work it out before anything is booked.
Common questions
Telehealth, answered plainly
Can testing be done online?
Some parts can. Clinical interviews, rating-scale questionnaires and feedback appointments can usually be conducted by telehealth. Some cognitive tests must be administered in person to be valid, so for an assessment we will advise which parts, if any, need to be conducted face to face in Southport or across the Gold Coast.
Can I attend from interstate?
Yes. We see people by telehealth across Australia, where that is suitable. Where an assessment includes standardised testing that needs to be conducted in person, we will talk through the options with you, including a visit to Southport planned around your circumstances.
Who receives the report?
With your consent, we share your report with your GP, referrer or others involved in your care, in the same way as a report from an in-person appointment.
What do I need at home?
A device with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, and a private space where you feel comfortable talking. You are welcome to have a support person with you.
Is telehealth as effective?
For many therapy, interview and feedback purposes, telehealth can work well. Suitability is considered individually, and for some assessments part or all of the testing needs to be conducted in person for the results to be valid. We are honest with you if in-person attendance would serve you better.
If you or someone you care for is in crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 000 in an emergency. We are not a crisis service.
Ready to take the next step?
Request an appointment, or make a referral through our referrer page. We will confirm what suits you, in person or by telehealth, before anything is booked.
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