Telehealth – Does it work?
How does it work?
TeleHealth – Does it work?
It’s a fair question. The short answer is yes, it works really well.
A Quick Background
My original practice was located in Sydney (in two locations) for almost 20 years. I relocated to a regional university to establish Australia’s first Bachelor’s Degree in Naturopathic Medicine and relocated my practice (originally part time) to that location. My Sydney clients visited from time to time, sometimes via phone or email.
When the internet appeared in the mid nineties I learned to code to deliver material to students and later I studied Digital Content Production and delivered radio shows and podcasts. During a psychology postgraduate program, in the early era of Skype and texts, I ran a small research project around smoking cessation. I was impressed with the results, seemingly faster, easier and with similar or better results.
Technology Changes
During the last decade we’ve all noticed the rapid acceleration of communications, not the least because of the pandemic. People got used to going online. Skype and Zoom and Teams became commonplace, Apps for everything appeared, online shopping and working online or remotely became a new normal.
As my client base expanded beyond my local region, phone and Skype consultations became more usual and with email and text support, I entered a new phase of practice. At the beginning of 2024 I moved my practice online.
TeleHealth – Why Does it Work?
Some of the reasons it works so well is that clients:
- are in the comfort of their own home (or office, or car)
- don’t have to travel and park
- don’t have to provide explanations in the workplace
- know that the conversation is private and secure
- don’t have to visit an unfamiliar clinic space
- have access to their sessions if needed
- have additional support via recordings, videos, texts and PDF
- save money because I don’t have to pay rent and overheads in the CBD
I have found that the privacy, security and personal connection works just as well as face to face sessions. Add to that the ability to have clients provide me with information ahead of our first session and the comfort and efficiency of our time together is amplified. I can also send notes, recordings or suggestions and keep in touch using emails or text messages.
TeleHealth – How Does it Work?
Once you’ve made your first booking, you are sent a confirmation email and text message with a link for the Telehealth session. Use your internet connected phone, computer or tablet. Just follow the instructions and click on the link just ahead of our session. I use a secure TeleHealth provider so that your discussions and information are private, encrypted and not recorded or shared [Zoom and Skype are not secure]. For hypnotherapy sessions, I record the session and send it to you for your private use.
Book your sessions or contact me to ask any questions you have or organise a Strategy Session.
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