While there are many benefits from online therapy there are also a number of risks and limitations, which you should be aware of including:

• Research has shown that videoconferencing psychotherapy to be equal to face-to-face psychotherapy. However, phone and online sessions have limitations compared to in-person sessions, among those being the lack of “personal” face-to-face interaction and the lack of visual and audio cues in the therapy process.
• At times there can be difficulties with technology including Internet and computer failures.  If something beyond our control disrupts the connectivity of your session we will immediately try to restore the video call. If the video call is repeatedly unsuccessful for 10 minutes, sessions will be completed via phone call to the therapist at (07) 3822 9983.
• Limits to privacy and confidentiality.  While we provide secure communication there have been computer viruses or hacking, which have exposed even governmental and banking data.  While we will do our utmost to ensure this does not occur, it needs to be noted for your consideration.  The same confidentiality principles apply to on-line therapy as in person therapy in terms of sharing of information and storage of notes.  Please see the APS ethical guidelines on confidentiality for more information.

Yes. We take your privacy and security very seriously. We have the following measures in place to ensure that communication is verified as secure.

At Zest Infusion we only use videoconferencing software which provides end-to-end encryption for data security and is promoted as facilitating practitioner compliance with the Commonwealth legislation (Privacy Act). The telehealth platform is backed by the CSIRO, is secure and works with high speed and low speed internet. You do not need to download software to use telehealth.

There is no cost incurred by the patient, other than that derived from minimal data use, which is generally negligible and similar to data used through accessing music or videos on the Internet.