Open Sky Psychology

We are here to help you find a better way forward We now do all our sessions online, We are very fortunate that as psychologists, our services can be delivered very effectively online. On 25th March, we took the decision, following the Australian government’s requirements for social distancing, to cease all face to face consultations at our practice in Ryde. By taking this early and decisive action we hope we have contributed toward the Australian community’s concerted effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. This has been a very big adjustment, not only for us, but also, we know, for you too. Our practitioners had to very quickly learn this new way of delivering our services, and then lead the way for you, our clients, to do so too – to follow our lead in adjusting to using video conferencing and phones (Telehealth), instead of being in the same room together. Video conferencing is still face to face in a sense – it’s just that we are not in the same room any more. We can still see each others’ expressions, upper body and gestures. We have been surprised how quickly we have all been able to adapt to this! It is easier than you think, once you get past the first clunky feel of using that technology. There is excellent evidence to show that virtual therapy (online counselling) is effective and comparable to traditional face to face therapy (Alleman, 2002; Barak et al., 2008). Studies from the past have even shown that, surprisingly, “client satisfaction” with this mode of therapy has also been rated highly (Holmes & Foster, 2012; Murphy et al., 2009). Online counselling is not new. It has been used by psychologists for many years, as an alternative to face to face sessions, for those people who lived remotely and were limited in their access to psychologists. Now, given the Coronavirus crisis, online counselling (Telehealth) has quickly become the most appropriate and safe means of delivering therapy. Our reception team is fully briefed on all these changes, and they can talk you through how it works, and how simple it really is. Once you make a booking, your practitioner will send you an email with a link to click, and take you through a brief practice run, before your session. You don’t have to download anything or have any technical skills at all. Call 1300 739 531 (or press 'book now' at the top of the page) to find out how easily you too, can make this adjustment. It will be a good start to the change you want to make in your life.