Online Therapy
Sydney, Telehealth
Psychotherapy
Online psychotherapy and counselling with Chauncey Sjostedt, PACFA certified Gestalt Therapist. Available Wednesday afternoons (Glebe) and Saturday mornings (Surry Hills) and Saturday mornings via secure video. Accessible to clients anywhere in Australia.
PACFA Certified Practicing Member #29367 · LGBTQ+ Affirming · Australia-Wide
I offer online sessions
across Australia
One of the most common questions people ask before their first online session is whether it will feel real, or whether the screen will create a distance that makes the work feel less genuine. In practice, most people find that within a session or two the format becomes natural and the therapeutic quality is fully present. The distance that some people anticipate usually does not materialise in the way they imagined.
Online sessions are available via secure encrypted video and do not require any software download. All you need is a private space, a reliable internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone. Sessions are 50 minutes, one-to-one and use the same approach as in-person work.
Wednesday Afternoons
Wednesday afternoon sessions are available exclusively online. These suit clients who find weekday evenings easier to schedule, who work on Saturdays, or who prefer the convenience of attending from home after work.
Wednesday Afternoons
Wednesday afternoon sessions are available in-person at the Genki Centre, 1 Arundel Street, Glebe (2pm-7pm), and also online via secure video for clients who prefer to attend from home.
Saturday Mornings
Saturday morning sessions are available both online and in person at Suite 324, 410 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills. Clients can choose which format suits them each week. Full details on the appointments page.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person?
The research on this question is now extensive and the answer is clear: online therapy is as effective as in-person therapy for most presentations, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and relationship difficulties. The therapeutic relationship, which is the strongest predictor of outcome in therapy, can be built and sustained online just as effectively as in person. Many clients report that they find online sessions easier to be open in, partly because of the comfort of their own space and partly because the slight distance of the screen can reduce social self-consciousness.
There are presentations where in-person work may be preferable, and if this applies to your situation, we can discuss it when you reach out. For most people, the choice between online and in-person comes down to practical factors: schedule, location, privacy at home and personal preference. All of these are entirely valid reasons to choose one format over the other.
Many clients who begin online continue indefinitely with that format, having found that it suits both their life and their way of working. Others move between formats depending on circumstances. The therapeutic work is consistent regardless of how you attend.
Who online therapy works well for
Outside of Sydney or NSW
Online sessions are available to clients anywhere in Australia. Many clients attend from regional areas, interstate or from locations where finding a suitable therapist locally has been difficult. If you are in a rural or remote area, or in a state where LGBTQ+ affirming or trauma-informed therapy is hard to access, online sessions provide a way to work with a practitioner who meets your specific needs.
Prefer the Comfort of Home
Many people find that attending therapy from home removes a layer of anxiety and self-consciousness that can be present in a formal therapy room. The comfort and familiarity of your own space, combined with the privacy of not having to travel to and from a session, can make it easier to settle and be open from the start of the session.
Evening Availability Matters
For people who work full-time or have caring responsibilities during the day, Wednesday afternoons evening sessions offer a way to access therapy without taking time away from work. Many clients find that a contained time at the end of the workday, in a private space at home, works extremely well as a regular therapeutic rhythm.
Physical Accessibility Needs
Online sessions remove the need for travel and the physical demands of attending in person, which can be significant for clients with chronic illness, disability, mobility limitations or any other situation that makes leaving home difficult. Therapy should be accessible, and online sessions are one important part of making that possible.
How my online sessions work
Secure Video Platform
Sessions are conducted via a secure encrypted video platform. You will receive a link before your session. No account creation or software download is required. The platform works on desktop, laptop, tablet and smartphone.
What to Have Ready
A private space where you will not be overheard or interrupted is the most important thing. A laptop or desktop with a reliable internet connection provides the best experience, though any device with a camera and microphone will work. Have your device charged or plugged in, close unnecessary browser tabs, and allow yourself a few minutes to arrive and settle before the session begins.
Privacy Tips for Home Sessions
If privacy at home is a concern, some clients find it helpful to use headphones, to let others in the household know not to disturb them for the session duration, or to attend from a parked car, a quiet room at work or any other reliably private space. The most important thing is that you feel genuinely free to speak without managing who might overhear.
Book an Online Session
All my services are available online
There is sometimes an assumption that online therapy is a limited version of in-person therapy, a compromise for people who cannot attend in person. This is not how I understand it or how most clients experience it. Online therapy is a fully realised therapeutic mode with its own qualities and, for many people, its own distinct advantages. No service is withheld or diminished in an online format.
Every service I offer in person is also available online. There is no reduced service online. The full scope of Gestalt psychotherapy, somatic approaches, trauma-informed work and LGBTQ+ affirming practice is available in every online session. Full details on the services page.
- Anxiety, Stress and Burnout
- Grief, Loss and Life Changes
- Birth Trauma and Perinatal
- LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy
- Gender Identity and Diversity
- Trauma-Informed Therapy
- Relationship and Interpersonal
- Somatic and Body-Focused
- Personal Growth
- Complex Family Dynamics
- Self-Esteem and Body Image
- Managing Overwhelming Emotions
- Research consistently shows that online therapy is as effective as in-person therapy for most presentations. The quality of the therapeutic relationship is the strongest predictor of outcome, and this can be established and sustained online. Many clients prefer the convenience and privacy of attending from home.
- A private space, a reliable internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone. No software download is required. A laptop or desktop provides the best experience, though tablets and smartphones also work well.
- Yes. Online sessions with Chauncey are available to clients anywhere in Australia. Many clients attend from regional areas, interstate or from locations where finding a suitable therapist locally has been difficult.
- Online sessions are available Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings and Saturday mornings. Saturday sessions are also available in person at the Surry Hills practice. Full details and booking are on the appointments page.
Book an online therapy session,
from anywhere
No GP referral required. Sessions Wednesday afternoons (Glebe) and Saturday mornings (Surry Hills), and Saturday mornings. I respond within 48 hours.