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 conducted via Zoom or FaceTime — whichever works best for you. 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.
Wednesdays · 2:00pm – 7:00pm
Wednesday afternoon sessions are available in-person at the Genki Centre, 1 Arundel Street, Glebe NSW 2037, and also online via video call for clients who prefer to attend from home.
Saturdays · 9:00am – 2:00pm
Saturday morning sessions are available both online and in person at Suite 324, 410 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010. 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.
- 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. 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.