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How to Choose a Telehealth Psychologist for Anxiety

1. Check AHPRA registration first

The title "psychologist" is a protected title under Australian law. It can only be used by practitioners registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Before seeing anyone for psychological treatment, confirm they appear on the public AHPRA register.

You can search the register at ahpra.gov.au using the practitioner's name. The register will show:

• Whether registration is current (required)
• Any conditions on registration (restrictions on practice)
• Whether they hold a clinical endorsement (see below)

Wellness coaches, counsellors, and therapists without AHPRA registration are not psychologists and cannot legally use the title. They may offer helpful support but are not equivalent for regulated psychology services or Medicare rebates.

2. Registered vs clinical psychologist: what it means practically

Both titles appear on the AHPRA register, but they represent different levels of training.

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The clinical endorsement indicates additional specialised training, but for most anxiety presentations, research does not show a consistent difference in treatment outcomes between the two types. Complex cases (severe OCD, complex PTSD, treatment-resistant anxiety) may benefit from a clinician with more specialised post-graduate training, but this is not a hard rule.

A practical approach: if your anxiety is relatively focused and you have not tried psychological treatment before, a registered psychologist with strong experience in anxiety is a reasonable starting point. If you have already tried treatment without sustained improvement, or your presentation is complex, a clinical psychologist or a psychologist with specific postdoctoral training in your condition may be worth seeking.

3. Therapy approaches for anxiety: what the terms mean

Most psychologists describe the therapy approaches they use. Here is what the main ones mean in practice for anxiety.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is the most extensively researched therapy for anxiety disorders. It focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. The core idea is that anxious thoughts drive anxious behaviours (like avoidance), which reinforce anxious thoughts. CBT helps identify and test inaccurate or unhelpful thoughts, and gradually reduces avoidance through structured practice (exposure). It is recommended as a first-line treatment for GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety, OCD, and specific phobias by most clinical guidelines.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT is a third-wave cognitive-behavioural approach that does not aim to reduce anxious thoughts directly. Instead, it focuses on changing your relationship with difficult thoughts and feelings, and helping you act in line with your values even when anxiety is present. Many people find ACT useful when anxiety has been present for a long time, or when previous CBT-focused attempts to control thoughts have created secondary frustration.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)

EMDR was originally developed for PTSD and involves processing distressing memories while the client engages in bilateral stimulation (typically following the therapist's finger movements, though audio or tactile alternatives are used). It has good evidence for trauma-related anxiety and PTSD, and is increasingly used for other anxiety presentations where memories or intrusive imagery are prominent. EMDR is delivered differently via telehealth (often using on-screen bilateral stimulation tools), but research supports its delivery in this format.

Schema Therapy

Schema Therapy addresses deep-seated patterns of thinking and relating that often underlie chronic anxiety, particularly anxiety linked to early experiences, perfectionism, or interpersonal patterns. It is typically longer-term than CBT and may suit people whose anxiety has persisted across different life stages despite shorter-term work.

Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)

CFT focuses on developing self-compassion as a counterweight to self-criticism, which often underlies anxiety and shame. It draws on neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and Buddhist psychological concepts. Often integrated with other approaches rather than used as a standalone therapy.

Integrative approaches

Many experienced psychologists describe themselves as using an "integrative" or "eclectic" approach. This means they draw on multiple evidence-based modalities depending on the person and the presentation. This is not a weakness: skilled integration of evidence-based methods is appropriate practice. Ask which specific approaches they draw on and why they choose them.

4. Questions to ask before booking

It is entirely appropriate to ask a psychologist questions before committing to a first session. Most will respond via email or phone, or offer a brief introductory call. Here are questions worth asking:

About their experience

• Have you worked with people experiencing [your specific anxiety type — GAD, social anxiety, panic, OCD, health anxiety]?
• How many clients with this presentation have you worked with?
• Do you have any specific training in [CBT/EMDR/ACT] beyond your undergraduate degree?

About their approach

• What therapy approach would you use for someone presenting like me?
• How would you describe a typical course of sessions for someone with anxiety?
• How do you know if the approach is working, and what happens if it is not?

About the practicalities

• What is your session fee, and what Medicare item numbers do you use?
• What is your cancellation policy?
• What video platform do you use, and do I need to install anything?
• How long are sessions?

A good psychologist will welcome these questions and answer clearly. Evasiveness about any of these, particularly fees and cancellation terms, is a flag worth noting.

5. Is telehealth right for your situation?

Telehealth suits the majority of people seeking psychological support for anxiety. It works well when:

• You have a stable home environment with private space for a session
• You have a reliable internet connection
• Your anxiety does not prevent you from using video technology (though even social anxiety often reduces once a relationship is established)
• Travel, scheduling, or waitlists would otherwise prevent you from accessing care

Telehealth may not be the right choice if:

• You are in an acute safety crisis — if you are in danger or having thoughts of self-harm, contact Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), or emergency services immediately
• You do not have a private or quiet space to attend sessions
• You have difficulty focusing on a screen for 50-60 minutes (some practitioners offer shorter sessions or phone sessions)

Under Medicare Better Access, telehealth sessions attract the same rebate as in-person sessions. You do not need a separate referral or telehealth-specific Mental Health Treatment Plan. Your standard MHTP covers both formats.

6. What if the first psychologist is not a good fit?

It is common to need more than one attempt before finding a psychologist who feels right. This is not a sign that psychological treatment will not help you, or that something is wrong with the process. The therapeutic alliance — the sense of collaboration, trust, and understanding between you and your psychologist — is one of the strongest predictors of outcomes across all therapy modalities.

If after two or three sessions you do not feel heard, or the approach does not seem relevant to what you are experiencing, it is reasonable to:

• Tell your psychologist directly. Good psychologists adjust their approach based on feedback, and it is clinically appropriate to say "I am not finding this as helpful as I hoped."
• Return to your GP and ask for input on finding a different practitioner, or ask for a referral to a psychologist with different specialisation.
• Use a directory (like this one) to identify other practitioners with relevant experience and try someone else.

Under Medicare Better Access, there is no requirement to stay with one psychologist for the full 10 sessions. You can switch. Your new psychologist may ask to speak with your GP or request a new referral, but this is procedural rather than a barrier.

Common questions