Online therapy in Australia: It stacks up for busy midlife & older age
Short answer: Yes, it sure does, when it’s done well. Online therapy in Australia (via secure video-call) delivers outcomes just as good as in-person counselling sessions, including when you’re approaching midlife or moving through older age.
A Practical Question Worth Asking First
For many people considering therapy, a practical question comes up early: does it need to happen in person?
The evidence says no. Research consistently finds that telehealth-delivered psychological therapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person therapy across a wide range of presentations — and specifically for midlife and older adults (Batastini et al., 2021; Riadi et al., 2022). The quality of the therapeutic relationship matters far more than the medium through which it is delivered.
Online therapy also removes the barriers that sometimes stop people from seeking help in the first place — the commute, mobility concerns, lack of public transport, living long distance, and the hassle of fitting appointments around work, travel, or caregiving responsibilities.
What the evidence says
Online therapy stacks up to in-person. A comprehensive study of online therapy in Australia and internationally found equal clinical outcomes to face-to-face treatment across common mental health conditions (Batastini et al., 2021). That means you don’t lose effectiveness by meeting a clinical psychologist on screen.
Guided online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps older people. A more recent study showed psychologist-guided online CBT tailored for older people with depression lead to clinically meaningful improvements (Nordgren et al., 2024).
Telehealth works for late-life depression, when leaving home is difficult. A large study of older people in the United States, with limited mobility beyond home, found that online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to encourage meaningful, enjoyable activities through goal setting and planned action, and problem-solving therapy both outperformed supportive phone calls for reducing late life depression (Choi et al., 2020).
The bigger picture: A Lancet review found that digital mental health interventions are effective and scalable for treating and preventing anxiety and depression in older people, when interventions are easy to use, tailored to the client’s needs, involve a therapist rather than being self-guided, and provide opportunities for human social interaction (Riadi et al., 2022).
What about the digital divide?
A reasonable concern for some older adults is whether telehealth is accessible to them. Australian research during the COVID-19 pandemic found that while many older people adapted successfully to telehealth, a meaningful proportion faced barriers related to digital literacy, device access, and confidence with technology (Hall Dykgraaf et al., 2022).
And, if you’re new to online psychological therapy, Upside Stories can also help you out — by offering help with your setup, larger on-screen materials, and adjusting the session however your need.
The Upside approach
At Upside Stories, our online therapy sessions let you talk to an experienced clinical psychologist anywhere you have internet or mobile coverage, with sessions that feel relaxed, insightful, and tailored to you.
Based in Melbourne, Australia, we offer telehealth sessions — much like a regular video call — using secure video software called Coviu. It’s a simple and private way to get support, even if you live far away, have trouble getting around, are travelling, or have a busy schedule. Clients join our online therapy sessions from all sorts of places!
Will online therapy suit me?
Even if you haven’t tried online therapy or telehealth yet, most clients adapt quickly and describe it as a positive experience. A few practical tweaks help:
Set up the space: a stable internet connection, and a private quiet room. Even a parked car or moored houseboat can work!
Practice first: We’ll send a one-click secure link, and you can practice before your first session. You can test your camera, microphone, and internet connection on Coviu any time before your online session.
Minimise distractions: Close unnecessary browser tabs, silence your phone, and let others in your household know you’ll be in a session. However, if you get an online order delivered to your door, that’s no problem. Go get it. Life happens!
Have what you need nearby: Keep a notebook, pen, tissues, and a glass of water or whatever you need, within reach, so you can make the most of our conversation.
When online therapy is a good fit
You want evidence-based support without the travel time (helpful for working-caring responsibilities, transport or mobility concerns, wild weather, or living long-distance).
You’re starting or continuing therapy after relocating or when travelling or holidaying — continuity matters for progress.
You prefer a familiar, relaxed environment (a familiar nook, your own cup of coffee, and we all love it — your go-to track pants!).
Bottom line
Online therapy, Australia-wide, is effective, convenient, and easy, especially when you’re busy in midlife or older age. And online sessions with Upside Stories are relaxed and down-to-earth. With the right setup and an experienced clinician, online therapy is just as good as in-person sessions (Batastini et al., 2021; Riadi et al., 2022) — and is often easier to access and fit in with life.
Thinking about getting started?
Our secure telehealth sessions — much like a video call — offer an easy way to connect, regardless of distance, travel, or a busy life. Learn how we can tailor online therapy for your next chapter.
References & further reading
Batastini, A. B., Paprzycki, P., Jones, A. C. T., & MacLean, N. (2021). Are videoconferenced mental and behavioral health services just as good as in-person? A meta-analysis of a fast-growing practice. Clinical Psychology Review, 83, 101944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101944
Choi, N. G., Marti, C. N., Wilson, N. L., Chen, G. J., Sirrianni, L., Hegel, M. T., … … & Kunik, M. E. (2020). Effect of telehealth treatment by lay counselors vs by clinicians on depressive symptoms among older adults who are homebound: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 3(8), e2015648. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.15648
Hall Dykgraaf, S., Desborough, J., Sturgiss, E., Parkinson, A., Dut, G. M., & Kidd, M. (2022). Older people, the digital divide and use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Australian Journal of General Practice, 51(9), 674–679. https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-03-22-6358
Nordgren, L. B., Ludvigsson, M., Silfvernagel, K., Törnhage, L., Sävås, L., Söderqvist, S., … … & Andersson, G. (2024). Tailored internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy for depression in older adults: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Geriatrics, 24, 998. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05597-8
Riadi, I., Kervin, L., Dhillon, S., Teo, K., Churchill, R., Card, K. G., … … & Cosco, T. D. (2022). Digital interventions for depression and anxiety in older adults: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, 3(8), e558–e571. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(22)00121-0
