The 5 Best Counselling Services in Canberra for Real Support
Life gets heavy sometimes, and finding the right support makes all the difference. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or just completely stuck, talking to a professional can help you find your footing again.
After all, looking after your mental well-being matters just as much as your physical health, a lot like booking a visit for wisdom tooth removal in Canberra.
So, I did the heavy lifting to find the top counselling services in Canberra right now. These local clinics give you a safe space to talk, heal, and move forward at your own pace.
How much does counselling cost in Canberra?
Counselling in Canberra typically costs around $175 per session for a standard private appointment, though the exact rate depends on your therapist’s qualifications and whether you claim a rebate.
| Session Type | Estimated Cost |
| Standard private session | Around $175 |
| Registered psychologist session | $200 to $260 |
| With Medicare rebate (per session) | Reduced out-of-pocket cost |
| Comprehensive assessments | Higher, plus materials fees |
1. Strategic Psychology
Website: https://strategicpsychology.com.au/
Address: Level 1, 121 London Circuit
Contact: (02) 6262 6157
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Strategic Psychology offers comprehensive psychological assessments alongside evidence-based therapy to help adults and families manage their mental health.
With this team’s approach that balances general therapy with detailed testing, it can make a real difference.
A close friend of mine went here for an assessment and appreciated getting a quick verbal rundown of the findings. So, this immediate feedback means you are not left waiting anxiously for answers after your appointment finishes.
You don’t even need a doctor referral to book a session, plus you can claim Medicare rebates if you get a plan from your general practitioner (GP). That flexibility makes the first step a lot less daunting if you are new to therapy.
On the downside, their comprehensive assessments come with a $500 materials fee that’s non-refundable. So, it’s worth confirming whether you actually need the full assessment before you commit to that cost.
Customer Reviews
Helped me open discussions
Lovely clinic that greets you and has all the things to make the experience better. Helped me open discussions with my relationships and really helped me. Thankyou to the team for providing an excellent service.
– Hannah Flynn | Google Review
Truly remarkable
My experience with Cerry was exceptional! She created a warm and welcoming environment where I felt completely at ease sharing my thoughts. Her genuine ability to listen and make me feel heard was truly remarkable. I’m incredibly grateful for her support and understanding, and I would wholeheartedly recommend Cerry to anyone in need of a compassionate and uplifting experience. Thank you, Cerry, for everything!
– Charlotte Niyogakiza | Google Review
2. Umbrella Counselling
Website: https://umbrellacounselling.com.au/
Address: Suite 3, Floor 2/24 Marcus Clarke St
Contact: 1300 310 930
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-8:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM
If you want a supportive, safe environment for your family, Umbrella Counselling is a strong option. They offer individual, couples, and family therapy with a lovely focus on supporting neurodiverse clients.
Their highly trained therapists hold a Master of Counselling and Australian Counselling Association (ACA) registration, which means top-tier clinical guidance.
You can choose between face-to-face sessions or convenient online video chats, depending on your schedule. They also bring two decades of deep experience to the table, helping teenagers and families work through complex dynamics.
On top of that, they use proven methods like acceptance and commitment therapy and narrative therapy to help you feel grounded.
On the downside, their weekend availability is fairly limited since they only open on Saturday mornings. So, if your free time mostly falls on a Sunday, you may find it tricky to lock in a regular slot here.
Customer Reviews
Highly recommend
Umbrella counselling has been amazing! Lyndsey has been super supportive and understanding throughout our whole journey. She assists a young Teen in my family, with a range of areas needing break downs and coping mechanisms. Administration has been efficient and organised, bookings are easy. So thankful we found her, I’d highly recommend this company!
– Leanne Golding | Google Review
She has helped me so much
Lyndsey has been amazing. She has helped me so much with not only overcoming a lot but helping me through some difficult times. She’s not only an amazing person but she is so kind and understanding. I never saw myself standing up and speaking but she has helped me do that.
– Hayley Konnecke | Google Review
3. Canberra Counselling Services – David Gorovic
Website: http://www.canberracounsellingservicesact.com.au/
Address: Unit 1, Level 1/44-52 Townshend St
Contact: 0432 299 673
Hours: By appointment
Navigating everyday stress or recovering from a workplace injury requires a highly experienced professional.
David Gorovic, a registered psychologist who uses a practical, brief-therapy framework to guide individuals and couples, leads Canberra Counselling Services.
He blends cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness, and hypnotherapy to help you tackle anxiety or trauma. I spoke directly with him about his approach and felt completely reassured by his calm, down-to-earth perspective.
You can also access rebates through Medicare, Comcare, or your private health fund to lower your out-of-pocket costs. Plus, he specialises in helping clients recover from third-party trauma, which is a fairly niche strength among local counsellors.
On the downside, because he’s the sole therapist in this practice, booking an appointment can feel a bit restrictive. So, you may need to plan ahead if your schedule is tight or you want a regular weekly slot.
Customer Reviews
Life changing experience
David is an excellent counselor. His EMDR method of counseling has been quick and least stressful method to desensitise heavy emotions. I have been seeking counseling from him for over 2 years and the experience has been life changing. I would highly recommend his service.
– Smilin John | Google Review
4. Life Supports Counselling
Website: https://lifesupportscounselling.com.au/
Areas Served: Canberra and nearby areas
Contact: 1300 735 030
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-8:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 9:00 AM-5:30 PM
Life Supports Counselling runs a widespread network of professional counsellors and psychologists across the region. They focus on evidence-based therapy tailored to your needs as an individual, couple, or family.
I actually reached out to their team last year when a close family member needed guidance, and their intake staff made the whole process feel stress-free.
You also get total freedom to choose between face-to-face appointments or convenient online sessions from your own couch. Plus, they offer flexible evening and weekend bookings to fit a packed weekly schedule.
On the downside, while many of their professionals offer after-hours slots, this flexibility is not guaranteed with every therapist in their network. You may need to shop around a little to find someone whose hours line up with yours.
Customer Reviews
Amazing and helpful service
Very grateful for the team at Life Supports for their amazing and helpful service. I’m one of the lucky ones and the first psych they recommended to me has been my long term psychologist for 6+ years now. Highly recommend and have suggested heaps of friends and family to talk to the team here as the first step to seeking help. Thanks for making it so easy to take care of my mental health!
– Ellie Nguyen | Google Review
Absolute pleasure
(Laura) I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Ivy yesterday, she was brilliant. Kind, organised and you can tell she loves her job. I just wanted to say a huge thank you. A personal touch is so important. Give this girl a raise or a promotion! She is so suited to this industry.
– Laura J | Google Review
5. Canberra Psychology Clinic
Website: https://canberrapsych.com.au/
Address: George Turner House, Suite 11/11 McKay Gardens
Contact: (02) 6247 5710
Hours: Monday-Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
Finding tailored support that matches your personal mental health goals is key for long-term healing.
The team at Canberra Psychology Clinic designs evidence-based treatments for every client, which puts them among the best psychotherapists in Canberra today.
They offer specialised eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which works wonders for processing tough past events.
Couples can also choose between two well-respected relationship approaches, Imago and Gottman therapy.
They bring extensive experience to comprehensive attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) assessments too. So, you are getting genuinely targeted, trauma-focused care here rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.
On the downside, any session running over 75 minutes incurs an extra pro-rata fee. So, longer sessions can add up, and it is worth clarifying the time limit when you book to avoid surprises on the bill.