The 5 best psychotherapists in Canberra you won’t regret reaching out to
When life gets hard, sometimes it’s hard to admit that we need help. Maybe because we’re afraid of what other people might think of us once we do, or maybe we’re just really dreading the moment when someone else says it for us.
I was very much the same, which is what eventually led me to my first psychologist appointment for a diagnosis, followed by a visit to a psychiatrist for a second opinion and medication. Finally, I ended up at the psychotherapist next door for a conversation I never realized I needed.
Because that’s what they do—talk you through the anxiety, trauma, and issues, among other things, you may be carrying. In Canberra, here are the best psychotherapists whose empathy and guidance are sure to lighten your load and help you feel like yourself again.
| How much do psychotherapists charge in Canberra? Psychotherapists in Canberra charge between $180 and $311 per session. Some individual psychotherapists and clinics offer a lower starting rate, depending on their experience and type of service (individual, couple/relationship, etc.). |
1. Empowering Counselling Therapy
Address: 2/93 Mawson Pl
Phone: +61 435 347 788
Business hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday – 10 AM – 7 PM
- Saturday – 10 AM – 1 PM
There’s only one psychotherapist at Empowering Counselling Therapy—Donna, who’s all about helping her clients feel empowered and find hope. The five-star ratings on her Google listing show that she’s doing a great job with her therapeutic approaches and self-help strategies.
In fact, one of the people who came to Donna for help described her as kind, understanding, respectful, and empathetic. Feeling truly heard and supported during their therapy visits, said client was even inspired to recommend Donna’s counselling to others.
To see if she’s the right psychotherapist for you, you can have a free 15-minute chat with her in person or over the phone to discuss your needs. Once you decide to proceed, the initial consultation costs $170, and subsequent sessions range from $110 to $130.
One drawback is that she’s closed on Wednesdays and Fridays, so clients only available on those days miss out. Still, her Master’s in Counselling and registration with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) motivated many to make time for her.
Great with listening to me and helping me
“I found Donna to be a wonderful, kind, understanding, respectful and empathetic counsellor. She was great with listening to me and helping me. Definitely would recommend Donna to anyone seeking counselling.”
- Sofia M., Google Review
2. The Canberra Trauma & Well-Being Centre
Address: 48 Corinna St
Phone: +61 411 164 357
Business hours:
- Monday & Tuesday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Wednesday & Thursday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
The Canberra Trauma & Well-Being Centre’s areas of practice include trauma, well-being, chronic pain, life coaching, meditation, and couples therapy. In each, they take not only a holistic psychotherapeutic approach but also an educational one.
That means aside from talk-based therapy, their psychotherapists, counsellors, and coaches develop courses you can join to better understand life. One example is the center’s Life University that consists of 20 online courses about the self, emotional hygiene, and more.
Course participants say it helped their self-awareness grow, recognizing the psychotherapists’ articulate insights and compassion. Add in their soothing voices, comforting presence, and great communication that make therapy sessions a safe space to share.
However, a few were held back by the teaching-focused framework, preferring traditional psychotherapy sessions instead. The upside is people find the $195 one-on-one sessions, $315 couples therapy, and $280 leadership coaching affordable.
Made me feel seen and heard
“Amar has made me feel more seen and heard, in just a couple of therapy sessions, than I have felt in my whole life. His presence is soothing and comforting. Iv spent many years looking for help and iv never really felt understood. That has all changed since finding The Canberra Trauma and Well-Being Centre.”
- Shane Murton, Google Review
3. Empathic – Psychotherapy & Counselling
Address: Watson, North Canberra
Email: [email protected]
Business hours: Monday-Thursday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Empathic is the private practice of psychotherapist and psychodynamic counselor Tracy Mansted. Since it’s woman-only, she only accepts individual appointments with women of all ages, starting at five years old to teens and adults.
All sessions are conducted face-to-face in Tracy’s custom-built studio in Watson, Canberra. While it offers a warm, personal setting, it’s a bit of a letdown if you’re hoping for virtual options which are only given to regular clients who can’t make it in due to illness.
That’s because she believes subtle cues can be missed over a screen, affecting the effectiveness of therapy. Her clients seem to agree—one even praised her years of experience and deep understanding, saying she clearly knows her stuff.
Moreover, psychotherapy with Tracy involves psychodynamics—you’ll be exploring past experiences, unconscious patterns, and core emotions to understand your current behaviors. Bookings are made through her website with a 100-question intake form to fill out.
Warm-hearted person with many years of experience
“Tracey is a kind, warm hearted person with many years of experience and most definitely knows her stuff. I would recommend her services without hesitation.”
- Kylie Rayner, Google Review
4. Acuity Counselling and Psychotherapy
Address: 13 Theodore St
Phone: +61 434 574 905
Business hours:
- Wednesday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Initial sessions at Acuity Counselling and Psychotherapy are a friendly orientation to the service. This is a chance for the therapist to get to know you while discussing your problem, background, and needs or talking about your expectations and goals.
Their specializations include anxiety, trauma, and dental fear—all using CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). There’s also general counselling, coaching, and therapy for the youth, adults, or seniors, covering past and current issues through relaxation and mindfulness.
Each session always includes checking in about how the week has gone and active listening with words of encouragement. But what stood out to one client is the psychotherapist’s kind and patient presence, noting that it made him feel safe throughout.
Therapy is either brief (8 to 12 sessions) or long-term (18 to 24), and may entail processing unhealed memories and making lifestyle changes. However, Medicare rebates only apply to those receiving CBT, which was disappointing for clients receiving counselling alone.
Kind and patient presence made me feel safe
“Angela’s counselling sessions provided effective help through what has been a very difficult period of my life. Her kind and patient presence throughout the therapy made me feel safe and I was then able to work effectively and on my own with the tools that she gave me, which contributed greatly to better and more stable mental health outcomes.”
- Benjamin Sheppard, Google Review
5. Mindscape Therapy
Address: Francis Chambers, Level 3 Suite 15/40 Corinna St
Phone: +61 2 5110 3700
Business hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Clients know Mindscape Therapy for their compassionate care—may it be in individual psychotherapy or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Then there’s the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy that’s worked well for those with phobias.
But Mindscape’s psychotherapy is really the one that has benefited a lot of people suffering from anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, and addiction. It’s not just because of the team’s experience and training, the cozy, welcoming rooms were a contributing factor, too.
Let’s not forget their DBT Skills Group, a structured, evidence-based program that has helped many adults better manage intense emotions and cope with stress. One even considered it among the best learning experiences they’ve had as well as a safe, transformative space.
On the downside, there were a couple of clients who found it inconvenient to call for pricing or details on health fund rebates. For them, reviews saying it’s affordable or a worthwhile investment weren’t quite enough.
They have been really compassionate
“Great atmosphere, friendly receptionist, wheelchair friendly, and has a large fish tank with beautiful tropical fish. I have attended for a number of months and they have been really compassionate.”
- Brooke Gorst, Google Review
Group setting provided a safe, transformative space
“The Mindscape Therapy DBT Skills Group is fantastic — one of the best learning experiences of my adult life. Incredibly practical skills and exercises that helped me understand myself better and move through the world more effectively and intentionally. The group setting provided a safe, accountable and transformative space to take in the skills in a way I don’t think I would have through individual study.”
- Jacqui Douglas, Google Review