5 Best Counselling Services in Australia for When You Need Someone in Your Corner
There was a point last year when I realised I’d been carrying a lot more than I thought. Work pressure, a few personal setbacks, and the general weight of trying to keep everything together had built up into something I could no longer ignore.
It looked pretty obvious to people around me that something was wrong. One day, a close friend sat me down and told me, pretty bluntly, that talking to someone professional might help.
I listened, but I also wanted someone I could genuinely trust. I asked around and spent more time than I’d like to admit comparing options before finally finding a service that felt right.
Because I know how exhausting that search process can be, I put together this list of top counselling services across Australia, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
How much do counselling services cost in Australia?
Counselling in Australia typically costs between $100 AUD and $300 AUD per session, depending on the provider’s qualifications, location, and session times.
Medicare offers rebates on up to 10 individual sessions per year through a Mental Health Care Plan, though bulk billing is available but rare and often comes with long waitlists.
1. Melbourne Counselling Centre
Address: Not Available
Contact details: +611300018255
Business hours:
- Monday and Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
If you’ve ever tried to explain what you’re going through and felt like the other person just didn’t quite get it, Melbourne Counselling Centre might be worth a look.
Anne Evans, the counsellor behind the fully online practice, has been doing this for over a decade now. She works with individuals and couples across a pretty broad range of concerns, from anxiety, depression, trauma, and even dating and relationships.
A colleague of mine went to Anne during a rough patch in her marriage and said she was surprised by how quickly it made her comfortable. Therapy for her always felt like being assessed, but with Anne, it was more like a conversation.
That tracks with what a lot of people say about her being calm and receptive. Clients mention feeling lighter after each session.
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that Medicare rebates aren’t available here, so sessions are an out-of-pocket cost. But for many, the care they receive makes it worth it.
The TRTP process left me feeling calm, relieved, and motivated
“I really enjoyed my time with Anne. She’s easy to talk too and has great knowledge and advice to share. The TRTP process was a very fast and effective process. It left me feeling calm, relieved and motivated. I highly recommend the TRTP process to anyone. It has helped me so much with my anxiety. Thanks again Anne.”
– Julian Polglase, Google Review
I feel better equipped to make conscious decisions about my life and its direction
“This experience of working with Anne has cleared some long standing barriers to my achievement – I was always capable of seeing the potential in my life but subconsciously there were some default behaviours and tendencies that clouded my action. This process has cleared much of that, and although life will always continue to present challenges, I feel better equipped to make conscious decisions about my life and its direction. Thank you Anne :)”
– Andrea Torres Opazo, Google Review
2. Sonya Cavanough Counselling Services
Address: Level 5, Suite 504/1 Bryant Dr, Tuggerah NSW 2259
Contact details: +61414487389
Business hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
More than credentials, one of the qualities that good counsellors should possess is warmth, and Sonya Cavanough has both.
Talking to her feels like being in the right place with the right person. She helps you to communicate your emotions clearly. It’s like she’s drawing them out of you, and that tells us of her expertise.
Her services span individual counselling, grief, trauma, and addiction, and she even offers supervision for other counselling professionals. Her specialty, though, is couples.
I spoke with a couple who just celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary, which they weren’t sure would happen before they started seeing Sonya.
They said the biggest shift was learning how to argue without spiralling and spotting what was really underneath it all. They also appreciated that Sonya never “took sides,” even when the sessions got emotional.
To add to that, she even works with National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants and low-income earners and accepts a few major private health funds.
If you’re thinking of booking her, she has both in-person meetings and online appointments, which adds some flexibility. Unfortunately, since she’s a sole practitioner, session availability can be limited.
Sonya has such a kind and warm nature it’s impossible not to like her
“Sonya has such a kind and warm nature it’s impossible not to like her! I’ve known her as a colleague in the “helping people” world for a few years now, and personally experienced her counselling recently. I can highly recommend Sonya Cavanough as a trusted advisor who brings a wealth of experience to the table. Thank you Sonya”
– Nicola Davies-Cooke, Google Review
Has a great rapport with clients and her group sessions have been very helpful
“Very supportive and professional. Sonya has a great rapport with clients and her group sessions have been very helpful.”
– Suzy Wilson, Google Review
3. Advanced Counselling Therapies
Address: Not Available
Contact details: +61448887337
Business hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Physically operating only in Adelaide, Daniel, the practitioner behind this service, actually comes to you and offers sessions in the comfort of your own home, office, or wherever you feel most at ease. This should make the first step a little less daunting.
He covers a broad range of areas from anxiety and anger management, relationship and divorce counselling, up to health and fitness counselling.
Working alongside Core Strength Health and Fitness, he views mental and physical well-being as deeply connected.
Daniel can even help you see things differently and arrive at your own solutions. He does it in a way that feels natural, even if you’ve had rough patches with counsellors before.
One client even came to him through his fitness group before realising he also did counselling and ended up getting support in both areas.
Daniel gave us techniques and tools to better ourselves as individuals
“Seeing Daniel put many things into perspective for my husband and I. The stress of family life and other daily stressors pushed us to the point of not feeling ourselves or in control anymore. Daniel gave us techniques and tools to better ourselves as individuals and how we can take on some of the challenges that we were facing within our family. We feel full of hope and are deeply grateful for Daniel. Don’t be nervous to book in, he made us feel extremely comfortable and loves a good story or 2!”
– Natalie Feleppa, Google Review
My emotional regulation/intelligence is much better after talking to Daniel
“After my session with Daniel I am left feeling very positive and like a weight is lifted off my shoulders. I was hesitant to seek help after having some bad experiences with counsellors in the past, but Daniel made me feel instantly comfortable and even made me laugh throughout the session. My emotional regulation/intelligence is much better after talking to Daniel than before. Thank you Daniel!”
– Stacey Hodgkiss, Google Review
4. Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney
Address: Online, Several locations across Australia
Contact details: +61282050566
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Finding a good therapist is hard enough. Finding one who actually suits your needs is a whole other challenge. Associated Counsellors & Psychologists can help fill that gap.
With over 40 offices spread across Greater Sydney, their network includes registered psychologists, clinical counsellors, and psychotherapists, covering a wide range of specialisations. They also offer online sessions, so you’re never without options.
With a network this large, there’s always a good chance you’ll find a counsellor who fits your needs. All you have to do is call and explain your situation to help them with their matching process.
However, it also means consistency isn’t guaranteed across the board. Experiences can vary depending on the professional you’re matched with.
One client I talked to mentioned that after feeling unheard by their first assigned counsellor, the team had them speak to a new one within two days.
Finding someone (is) much easier using Associated Counsellors
“I recently decided to speak to a psychologist regarding some personal matters and found the process of finding someone much easier using Associated Counsellors. They were prompt and informative with my request and was able to book my first session at a time and location that suited my schedule.”
– George Pegios, Google Review
Very pleased with the ease of matching me with an appropriate counsellor
“Very pleased with the ease of matching me with an appropriate counsellor at the time and location that was suitable. Received a call back from a web enquiry within 2hours. The girls on the phone were very warm, polite and understanding. Would recommend.”
– Kristen Kadic, Google Review
5. Talked Psychology and Counselling
Address: Not available
Contact details: +611800952552
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM- 8:00 PM
Talked is a fully online platform that connects Australians with mental health professionals from across the country.
There’s a therapist for basically any concern (anxiety, stress, depression, anger management, self-esteem, and grief, among others) and caters to children, adults, individuals, couples, and families.
Their sessions are available around the clock, so you’re not waiting weeks for a slot that fits your schedule. The whole experience is frictionless; you can just book a counsellor online and get matched within 12 hours.
A friend who lives regionally gave it a go after struggling to find anyone local. He liked that he could browse therapists’ profiles, read reviews, and filter by budget before committing to anything.
Most clients I talked to echoed the same thing, and they seem to appreciate that the first meeting is just a free consultation to take pressure off.
Sessions start at $60, which is one of the more affordable options on this list, but because this is a platform rather than a single practice, quality and rates can still vary.
Sessions are easy to book and manage
“On to my fourth session with Talked now. My therapist Dinelka has been great! Already feeling better. Sessions are easy to book and manage, and the support team has been great at helping me to navigate around Medicare / insurance.”
– Kelsey Bennett, Google Review
Easy booking process and the options of people to select from was plentiful
“Trying to find a psychologist that I could see urgently and online was near impossible this time of yeah and then I found this service on Google. I was a bit skeptical at first but the booking process was so easy and the options of people to select from was plentiful. I chose Ashro and she was amazing and I’ve already got the next 2 appts locked in.”
– Pete Carter, Google Review