How do I search for an Australian counsellor or psychotherapist?

Enter your postcode, town or city in the main search box on the home page or in the green coloured search box in the right-hand column of any page on the site. You can also do an advanced search to search by counsellor name, office location, area of practice or therapeutic approach. We currently have counsellors, therapists and psychologists in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and areas of Queensland. 

What are the different therapeutic approaches used?

Read about the types of therapies by visiting our therapies page. Here you will find a summary of some of the most common therapies used by the counsellors and psychologists on Australia Counselling.

How can I be assured of a practitioner's professionalism?

All counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists and social workers listed on Australia Counselling must be currently registered with an Australian professional body that has a code of ethics and mandates ongoing education and supervision.

What training, qualifications and experience should Australian counsellors and psychotherapists have?

PACFA, the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia is one of the peak bodies for counsellors and psychotherapists in Australia.

For a counsellor to be registered with PACFA, members must have completed a Postgraduate Equivalent qualification over a minimum of two years, 200 hours of person-to-person psychotherapy and/or counselling training and 50 hours of supervision relating to 200 hours of client contact. Also permitted is an Undergraduate Equivalent qualification of 350 hours person-to-person training in counselling and or psychotherapy and 50 hours of supervision relating to 200 hours of client contact. This must be over a minimum of three years.

How long does each counselling sessions last?

Most counselling session are 50 or 60 minutes in length, although some counsellors may offer longer sessions.

How regularly will I see my counsellor or psychotherapist?

On average, most people attending counselling weekly, although different counsellors will have different policies and approaches. It’s best to speak to your counsellor about your individual needs. People that attend counselling regularly tend to have better outcomes in therapy than those that attend sporadically.

Do I have to pay for counselling sessions?

All the counsellors on Australia Counselling are private practitioners and do charge for their services. Some may offer discounted fees, but on the whole, most practitioners will charge anywhere between $100-$250 a session on average. Of course, most States have low-cost counselling services and government subsidised agencies. If you are struggling financially, this may be a good place to start.

How do I know which counsellor or psychotherapist to choose?

You may wish to read about the different types of therapies to decide which therapeutic approach is a good fit for you. Also, check the areas of practice if you have a particular issue that you would like counselling help with. Read the counsellor profiles carefully and see which ones speak to you. We also encourage you to have a chat on the phone with a few counsellors and get a feel for who is a good fit for your particular issue. You may also wish to read our other FAQs What Should I Look for in a Counsellor? and What Questions Should I ask a Counsellor Before Making an Appointment? 

Can I have counselling by email, telephone on online?

Some of our counsellors offer counselling services via email, telephone or online. Check out the areas of practice page to see which counsellors offer these services.

Do counsellors offer any seminars, workshops or events?

Many of our counsellors offer public workshops, seminars and events for the public. Visit our public workshops page to see what’s coming up in your city or State.

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