On Finding a Counsellor in the Western, Central and Northern Suburbs of Melbourne.

Please note: This page was compiled in September 2022.

As always, in the case of a life-threatening emergency, please phone 000

Counsellors work in three main ways:

  • (A) In an organisation. Examples include your local Community Health Centre, Relationships Australia, or Headspace.

    (There are too many organisations to list here, so google them, or ask around).

    or

  • (B) On Support Phone Lines.These can often provide counselling by text, or online chat. Examples include: Life Line on (Ph 13 11 14) or Kids Helpline on (Ph 1800 551 800).

    If you live, work or study in Melbourne’s Northern, Central or Western suburbs, you can also contact the Care in Mind Wellbeing service. (This is a local and free 24/7 online and phone counselling service (Ph 1300 096 269).
    The website is : https://careinmind.com.au/phone-and-online-counselling

    or

  • (C) In Private Practice (which means the counsellor works for themselves). Now-a-days most Private Practitioners can also do counselling via internet or phone.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each of the above types of counselling.

  • Organisations that offer counselling are usually free, or very low cost, but they can have a long wait list.

  • There are many types of Phone Helplines. They are free, and they are a quick, easy way to speak with a counsellor. But you will probably get a different person each time you call (though some phone services can arrange for the same counsellor). And at busy times you occasionally may have to wait ‘on hold’, or call a few times, to get through.

  • With Private Practice you can usually see a Counsellor much quicker than in an organisation – but you will probably have to pay a fee for each session.

How to Find a Counsellor in Private Practice

Seeing a counsellor is often a deeply personal matter, so suggestions through your contacts can often be a helpful place to start eg from friends, family, your GP.

Many Counsellors have a website, so you can google them and read their details.

Professional Organisations also offer up-to-date lists of Practitioners, and Search Lists contact details. The leading Professional Websites include:

Reducing the Cost

The amount you pay to see a Counsellor in Private Practice will reduce, or be wavered, if you have been referred through a particular scheme. Examples include: Workcover, TAC, Victims of Crime, Employee Assistance Programs, and some Private Health Funds.

There are also two common ways to reduce the cost.

The first is an Australia wide scheme called the “Medicare Better Access Scheme”. Almost everyone can use this scheme, for up to ten sessions each year. It will significantly reduce the cost, though there is still usually a gap fee to pay for each appointment. A Doctor writes the referral, so Speak to your GP about this scheme.

The second is a local scheme, called “Targeted Psychological Support (TPS)”.

You are eligible to use the TPS scheme if:

  1. You live within the Northern Suburbs, Central Suburbs (Eg the CBD, Fitzroy, Northcote, Thornbury) or Western Suburbs of Melbourne;

    and

  2. Are under the age of 18, with a provisional diagnosis for a mild to moderate mental health challenge

    or

  3. You are an Adult with a mild to moderate mental health challenge and

    • You have a HealthCare card, or
    • you are Homeless, or
    • you are an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, or
    • a Refugee and Asylum Seeker, or
    • a person transitioning out of justice/corrections system, or
    • identify as LGBTQI+

The TPS Scheme provides 12 counselling sessions for free. Doctors, Psychiatrists and Paediatricians can write the referral - so speak with them about it. If they arn’t sure about what to do, they can call the “Care In Mind” team for guidance on how to refer: Ph 1300 096 269

A Final Word

It may take several phone calls or e-mails to find a counsellor that suits you. This can be frustrating, but it is also a common experience, so please don’t let it put you off your search. Every phone call or email is an important step closer to getting the support you want.