Find a Counsellor near you
The average rating for Bark Counsellors is 4.93, based on 13,098 reviews
5/5
based on 13,098 reviews
Seeking support from a counsellor but not sure about costs? Read our handy guide to find out how much you can expect to pay for different types of counselling therapy throughout Australia, as well as how to keep costs down if you’re on a budget.
A counsellor is a trained professional who can help you to understand and overcome emotional distress by talking to you about your feelings. Counselling can help you with a range of problems, including:
A change in circumstances or a difficult life event, like bereavement, work-related stress or a relationship ending
A mental health condition (depression, anxiety etc.)
Relationship problems
Difficult emotions, including anger or low mood
Counselling takes place in a safe and comfortable environment. This is normally in the professional’s clinic, but they may be willing to travel to your home. Online counselling is becoming increasingly popular as it gives people the option to access the support they need without ever needing to leave their home.
Several factors can influence the overall cost of counselling. To give you a rough guide, we’ve put together the average cost per session based on local professionals across Australia.
| Average cost (per session) | $117.50 |
| Minimum cost (per session) | $60 |
| Maximum cost (per session) | $175 |
The cost of a counsellor can vary depending on different factors. These include:
Location
Experience
Type of counselling service
The cost of a counselling session varies depending on your location.
Counsellors in larger cities tend to charge more than in a rural area or a smaller city, as the cost of living is higher. If you are wondering how much you can expect to pay based on where you live, we’ve put together a handy breakdown:
| Location | Average cost (per session) |
| Brisbane | $105 |
| Sydney | $175 |
| Perth | $120 |
Choosing the right counsellor is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. They need to have the right skills and ethics in place to make sure they can help you to overcome any emotional distress, which is why they are required to obtain qualifications before being able to practice.
In Australia, you’ll need to complete a formal qualification to become a counsellor, such as the Diploma of Counselling. Beyond this, many counsellors will specialise or further their studies by taking a postgraduate degree.
A general rule of thumb is that the more experienced a counsellor is, the higher they will charge per session. A highly qualified and experienced counsellor may charge anywhere from $118. If a professional has additional qualifications, like a PHD, they could charge even more than this.
Online counselling, which takes place either through live text, video or phone calls, is less expensive than face-to-face counselling. It's also much more convenient as you don’t have to factor in commute times. Many people prefer online counselling as they feel more comfortable discussing their problems in a familiar environment, such as their living room. The table below shows price variations for online and face-to-face counselling services based on local Australian professionals:
| Type of counselling | Average cost (per session) |
| Face-to-face | $105 |
| Online | $80 |
Everyone should be able to speak to a counsellor if they need to, regardless of their financial situation. Here are some ways to keep costs to a minimum:
Price packages - Most counsellors will offer a discounted price for a package of sessions, which will work out cheaper than paying per session or hour.
Discounts - Lots of counsellors operate a sliding scale on fees, which means students, job seekers or those on lower incomes will pay less than the standard amount.
Choose your therapist with care - By picking the right counsellor for you, you’ll probably be able to resolve your issues sooner, which means fewer sessions. Have a chat with your counsellor over the phone before committing to anything to gauge whether they’re the right fit.
Take care of yourself - find a trusted Counsellor on Bark.
The average rating for Bark Counsellors is 4.93, based on 13,098 reviews
5/5
based on 13,098 reviews
