What is counselling?
It’s normal to have strong emotions and feelings, and to experience difficulties from time to time. But if things are getting too difficult to manage and are impacting your relationships, school or work, it’s time to consider getting help.
Counsellors are trained professionals who can help you better understand why you feel the way you do, and develop strategies to deal with it. They often work in schools, universities, community health centres, family planning clinics and in private practice. Counsellors can help you out with a wide range of difficulties, like if you’re being bullied, feeling stressed, having problems at home, and many more. They can also support people with mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.
In Australia, the term ‘counsellor’ can be used to cover different mental health professional roles, and their level of training can vary. It’s a good idea to check that any counsellor you want to see is registered with a professional body like the Australian Registry of Counsellors and Psychotherapists.
What counselling options are available?
There are people professionally trained in different areas of mental health to help you work through difficulties in life. It can be confusing when there are many different types of people you can see, like school counsellors, youth workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers. Which mental health support is best for you depends on your personal situation and who you feel most comfortable talking about your problems with.
If you need to speak to someone urgently, call Kid’s Helpline (1800 55 1800), it is free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
School Counsellors & Youth Workers
School counsellors and youth workers are accessible through schools, and are specially trained in the life issues young people face like sexual health, finding accommodation, being a young parent and more. They tend to work with young people aged 12 to 25.
If you aren’t sure who this is at your school, talk to a trusted teacher, Year Level Coordinator or even the staff in the main office. They will tell you how you can contact the school counsellor or youth worker. Youth workers are also usually available at your local youth centre. Contact your local council to find the nearest location.
Psychologists & Psychiatrists
Psychologists treat mental health disorders like depression, anxiety and eating disorders, and can help you deal with the challenges in life. Psychiatrists can help with the same challenges, but a psychiatrist is also a trained medical doctor who can prescribe you medication. It is common for people to see both a psychologist and a psychiatrist for their varying expertise.
To see a psychologist or a psychiatrist, you need to see a GP (general practitioner or general doctor) first. A GP can recognise symptoms of mental health issues, discuss treatment options with you, and write you a referral or Mental Health Care Plan. Depending on your clinic, GP appointments can be bulk-billed. Check out our other pages for more info on making an appointment with a GP by yourself, how Mental Health Care Plans work, how to select and talk to a doctor, and payment options.
Social workers
Social workers help individuals, families, and communities deal with challenges related to their social, physical, and mental wellbeing. They can offer you counselling, practical and emotional support, and referrals to other services. Social workers can be found through community centres, hospitals, Centrelink, housing services, private practice and the court system.
Online counselling
Talking to a counsellor online is also a great option, especially if the idea of meeting someone face-to-face feels like a bit too much to deal with. You can start chatting with a youth counsellor online at headspace and Reach Out — these services are free, confidential, and easy to organise.
Finding the right counsellor for you
Seeing a counsellor might seem scary or nerve-wracking, especially if you’re meeting them for the first time or you’ve never had a counselling session before. Don’t worry if you’re having these feelings — it’s completely normal! It might take more than one session for you to feel comfortable opening up about everything that’s going on, or you might already see the benefits from one visit. Remember that it’s different for everyone.
You might also discover that a counsellor you’re seeing isn’t the right match for you, and it’s difficult to open up to them even after a few sessions. This isn’t ideal, but rest assured that it is normal. Finding the right counsellor is like making a new friend, and it can take time to find the right fit. It’s a good idea to look for counsellors that share your own lived experience or have specialist knowledge in particular areas. For example, if you’re someone from the LGBTQIA+ community it’s very difficult to open up to a counsellor who doesn’t have a good understanding of LGBTQIA+ issues. First Nations folk and People of Colour may feel unsafe or misunderstood by white counsellors. Learn more about why it’s so important to decolonise mental health here.
Booking a couple of consultations is a good way to get an idea of what different counsellors can offer and who might be the best fit for you. Many counsellors offer a free, short consultation session to chat about your needs, what treatments they can offer, and more so you can assess whether it might be the right fit.
Here are some great directories that list mental health professionals for particular communities:
