Brisbane Counselling CentreA safe place to talk – Psychologists & Counsellors in Brisbane City

No. You can call and make an appointment directly. A GP referral and a Mental Health Treatment Plan are needed only if you want to claim a Medicare rebate for your sessions. Many people book their first session with us while they are waiting for a GP appointment. Call (07 3831 4452) and our reception team will explain your options.

Under the Better Access initiative, Medicare rebates up to 10 individual psychology session per calendar year. Your GP will initially refer you for up to six sessions. After those, your psychologist sends a progress report to your GP, and you return for a review to access the remaining four. The allocation resets on 1 January each year.

Fees depend on the practitioner and the day. Sessions with a psychologist are $255 to $275 on weekdays and $295 on weekends. With a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, Medicare rebates $101.55 per psychology session, leaving a gap of roughly $154 to $194. Private health rebates may apply instead. Sessions with a counsellor are $190 to $220 on weekdays and $240 on weekends.

New clients at Brisbane Counselling Centre are usually seen within one to two weeks, depending on who you see. We hold appointments across weekday mornings, afternoons and Saturdays.

A first appointment usually runs to 60 minutes. Your practitioner will ask what has brought you in, what has been happening and what you would like to be different. Together you will agree on what to work on and how often to meet. You are not expected to have your thoughts organised before you arrive.

Yes. You are welcome to request a particular practitioner when you book. Wait times may vary depending on who you wish to see. If you do not have a preference, our reception team will ask a little about what is happening and suggest practitioners best suited to you. You can also read the practitioner profiles and ask for someone by name.

Yes. The psychologists and counsellors in attendance at the Centre are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia through AHPRA, or hold membership of the relevant professional body for their profession, and they work within the ethical and professional standards those bodies set.

Some practitioners at the Centre work with young people and adolescents from the age of 12 onwards. Ages differ between practitioners, so call the Centre and our reception team will tell you who is available for your child’s age group.

Yes. Brisbane Counselling Centre offers secure video and telephone sessions for clients who cannot attend our Spring Hill rooms in Brisbane, including people in regional Queensland, interstate and overseas. Online sessions attract the same Medicare rebate as in-person appointments when you have a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan. See our Online Counselling page for details.

Brisbane Counselling Centre is at Level 7, 87 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill, close to Brisbane CBD. Discounted parking is available. Simply ask our reception team for details when booking your appointment. We are approximately 5 minutes’ walk from Central Station.

Yes. Everything you discuss with your psychologist or counsellor at Brisbane Counselling Centre is confidential and protected under Australian privacy law and the professional standards of the Psychology Board of Australia. There are narrow legal exceptions, such as a serious and immediate risk to someone’s safety or a court subpoena. Your psychologist or counsellor will explain these in your first session.

Yes, if your policy includes psychology under extras cover. You cannot claim Medicare and private health for the same session, so it is worth checking which gives you the better return. Some people use their ten Medicare sessions first and then switch to private health cover. Our reception team can provide the item numbers you need.