Frequently Asked Questions

Call our reception team on (07) 3831 4452, email admin@brisbanecounsellingcentre.com.au or complete the enquiry form. If you call outside office hours, leave a message and we will call you back. Our reception team will ask a few questions and suggest a suitable psychologist or counsellor.

No. You can book directly without a referral. You only need a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP if you would like to claim a Medicare rebate. Many people book their first session while they wait for a GP appointment.

New clients are usually seen within one to two weeks, and sometimes sooner, depending on who you would like to see. Busy periods can affect availability, so please call for current wait times.

Yes. Brisbane Counselling Centre is open Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday from 8:30am to 5:00pm. Early morning and Saturday appointments are popular, so we recommend booking ahead.

Yes. Let our reception team know your preference when you book, and they will suggest practitioners who suit you. You can read more about the practitioners if you like.

You can call to ask questions and arrange an appointment on behalf of a partner, family member or young person. For adults, the person attending will need to agree to the appointment. Our reception team can talk this through with you.

Sessions with a psychologist are $255 to $275 on weekdays and $295 on weekends. Sessions with a counsellor are $190 to $220 on weekdays and $240 on weekends. Full details are on our Fees & Rebates page.

Yes, if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral from your GP. Medicare rebates $101.55 per session with a registered psychologist, for up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year under the Better Access initiative. Your GP will initially refer you for up to six sessions, then review your progress before referring you for the remaining four. See our Fees & Rebates page for details.

No. Medicare rebates under Better Access apply to sessions with a registered psychologist, not a counsellor. Many private health funds do cover counselling under extras, so check with your fund. Counselling fees are lower than psychology fees.

Yes, if your policy includes psychology or counselling under extras cover. The amount you get back depends on your fund and level of cover, so check with your insurer. You cannot claim Medicare and private health for the same session. Our reception team can give you the item numbers your fund will ask for.

Yes. Medicare claims can be processed on the day through Medicare Easyclaim, and private health claims through Tyro HealthPoint, so your rebate is paid straight away.

A standard session is about 60 minutes. Shorter or longer sessions can be arranged when you book.

Your first session is about getting to know you. Your psychologist or counsellor will ask what has been happening, how it is affecting your life and what you would like to be different. You will finish with a sense of what treatment could look like. You do not need to prepare anything. Read more about what a typical session looks like.

It depends on what you would like help with. Some people feel better after a few sessions, while others benefit from longer-term support. Your psychologist or counsellor will discuss a likely timeframe with you after your first appointment. Sessions are often weekly or fortnightly to begin with, then spaced further apart as things improve.

Yes, very normal. Many people feel anxious before their first session. Our reception team and the practitioners at the Centre aim to make you feel welcome and at ease from the moment you arrive.

Yes. A support person can wait in reception or, if you would like, join part of your session. Let your psychologist or counsellor know at the start.

Yes. Everything you discuss is confidential and protected under Australian privacy law and professional standards. There are narrow legal exceptions, such as a serious and immediate risk to someone’s safety or a court subpoena, which your practitioner will explain in your first session.

Yes. Secure video and telephone sessions are available for people across Queensland, interstate and overseas. They attract the same Medicare rebate as in-person sessions when you have a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan. See our Online Counselling page.

Both use evidence-based approaches to help with emotional and relationship difficulties. Psychologists are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia through AHPRA and their sessions can attract a Medicare rebate. Counsellors hold tertiary qualifications in counselling and are members of ACA or PACFA. which are both professional counselling bodies. Counselling sessions cost less but are not covered by Medicare. Our reception team can help you decide which suits you.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in mental health and can prescribe medication. A psychologist is trained in human behaviour and provides talking therapies to help people understand and manage their thoughts, emotions and behaviour. Many people see both.

Practitioners at the Centre use a range of evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), EMDR, schema therapy, emotion-focused therapy, mindfulness-based approaches and the Gottman Method for couples. Your practitioner will tailor treatment to you.

Brisbane Counselling Centre is at Level 7, 87 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill, on the edge of the Brisbane CBD and about five minutes’ walk from Central Station. Several bus routes stop nearby.

There is no public parking in the building. Discounted parking is available at a nearby car park, and there is metered street and council parking close by. Ask our reception team about parking vouchers when you book.

Brisbane Counselling Centre is not a crisis service. If you need urgent support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (ages 5 to 25). If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000.