Counselling
Anxiety and stress counselling
When worry, tension or panic start running the show, counselling helps you understand what’s driving it and gives you practical tools to take back the controls.
When stress stops being useful
Some stress is normal – it gets us to deadlines and out of danger. It becomes a problem when your body stays in alert mode: racing thoughts at 3am, a tight chest before meetings, avoiding things you used to manage, snapping at people you love, or feeling exhausted but wired.
Anxiety is your brain’s threat system doing its job too well. Counselling helps you understand your own patterns – what triggers the alarm, what keeps it ringing, and what actually settles it – rather than just being told to relax.
Our counsellors use evidence-based approaches with strong research support for anxiety, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), alongside trauma-informed practice where past experiences are part of the picture.
Signs it might be time to talk to someone
Worry that won't switch off
Looping thoughts about work, health, money or relationships that are hard to control, even when you know they’re out of proportion.
Physical symptoms
Tight chest, racing heart, churning stomach, headaches, jaw tension or disrupted sleep without a clear medical cause.
Avoidance
Turning down opportunities, dodging social events, or putting off tasks because the anxiety feels bigger than the payoff.
Burnout
Running on empty at work or as a carer – cynical, depleted, and unable to recover even after rest.
Fees and practical details
From $80 per session
Low-cost counselling because support should be accessible to all. Individual sessions $80-$120.
No GP referral needed
You can book directly. If you have a referral, it can help your counsellor support you.
60 to 90 minute sessions
Individual counselling sessions are available for 60 or 90 minutes.
In-person or telehealth
Visit us in Preston, Melbourne, or connect by telehealth from anywhere in Australia.
Medicare does not currently provide rebates for counsellors under the Mental Health Care Plan. If you would like Medicare-rebated sessions with a clinical psychologist, ask us about a Mental Health Care Plan referral from your GP.
Process
What happens during your counselling journey
First contact
You call or fill out our form. Tell us what's happening and what you need. We listen without judgment and answer your questions about how we work.
Assessment session
We meet and talk through your situation in detail. This helps us understand your challenges and decide on the best approach for you moving forward.
Regular sessions
You attend regular sessions where we develop strategies and skills tailored to your needs. Between sessions, you practise what you've learned in daily life.
Moving forward
As you gain confidence and tools, sessions may reduce in frequency. You'll always have access to support when you need it, whether that's months or years later.
Frequently asked questions
How does counselling help anxiety?
Counselling works in two directions: understanding the patterns that fuel your anxiety (triggers, thinking habits, avoidance) and building concrete skills to respond differently – breathing and grounding techniques, structured problem-solving, graded exposure to feared situations, and ways to relate differently to anxious thoughts.
Will I have to face the things I'm afraid of?
Only ever at your pace and with your agreement. Avoidance keeps anxiety alive, so gently approaching feared situations is often part of the work – but you set the speed, and your counsellor checks in about pacing and comfort throughout.
What if my anxiety is severe or I think I need a diagnosis?
Counsellors don’t diagnose. If your symptoms suggest an anxiety disorder that would benefit from psychological treatment or assessment, we’ll say so and can connect you with a clinical psychologist within Invictus Health.
How many sessions will I need?
Many people notice change within the first handful of sessions as they start using new tools. Longstanding anxiety patterns usually take longer to shift. Your counsellor will review progress with you openly.
Can I do anxiety counselling online?
Yes. Telehealth counselling works well for anxiety and means you can access support from anywhere in Australia, including from home if leaving the house is currently hard.
What does it cost?
Individual counselling is $80-$120 per session. No GP referral is needed. Medicare does not currently provide rebates for counsellors.
Take the first step towards an easier life
You don’t have to keep white-knuckling it. Book a session or call us to talk through what’s happening.