Counselling Services - Face-to-Face and Telehealth available

We offer face-to-face counselling and group consultations at our clinic, as well as video and phone counselling consultations. These sessions are securely accessible via any device.

To request a booking for cognitive assessment, please fill out our booking form.

For more information on our tests, age ranges for the tests and costs, please see our psychological assessments. The anticipated wait time is 6 - 12 months (please note that wait times for assessments may vary based on the current demand for our services).

People see psychologists for many reasons. Sometimes, we may need assistance with managing day-to-day stress, or we feel unhappy or unsatisfied with life in general, or we are struggling with specific life events, such as the loss of a job or difficulty in personal relationships. Other times, we may experience difficulties with mood or anxiety, distressing thoughts, distressing memories or difficult behaviours. Psychologists can provide long- or short-term support to help you feel the way you want to and help you through difficult times.  

Referrals

At the Swinburne Psychology Clinic, we welcome both self-referrals and those from health professionals. If you're considering a referral, it's a good idea to talk with your GP, psychiatrist, orcurrent psychologist.

Limitations to services offered by the clinic:

Sometimes, the Swinburne Psychology Clinic may not be the best service to meet your needs. If this is the case, we can suggest other services that may be more suitable. We are unable to provide services in the following circumstances:

  • walk-in crisis or emergency services
  • medico-legal, worker’s compensation, family court, or other legal matters
  • students undertaking psychology studies at Swinburne University.

Fees and payment

Consultation fees for psychological counselling are calculated on a sliding scale at $1.00 per hour for every $1,000 family income. There is a minimum fee of $20 to a maximum of $80 per consultation, and the initial appointment attracts a $10 administrative fee.  

Payment can only be made by cash or credit card.

Note: We offer a reduced rate of $20 per session for those who are unemployed or hold a pension/healthcare card, ensuring our services are accessible to all.  

If you are a Swinburne student, please contact the Swinburne Health and Wellbeing Service. Current Swinburne students can access counselling and psychological services at no cost through this service.

  1. Please complete and submit the online form or call the Psychology Clinic on (03) 9214 8653.
  2. A counsellor from the Clinic will call you to complete an assessment over the phone, which will be used by the Clinic Director to match you with an appropriate counsellor.
  3. We will contact you to arrange your first appointment, taking into consideration your schedule and preferences. We aim to have you seen by a counsellor within four to six weeks, with the understanding that wait times may vary throughout the year due to the demand for our services.  

Counselling sessions are tailored to meet each client's needs, however, there are a number of similarities between sessions. An individual appointment with a counsellor is typically 50-60 minutes long and in all sessions your personal and health information is treated with professional confidentiality appropriate to the Code of Ethics of the Australian Psychological Society and the relevant Victorian Government legislation.

Typically, a counsellor will conduct an assessment at the start of treatment and you will be given the opportunity to discuss how the problem you are currently facing started and how it developed. During this time the counsellor will also ask you about what you are presently doing in life and what you would like to achieve from seeking counselling. Between sessions you may be asked to complete "homework" to help develop understanding of the problem you are working on, monitor change and to try out new ways of doing things.

The Psychology Clinic offers low-cost counselling and psychotherapy to individuals, couples and families in the general community. Counsellors at the Psychology Clinic are Post Graduate students who are enrolled in Masters or Doctoral programs in Clinical Psychology. All counsellors are registered as provisional psychologists, as a minimum, and their practice is supervised by experienced practitioners

The Psychology Clinic can assist with feelings of depression, anxiety and a variety of concerns such as:

Anxiety Disorders

  • Grief and loss
  • Anxiety
  • Phobias
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
     

Mood Disorders

  • Depression
  • Bipolar Disorder
     

Eating Disorders

  • Binge Eating
  • Bulimia
  • Anorexia Nervosa
     

Other common issues people seek counseling

  • Infertility
  • Stress management
  • Family conflict
  • Children's behaviour management and parenting skills
  • Addictions including drug, alcohol and gambling
  • Sexual assault counselling
  • Relationship counselling

Have a question?

For more information about the Swinburne Psychology Clinic, please call +61 3 9214 8653 (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm) or email psychclinic@swinburne.edu.au.

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