You can see a counsellor in Australia without a referral. You can also book a psychologist directly without one, though you'll only qualify for the Medicare rebate once a GP has written you a Mental Health Treatment Plan.

Bark has handled more than 75,500 therapy and counselling requests from Australians over the past couple of years, connecting customers with over 7000 therapists and counsellors.

Talk to a mental health professional

Most Australians assume a GP visit comes first, because that's how referrals usually work under Medicare. But mental health support runs on different rules, and a referral usually only matters if you're claiming a rebate.

This article explains exactly when a referral is required and what a Mental Health Treatment Plan actually involves. It also covers how to find a counsellor directly, without going through a GP first.

Can I see a therapist or counsellor without a referral in Australia?

You can book almost any therapist or counsellor in Australia without a referral - psychiatrists being an exception here. Counselling and most therapy professionals can be booked directly, no referral required. Psychologists work the same way for booking, though the referral becomes relevant the moment you want Medicare to help pay for it.

Psychiatrists sit apart from this, since Medicare requires a GP referral before rebating most psychiatric consultations. The table below breaks down exactly where each profession sits.

Referral and Medicare rebate rules by profession

The rebate itself isn't small once you're eligible for it. Services Australia's 2026 Medicare rates pay $149.05 per 50-minute session with a clinical psychologist and about $101.50 per 50-minute session with a registered psychologist.

Counsellors sit outside that Medicare system. The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia confirms eligible PACFA members may hold private health fund provider numbers, but this is separate from Medicare. That means there is no Medicare rebate to claim for counselling, whether you have a referral or not.

Valerie Monteiro, a therapist at Guiding Light Center in Perth, sees this misunderstood by clients often. She says:

“Some private insurance funds do pay for therapy services. They can access through them.”

What's the difference between a psychologist, counsellor and therapist?

The referral rules trace straight back to how each role is regulated. “Psychologist” is a legally protected title. Anyone using it must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia.

The Board requires a six-year sequence of education and training for general registration as a psychologist. “Counsellor” and “therapist” are not protected in the same way, so training length and specialisation vary far more between individual practitioners.

Many counsellors hold accreditation through bodies like the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), which sets its own training and ethics standards. “Therapist” is often used as an umbrella term, covering psychologists, counsellors and specialist practitioners who work with a specific issue such as trauma or grief.

Whatever the title, Valerie says the working relationship itself is what actually determines the outcome:

“Connection, reliability and experience count besides personable factors and bringing positive outcomes.”

Do you need a Mental Health Care Plan to see a psychologist?

A Mental Health Treatment Plan, still commonly called a Mental Health Care Plan, only matters if you want Medicare to help cover a psychologist's fee. Booking one yourself needs nothing more than a phone call.

Without a plan, you pay the psychologist's full fee, which usually runs higher than the gap you'd pay under the subsidised pathway. With a plan in place, Medicare rebates about $101.50 per session with a registered psychologist or $149.05 with a clinical psychologist, based on current 2026 rates.

That rebate is capped at 10 individually rebated sessions each calendar year, usually released in two blocks. Your GP can refer you for the first 6 sessions, then review your progress before referring you for further sessions. Once those sessions run out, the average cost of therapy in Australia climbs quickly without any rebate to offset it.

Comparing registered psychologists on Bark makes it easier to find one who bulk-bills or keeps the gap fee low, since fees vary significantly between individual practitioners.

What is a Mental Health Care Plan and how do I get one?

A Mental Health Treatment Plan usually starts with a longer GP appointment, not a chain of specialist referrals. In some cases, it may take more than one GP visit if your doctor needs more time to assess your symptoms or confirm eligibility.

Here's how that appointment typically works:

1. Book a longer appointment with your regular GP and say you want to discuss a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
2. Your GP talks through your symptoms, sometimes using a standard questionnaire, to confirm eligibility.
3. If eligible, the GP writes the plan along with a referral letter addressed to a psychologist, or “Dear psychologist” if you haven't chosen one yet.
4. You take that referral to your chosen psychologist before you can claim any rebate.

Healthdirect Australia describes the plan as a document covering your treatment options, support services and the goals you and your doctor have agreed on. It isn't a diagnosis on its own, and it doesn't replace ongoing care from your GP.

Will private health insurance cover a counsellor without a Medicare rebate?

Medicare doesn’t cover counselling sessions, but you may be able to claim part of the cost through private health insurance extras, depending on your policy. PACFA has agreements with a number of major private health funds that allow eligible members to hold provider numbers for counselling rebates.

The exact rebate and annual limit depend entirely on your fund and tier, so check your fund's schedule of benefits before you book. Counsellors also set their own fees, since they aren't bound by a Medicare schedule the way psychologists are.

Comparing a few counselling professionals before booking gives you a clearer sense of the average cost of counselling in Australia in your area.

How do I find a counsellor near me?

Finding one doesn't require any government paperwork at all. You can search directly through professional directories, since counsellors don't need a GP referral or Medicare paperwork to see you.

The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia has a national directory of registered counsellors searchable by location and specialisation. You can also search for individual therapy on Bark by location, read verified reviews and request quotes without waiting for a referral.

Valerie says the factors that matter most to her own clients when picking someone are:

“Feeling comfortable with the therapist, relevant experience, therapy approach, availability, cost, online or in-person sessions, recommendations or reviews, qualifications.”

Those factors get someone through the door. What keeps them coming back, she says, is:

“Connection, reliability and experience count besides personable factors and bringing positive outcomes.”

If the issue affects a relationship rather than just you individually, relationship and marriage counsellors work in the same direct-booking way, with no referral needed for either partner.

If you need urgent mental health support or are in immediate danger, call triple zero (000) or contact a crisis support service. If you need support but it is not an emergency, you can speak to a therapist or book a counsellor directly and skip the Medicare paperwork altogether. If the rebate matters to you, factor in the time a Mental Health Treatment Plan can take before committing to a psychologist.

Valerie says most people can tell if it's working without overthinking it:

“I do believe that connection is vital and most people know if they are getting benefitted or not and how comfortable they feel and if their needs are being met.”

When asked what she wishes more Australians understood before their first session, Valerie said:

“Show up.”

With more than 80,000 therapy and counselling requests handled through Bark over the past couple of years, Bark's directory of therapists and counsellors helps you compare verified professionals by location and specialisation before you book.