Counselling vs Psychology — What's the Difference, and Which Do I Need?
This is the question almost everyone has before making a first appointment. Here's an honest attempt at differentiating them.
The short version
A psychologist is a university-trained clinician who can diagnose mental health conditions and deliver clinical treatments. You access them through a GP referral and a Mental Health Care Plan; Medicare rebates part of the cost.
A counsellor is a trained practitioner who helps you work through what's going on and move forward — without the clinical diagnosis framework. No referral needed, no diagnosis required, no GP visit first.
Neither is better. They're different tools for different situations.
When a psychologist is probably the right fit
- Diagnosed or suspected clinical conditions — depression, anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, eating disorders.
- When a formal assessment or diagnosis is needed for insurance, legal or workplace purposes.
- When accessing Medicare rebates matters.
- When you specifically need a structured clinical treatment protocol.
When counselling is probably the right fit
- Something's wrong but it doesn't feel like a clinical condition — burnout, relationship strain, grief, or a loss of direction.
- You want to start now, without going through a GP first.
- You want a forward-focused conversation rather than an extensive diagnostic process.
- You're open to a whole-person approach that draws on counselling, breathwork, and mindfulness.
One thing worth knowing: counselling isn't limited to 'just talking.' Counsellors can draw on approaches including CBT and ACT. Nick has training in both through his counselling diploma and incorporates principles from these alongside mindfulness-based techniques — the tools available to a counsellor overlap more with psychology than most people realise. The main differences are the clinical diagnosis pathway and the Medicare rebate, not the techniques themselves.
What does it actually cost?
The Australian Psychological Society's recommended fee for 2026–27 is $330 per session. In practice, fees range from around $200–$330 depending on the type of psychologist and location.
Medicare rebates under a Mental Health Care Plan are:
Clinical psychologist: $149.05 per session
General psychologist: $101.55 per session
After the rebate, your typical out-of-pocket cost is $100–$180 per session — more if the psychologist charges above the recommended rate. You'll also need a GP visit to obtain the plan, and waiting lists in many areas run to several weeks.
Counselling at The Clearing Practice is $150 per session (concession $110) — no rebate, but also no referral, no waiting room, and no waiting list. Some private health funds cover counselling under extras — worth checking your policy.
In practice, counselling is often cheaper or comparable out of pocket to seeing a psychologist, with faster access and fewer steps to get started.
What if I'm not sure which I need?
A free 15-minute discovery call with Nick is a good starting point. If counselling isn't the right fit — if what you're dealing with needs clinical assessment, psychiatric support, or specialist input — Nick will say so plainly and help you find the right referral. That might be to a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or a counsellor with specialist experience in a specific area. The aim is for you to be in the right room, not necessarily his.
"I think it's worth being honest about what counselling can and can't do. We're not diagnosing, we're not prescribing, and if someone needs a higher level of clinical support, I'll tell them. But most people who reach out to The Clearing Practice don't need a clinical diagnosis — they need a real conversation, some practical tools, and a bit of time. That's what counselling is for." — Nick
Not sure where to start?
A free 15-minute intro call is the easiest way to find the right fit — no pressure, just a conversation.