Read
About
Therapy Guide is a free Australian website that helps people understand their options for professional mental health support: what kinds of therapy there are, what might suit you, what it costs and how to start. It’s written and run by Daniel Hicks.
About me
I’m a qualified Counsellor Someone trained to help people talk through and work on difficulties. The title isn't protected in Australia, so it's worth checking a counsellor's training and registration. Medicare doesn't give a rebate for counsellors. More in the jargon decoder . I hold a Graduate Diploma in Counselling and an honours degree in psychology, and I’m completing a Master of Professional Psychology.
I live in San Remo, Victoria, on the lands of the Bunurong people.
Why this site exists
Therapy can be helpful to people going through a difficult time, but it can also be hard to find a therapist that you feel comfortable with. There are also lots of different types of therapy available, and some work well in some situations but not others. Different professions can help too, often with different approaches and different fee structures. Some are eligible for Medicare Australia's public health insurance scheme. For mental health, it gives rebates on sessions with psychologists and some other professionals, usually through a Mental Health Treatment Plan. More in the jargon decoder Rebate The amount Medicare pays back towards a session. It comes back to you after you've paid, so what you pay yourself is the fee minus the rebate. More in the jargon decoder , and some aren’t. People are told to “see someone”, then left to work out the rest by themselves.
This is a challenge both for people who have never experienced therapy before, and for those who have.
Therapy Guide is built to help make finding and starting therapy a bit easier. As well as what’s going on, the guide asks what you’ve already tried, how you like to work and what’s practical for you. Then it shows you several options with explanations, to help you choose the best next step for you.
One thing runs through the whole site. How you get on with the person you see matters a great deal, whatever Approach (modality) The kind of therapy someone uses, such as CBT or psychodynamic therapy. You'll also see it called a modality. More in the jargon decoder they use. Why who you see matters more than what they do explains why.
How the site is made
Every page is researched from original sources, checked, and reviewed and approved before it’s published. Our editorial policy explains each step. How this site works explains what the guide asks and what it does with your answers.
Therapy Guide gives general information. It doesn’t offer therapy, and it can’t advise you about your own situation. This isn’t therapy has more.
Get in touch
If you’ve spotted something wrong or out of date, or have a suggestion, email hello@therapyguide.com.au. Please don’t include personal health details. We can’t respond to emergencies, so if things are hard right now, crisis and emergency support lists who to contact.
Acknowledgement of Country
Therapy Guide acknowledges the Bunurong people, the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters where this site is made, and the Traditional Custodians of lands across Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.