Are you ready to move out of the public sector and into a practice you actually love?
If you’re a counsellor or wellness practitioner in Australia, you’ve probably heard the “rules”: you need a psychology degree to make it, or you must rely on Medicare rebates to survive.
Here’s the reality: You don’t.
I’m here to help you navigate how to start a counselling business in Australia that is ethical, lucrative, and entirely on your terms. Whether you are setting up a counselling business from home or want a 100% online nomad life, it is easier than you think.
Here are some tasty treats to kick us off:
- No Medicare? No worries. You do not need to accept mental health care plans to have a successful practice.
- Tech is your friend. It’s easier than ever to get your business rolling with the right (simple) tools.
- Social media is optional. If it’s “not your bag,” you don’t need to spend 50 hours a week on it.
- Ethics + Profit can coexist. You can shape a life around your needs and wants while being a top-tier practitioner.
I love what I do (and you should too)
That might sound strange to anyone who isn’t a counsellor (but you get me, we love our clients and working with them without the time-wasting and organisational stressors is the best). Or anyone disheartened by organisations where workloads rise but support stays minimal.
The honest truth? We are allowed to look after ourselves. In fact, it’s crucial. Why don’t we allow ourselves to design a practice free of excessive data collection, bosses, and pointless meetings?
Breaking through the “Australian Fear-Mongering”
When I started my online-only counselling practice in 2015, people said it couldn’t be done without the rebate. It wasn’t always easy. I dealt with the steep learning curves and the “dead-end roads” alone. Now, as a therapy practice business coach, I’m offering you the support I wish I’d had back then.
That might sound strange to anyone who isn’t a counsellor. Or anyone who has become disheartened by working for organisations in which the workload and expectations rise every year but the support and wages don’t.
Let’s create a practice that actually fits YOU
Books and podcasts are great, but they aren’t made for your unique life. A lot of advice out there is too “businessy” or aggressive. Learning how to start a counselling business in Australia is different from the USA, UK or most other places. Not just legally, but in our mix of cultures and character.
I’ll show you how to ethically market yourself in a way that matches your values. Opening up a counselling business shouldn’t feel like selling your soul. It should feel like finding the clients you are best suited to help. After all, you can’t help anyone if they can’t find you.
Can you really make this work?
Yes! Since 2015, I’ve run a successful online practice. I connect with diverse clients, make my own hours, and travel while I work. I’m not special. I just have the experience, the gumption, and the “mistakes” to share so you don’t have to repeat them.
How I help you get it right (the first time)
I’m a fountain of knowledge, a challenger of hard questions, and a super-enthusiastic cheerleader. I can help you navigate the simple logistics of setting up a counselling business from home, from choosing the right tech to ensuring your Professional Indemnity insurance has you covered.
Let me also help you:
- Nail your niche: Stop trying to help “everyone” and start attracting the right clients.
- Bin Imposter Syndrome: Let’s get you to 85% confidence (which is more than enough to start!).
- Design a you-shaped practice: One that fits your lifestyle, not the other way around.
- Navigate the “Boring” Practicalities: ABNs, professional indemnity, insurance, invoicing, and Aussie legal concerns. You might be surprised to learn there are a lot of free and fantastic tools for running your entire business.
- Master the Tech: Setting up your website, blogging, Google analytics, social media, using Zoom professionally, navigating Halaxy or other counselling-specific tools, and learning how to use AI to enhance your voice and creativity to design an SEO-friendly site that still sounds like you.
- Setting Up From Home: Logistics of video vs. in-person practice and maintaining boundaries.
- Charge Your Worth: Stay heart-centred while charging a fee that supports your lifestyle.
- Get connected: Find communities and resources that will help you stay the course.
Stop listening to the naysayers
Don’t get sucked under by the nonsense (especially the voices inside your own head). Whether you have a scribble on a napkin or a practice that just isn’t “clicking” yet, let’s make a solid plan.
Ready to design your meaningful, lucrative, Aussie private practice? Let’s chat. Book a free 15 minute discovery appointment below and get started today.
Reach out so I can help you get back in touch with why you became a therapist in the first place, and build your ideal practice so it flourishes.
or
Looking for something a little different from how to start a counselling business in Australia?
If you’re solo and want online life coaching (for when you’re stuck in life) I do that that. And I also offer online relationship coaching (that gets to the point). And of course, I have a counselling service. Plus there are loads of free resources available over on my blog.
Need a confidence boost? My book ‘Bolder’ is now on sale!
‘Bolder’ is a narrative-therapy informed self-worth journey. Based on my popular online course ‘From Bashful to Bold’ it’s a 10 ‘session’ deep dive into your problems and how to solve them by reconnecting with your values, deconstructing toxic societal norms, and having some fun doing brave confidence-building practices. Available on Kindle and all other ebook retailers.
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