Finding the right psychologist or psychotherapist counsellor is an up-spiral moment in life. Finding someone who genuinely gets you and honours your experience matters deeply. The right connection can transform how understood you feel and make ideas and concepts finally click on a deeper level.

Our whole purpose as a psychology practice is to help create that kind of alchemy for you. We're devoted to offering intimate, personalised mental health care that's shaped around who you are. Whether you're navigating anxiety, mental illness or simply need a warm space to navigate life's challenges, we want to connect you with the right person for your healing journey.

So what if the first therapist you try doesn't quite feel like a right fit? Don’t be disheartened if the first therapist you meet isn’t the one. Finding the right fit can take a couple of tries, and that’s completely normal. The beauty of engaging with a group psychology practice like ours, is the shopping around process becomes easy (and not awkward). All of our therapists really want you to “find your person” and are only too happy to handover to their colleagues (if you’d like) so you don’t have to start from scratch.

Another helpful tidbit when searching for your therapist is understanding the difference between a psychologist and a psychotherapist – counsellor. Keep reading. In this blog, we dig into the similarities and differences for you so you can feel prepared in your choice.

Understanding the Different Types of Mental Health Professionals

Each clinician brings their own blend of training, approach, and personality to the table. That said, there are some broad brush differences between psychologists and psychotherapists – counsellors. While both support your mental health and personal growth, the main distinction lies in their professional pathways and how they’ve chosen to refine their craft.

Why Choose a Psychotherapist?

Psychotherapists are brilliant at helping you navigate life’s beautiful messiness; the stress, relationship curveballs, grief, and those “Who am I?” or “What is this life?” moments we all face. Psychotherapy invites exploration. It often draws on philosophical and depth-oriented traditions such as Jungian and existential psychology, which view challenges as opportunities for growth, self-understanding, and transformation.

Psychotherapists may be especially suited to you if your mental health is generally stable, but you’re drawn to explore the “bigger picture”, for example your patterns, purpose, identity, and meaning in life.

Psychotherapists aren’t the go-to for treating severe mental illness. Instead, they’ve honed their craft around personal growth, emotional wellbeing, and self-discovery. Many draw on positive psychology, mindfulness, and depth-oriented approaches to help you explore your inner world, build resilience, and find meaning in your experiences.

The catch? Psychotherapy and counselling sessions aren't covered by Medicare in Australia (bit of a bummer, we know). At RewireMe, we've made our psychotherapy sessions more affordable because we genuinely believe everyone deserves access to quality support. The psychotherapists on our team are absolute weapons (genuinely) and have been carefully selected for their expert skill and genuine warmth, so if you're not planning to grab a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, they're likely your best value option for meaningful support without jumping through Medicare hoops.

Why Choose a Psychologist?

Psychologists are the ones with the advanced training to assess and treat mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and trauma. They’ve done the hard yards so they can support you through life’s ups and serious downs. Using evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and EMDR, they work with you to understand patterns, process emotions, and create lasting change. Think of them as guides who combine scientific expertise with structured, research-backed methods to help you make sense of your inner world.

You might be interested to know that the psychologists on our team also draw on philosophical and depth-oriented perspectives, reflecting our RewireMe ethos. We believe that the best outcomes come from understanding the whole person; mind, body, and meaning. So while our psychologists are clinically trained, they’re far from machines; they bring warmth, curiosity, and a deep respect for the complexity of being human.

Here's the bonus: if you get a referral from your GP for a Mental Health Care Plan, sessions with a psychologist can be partly covered by Medicare. This makes psychologists a fantastic option if you're looking for evidence-based, ongoing support with some financial relief.

The Therapeutic Approaches at RewireMe

The Art of Therapy

At RewireMe, our counsellors and psychologists use a mix of evidence based therapies that we tailor to suit your needs. Think of it like having a therapeutic toolkit where we pick exactly the right tools for your particular situation.

What makes the real difference (and where the art of therapy truly shines) is how all of our clinicians bring these approaches to life. Every member of our team is highly skilled in the art of therapy. They know the theories, the frameworks, and the science inside out, but what sets them apart is how they translate that knowledge into a human, healing experience.

It’s one thing to know the techniques; it’s another to sense when to gently challenge, when to listen, when to pause, and when to laugh with you. That’s the art. It’s the subtle skill of meeting you exactly where you are, blending professional expertise with warmth, intuition, and presence.

Our sessions don’t feel clinical or mechanical. They feel alive, responsive, and deeply personal. At RewireMe, this balance between knowledge and humanity is at the heart of what we do. It’s what turns therapy from a process into a relationship, and from information into transformation.

Counselling Techniques and Psychological Therapies

Depending on what you're navigating, we might use EMDR to help you process trauma (think of it as helping your brain file away those difficult memories properly). Or there's IFS (Internal Family Systems), which is this beautiful way to understand how different aspects of who you are can learn to work together more harmoniously instead of being at odds with each other.

For things like emotional rollercoasters or relationship tangles, we often reach for DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy). Schema Therapy is brilliant for those deeper patterns that started way back when you were little (you know, the ones that seemed helpful then but are causing chaos now). And Narrative Therapy? That's our go to for helping you rewrite your story in a way that actually empowers you instead of keeping you stuck.

We take genuine care in choosing the right approach to support real, lasting change because honestly, there's no one size fits all. Everyone's inner world is different, and your healing journey deserves an approach that actually makes sense for who you are and what you are bringing to the therapy room in real time.

Deciding Between a Counsellor and a Psychologist

Choosing between a counsellor and a psychologist really depends on what you're navigating right now (E.G. ok mental health vs significant mental illness) and what kind of support feels right for your journey. If you're looking for help with personal growth, relationship tangles, or those emotional curveballs life keeps throwing your way, a counsellor might be your perfect match with their supportive, person centred approach. On the flip side, if you're dealing with a mental health condition like anxiety, depression, or PTSD, a psychologist can provide that evidence based treatment and care you're after.

Again the practical bit: counselling isn't rebated by Medicare, but psychological treatment with a psychologist can be with a GP referral and Mental Health Care Plan. Honestly though, your decision often comes down to whose profile makes you think "yes, this person could get me" and whether you want to use Medicare. The most important thing is not giving up if it takes a few tries to find someone you genuinely click with. If Medicare coverage matters, go with a psychologist. If not, a psychotherapist from our team is a brilliant choice.

Factors to Consider

When deciding who to see, have a think about these key things:

What you're dealing with: Is it general life stuff and emotional challenges, or something that feels more like a specific mental health condition?
What you're hoping for: Personal growth and daily stress management, or working through particular mental health symptoms?
Your wallet: Counselling isn't covered by Medicare, but psychological treatment might be (depending on your GP referral and mental health plan).
Your coverage: Counselling with a psychotherapist may be covered by some private health insurers, much like sessions with a psychologist.
Their expertise: Look for someone who actually knows their stuff in your area of challenge, whether that's relationships, trauma, or mood challenges.
Your gut feeling: If you don't feel safe, heard, and understood, therapy won't work its magic. Trust those instincts, and try again!

Finding the right support is beautifully personal, and considering these factors can help you connect with someone who truly gets what you need.

Start Your Journey with RewireMe

How to Begin Your Therapy at RewireMe

Starting therapy with us is refreshingly straightforward and designed to help you feel at ease from day one. First, pop over to our 'Our Team' page to meet our lovely therapists. Take your time browsing their profiles and pick one or two who feel like a good fit, someone you reckon you'd feel safe opening up to.

If you've never had a therapist before or just want to get a feel for who you'll be working with, we offer a free phone chat. It's a quick, friendly conversation where you can hear their voice, ask any burning questions, and settle potential nerves. When you're ready to dive in, head to our online booking system to grab a time that suits your schedule. Just select your location, choose 'NEW CLIENT', and you're sorted.

In that first session, your therapist will get to know the real you, understand what you're hoping to achieve, and explain how therapy with them will look. Everything happens at your pace, because this is your journey and we're just here to help navigate it with you.

Meeting Your Therapist

It's totally normal to feel a mix of emotions before your first session (butterflies included!), and most people find it's such a relief once they start talking. You don't need to have your thoughts perfectly sorted or some grand narrative ready, just rock up as you are, because that's exactly who your therapist wants to meet.

In that first session, your therapist will gently listen and get to know you, your experiences, and what's brought you to this point. There's no pressure to spill everything on day one, it's a relaxed, supportive space where you set the pace. Your therapist will explain how things work, answer any questions (no matter how random they seem), and make sure you feel genuinely comfortable, heard, and cared for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your story is completely unique, and what you want to achieve can vary the session count quite a bit. It's honestly tricky to predict without having a proper chat first.
Some people find their groove with short term therapy (6 to 12 sessions) while others discover that building a lasting connection works better. We usually recommend weekly sessions initially if you're feeling overwhelmed, then space them out (fortnightly/monthly) as things improve.
If time or budget are concerns, we can work using a brief solution focussed approach where you tackle one set of goals at a time (like getting your sleep and anxiety sorted) and save the rest for later.
Our therapists are highly qualified professionals with heaps of experience across a wide range of therapeutic approaches. They've all got proper university degrees, professional registrations, and never cease to seek out ongoing training because we genuinely care about giving you the best support possible.
Everyone on our team works under the shared ethos of “my learning is never done.” It’s a mindset that keeps us curious, reflective, and always evolving. We feel incredibly lucky to have curated such a skilled, compassionate team, and to attract professionals who bring not only knowledge, but also authenticity and heart to their work.
Each therapist offers their own areas of specialisation, whether that’s anxiety, relationships, trauma, or helping you understand why you keep doing that thing you swore you’d stop doing. You can explore each therapist’s bio (including qualifications, specialities, and a bit of their personality) on our “Clinicians” page. Have a browse to get a good sense of their training and overall vibe as people, because finding the right fit matters.
We accept most private health insurance plans, which is always a nice surprise when you're already investing in yourself! For the finer details about your specific coverage and which providers we work with, it’s best to contact your insurer directly or visit our Rates and Rebates page.
We know navigating insurance can feel like solving a puzzle sometimes, so if you get stuck or need a hand figuring things out, just give us a shout and we'll do our best to point you in the right direction.
Absolutely! All our psychologists are registered with Medicare, so you can claim rebates for sessions throughout the year. Here's how it works: for a basic Mental Health Care Plan you initially get 6 sessions, and then you can have a review with your GP to access up to 4 more sessions if needed. To get started, you'll need a referral from your GP called a Mental Health Care Plan, which you can usually snag by booking a standard appointment at most clinics.
If you’re navigating an eating disorder, the number of rebated sessions increases significantly (up to 40 per year) so it’s worth mentioning this at your GP appointment.
Just a quick heads up, Medicare doesn't currently offer rebates for our psychotherapists, but they are recognised providers with heaps of private health insurers if that's relevant for you.
Either way, while we’re obviously biased we see time and time again that investing in your mental health is always money well spent. We're here to help you easily navigate the rebate process so you can focus on the important stuff.
While we're pretty lucky to have Medicare in Australia, it doesn't cover the full session fee. Currently you can claim back $98.95 for a 50+ minute session with a registered psychologist if you've got a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP. The rest is an out of pocket investment in yourself.

Ready to Take the First Step?

We're here when you're ready. You can give us a call, send an email, or book your first appointment online. Our friendly admin team will guide you through the intake process and answer any questions that pop up along the way.

Planning to use a Medicare rebate or private health insurance? Just let us know when you book and we'll walk you through what you need, including how to get a referral from your GP. We cannot wait to meet you and to be of service.