Find Counsellors Near Me
*To find a Counsellor in your area, click on the below map or view list
Access to counselling services is completely confidential, no-one can find out you are accessing counselling OR what you discuss except you and the Counsellor. Counsellors are not permitted to disclose to us that you have accessed counselling.
Counselling Callback Service (24hrs): 1800 805 980
This 24 hour FREECALL service connects people to free confidential counselling with an external counsellor. It is available to all our staff, volunteers and immediate family members. Calls are returned within 2 hours of leaving your callback information.
If you experience connectivity issues, please use 07 3635 5847 as an alternative number to reach the counselling call back service.
Community Support Services
In the case of an emergency, contact Triple Zero (000)
Access to mental health services can also be achieved by contacting your local GP. The Doctor will work with you to create a mental health plan, assess eligibility and if appropriate, provide referrals to private counselling services where the cost of the sessions are partly or fully funded through Medicare.
- Queensland Health - creating a mental health care plan
- Counselling - how to access it
- 1300 MH CALL: 1300 642 255
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978
- Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
- Veterans and Veterans Family Counselling Service: 1800 011 046 (military service associations only)
Who provides the counselling?
The counselling service network is made up of highly qualified Psychologists and Counsellors located across Queensland currently in private practice. All medical professionals have been selected for their experience working with emergency service personnel and the challenges that this can present, for example; posttraumatic stress, relationship issues and depression.
To be a part of the FESSN counselling service all counselling providers must be registered with nationally recognised professional associations that regulate the profession and monitor quality of practice, these are:
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
- Australian Association of Social Workers and Psychotherapists
- Counselling Federation of Australia
FESSN also independently monitors all counselling providers within its service, in addition to giving personnel who have used the service an opportunity to provide confidential feedback on their experience.
If you would like a staff psychologist to assist you in arranging an appointment with an external Counsellor please email FESSN@qfes.qld.gov.au
What happens in a counselling session and what can I talk about?
You can talk about any concerns at all during your counselling session. It doesn’t have to be work related. Your counsellor is trained to assist you by talking through your issue, helping you find some of your own answers, providing some professional advice and / or developing some skills and strategies to help you overcome.
If you feel that the counsellor you speak with isn’t the right fit then please try another one. While all FESSN counsellors are carefully selected, different counsellors have different qualities and you need to find the counsellor with the right qualities for you.
How many counselling sessions can I have?
Individuals receive an allocation of 4 free sessions from a Psychologist or Counsellor within FESSNs counselling service network.
Extensions to this allocation can be easily accessed by discussing with your Psychologist or Counsellor.
Are counselling sessions confidential?
All Peer Support Officers, Psychologists and Counsellors adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines.
Personal information may only be revealed under the following circumstances:
- A legal requirement to disclose information
- Failure to disclose information would place the client or another person at risk of harm
- The individuals written consent has been obtained to release the information to another person or agency
- Peer Support Officer attends confidential supervision sessions with the Regional Supervision Counsellor
Can a Peer Support Officer refer me to counselling?
Peer Support Officers (PSO) are trained to have conversations about the challenges you could be experiencing and if required, linking you to the right support service.
PSOs know all of the Psychologists and Counsellors in their area and can give helpful recommendations. You may wish to speak with a PSO as an initial step prior to accessing counselling, although this is not a requirement.