The Cottage Counselling Centre was established in 1996. A team of professional counsellors formed a partnership with St Faith’s Anglican Church to establish a counselling centre in a small cottage on the church grounds in Narrabeen.
The goal of the Centre was to promote the mental health and wellbeing of the local community through the provision of counselling, education and training. The Cottage meant that the community could access professional counselling services at affordable rates. We never wanted to turn away anyone on the basis of affordability and we never have.
Since the Cottage started, the demand for  services has grown every year and we are now in six locations on the Northern Beaches and North Shore of Sydney.
The Cottage is a charitable incorporated association providing  services on a not-for-profit basis.
Services Offered
Our dedicated team of counsellors work with individuals, couples, families and children. All members are fully qualified and adhere to the necessary industry requirements of their member associations for ongoing professional development and supervision.
Fees and Payment
The Cottage fees are based on a sliding scale in proportion to household income.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
