Meet with a professionally trained person to talk about things that are worrying you.
Our counselling is free and available to anyone over 12 years of age. No referral is required, simply give us a call or drop into our centre in Coburg.
Talking to a counsellor can help you: -Feel less anxious -Become clearer about what you want to do -Find options that you may not have thought about -Try out new ways of dealing with problems -Feel more in control of your life
We can also: -Help you to find out about other services -Support you with parenting and stress management groups -Visit you at home, in special circumstances
Counselling services at Merri Health are time-limited. Our counsellors offer short to medium term interventions focus on goals you have agreed on. You may return again in future for another series of counseling if the same issue persists or new issues arise.
Counsellors can also support you to find and access other resources in the community that may be helpful.
Our counsellors seek to promote self-understanding and empowerment so that clients can live a life that is most satisfying for them, according to the values that are most important to them.
Fees and Payment
Counselling is free of charge.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens
Languages: English Chinese Mandarin Turkish
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
Were You Able To Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
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.
