How is Atlas Counselling different from the typical counselling and psychology service?
Atlas Counselling focuses on the your distress as a symptom of unmet need, want or expectation, rather than diagnosing it as a medical disorder and treating you like you are somehow ‘faulty’. While many other therapy providers often use a rigid medical lens and imply that you need a GP referral to access support, while Atlas Counselling works alongside the medical model. We provide readily available, non-pathologised support without the waitlists.
Do I need a GP referral or a Mental Health Care Plan to book an appointment?
No, you do not need a GP referral, a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP), or any medical diagnosis to book an appointment with Atlas Counselling. This keeps your personal therapy completely private, self-directed, and accessible without gatekeeping, avoiding the usual barriers to support that often lock care behind a layered paywall.
Can I claim Medicare rebates or private health insurance for sessions?
No, Atlas Counselling operates independently of the Medicare system and private health insurance. By bypassing the Medicare rebate structure, we eliminate the need for formal psychological diagnoses, lengthy waitlists and the risk of invasive, unnecessary reporting obligations. Instead, we offer a simple fee structure for straightforward budget control. You will likely discover that the cost of engaging with Atlas Counselling is highly comparable to the out-of-pocket “gap fee” you will be charged to see a non-bulk-billing service provider using a MHCP.
Where is Atlas Counselling located, and who do you work with?
Atlas Counselling is a fully online service available to individual adults located anywhere across Australia. As we are based in Maitland, NSW, appointment times are on the prevailing Eastern Time zone (AEST/AEDT). We specialise exclusively in individual Counselling and do not offer couples, family, or therapy for adolescent therapy for those under 16 years of age. Please also note that Atlas Counselling is not a crisis service; support is available strictly in advance, by appointment only.
How long are the waitlists, and what is your availability?
Appointments are typically available within two weeks. Because we are a streamlined online-only service operating outside the standard medical referral pipeline, we can offer significantly faster intake times than typical Medicare-beholden providers.
What is ‘The Atlas Method’ of therapy?
‘The Atlas Method’ is our proprietary, structured, three-phase framework consisting of Awareness, Understanding, and Choice. Rooted in an intentional combination of theories – including existential, narrative, attachment and behavioural modalities – it helps you identify the root causes of your discomfort so you can make conscious, values-driven and practical choices. It is an active process designed to move you forward into conscious living and meaningful and sustainable personal development and change.
Is there a minimum number of sessions that I am obligated to attend?
No, there are no session expectations or lock-in contracts set by Atlas Counselling. You decide on a session-by-session basis whether you want to engage again. We do not recommend or mandate a fixed level of commitment. If you feel like you could use the support, you book in. Your time, money and mental bandwidth are entirely yours to control, not your therapist’s.
What does it cost?
When you first engage with Atlas Counselling, you will be book an Initial (80-minute) Session. After that, if you choose to return, you can select either a Standard (50-minute) Session or a Long (80-minute) Session. As of 2026 our transparent fees are:
- Initial (80min) Online Session – $145
- Standard (50min) Online Sessions – $115
- Long (80min) Online Session – $145
Emergency Contact List
Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Domestic Violence Crisis Line: 1800 65 64 63
Australian Emergency Services: 000
(Police, Fire, Ambulance)
For other options, please visit https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-helplines