How often should you see a counsellor, and what it costs at each pace.

6 November 2026 · 5 min read · Reviewed by InnerHub Editorial

You have booked a first session, or you are thinking about it, and a practical question sits underneath the big one. How often are you supposed to go? Every week forever sounds like a lot. Once in a while sounds like it might not be enough.

The honest answer is that it depends, and that you get to decide. This post walks through the common rhythms, what each tends to suit and what each costs, so the decision feels less like a guess.

Is there a standard number of sessions?

No. Australia has no rule that says counselling should happen at a set pace, and the Better Health Channel notes that the number of sessions varies and that it is reasonable to ask your counsellor for an estimate at the end of the first session. It describes that figure as an estimate only.

The same page says the first session helps you decide whether a counsellor is the right one for you. Fit comes first. Frequency can be sorted out once you know you want to keep going.

What does weekly counselling suit?

Weekly counselling suits a stretch where a lot is happening and you want steady company through it. Examples are a recent loss, a relationship ending, a job change or a period of heavy worry. Meeting every week means each session picks up where the last one left off, and things are still fresh.

The trade-off is cost and time. At $69.90 AUD per session on InnerHub, four weekly sessions come to $279.60 AUD. It also asks for an hour or so of your week, every week, plus whatever you decide to try in between.

What does fortnightly counselling suit?

Fortnightly counselling suits people who like space to try things between sessions. Many counsellors set a small step to try before next time, and two weeks gives you room to see how it went. It is also a common pace once the most pressing part of a difficult patch has eased.

Four weeks of fortnightly sessions on InnerHub is two sessions, or $139.80 AUD. Some people use a fortnightly rhythm simply because it makes regular counselling fit their budget, which is a perfectly good reason.

What about monthly sessions, or one-off ones?

Monthly sessions work as a check-in. They suit someone who is doing well and wants a regular place to think things through, or who has been seeing a counsellor and is easing off. One session a month is $69.90 AUD.

A single session is also valid. Some people come once to talk through one decision or one hard week and never book again. InnerHub charges per session, so there is nothing to cancel afterwards.

How do you choose a rhythm?

Start with three questions:

• How heavy does it feel right now? The heavier it feels, the more some people value closer sessions for a while.
• How much room do you have? Time, energy and money are all real limits. A rhythm you can keep up beats an ideal one you cannot.
• What do you want from the sessions? A specific issue and a steady place to think are different goals, and they often suit different paces.

Then say all of this to your counsellor. They will have a view, and a good one will go at your pace rather than the one that suits their diary. You can see how it goes for a few sessions before settling on anything.

Can you change the pace later?

Yes, and most people do. A common pattern is weekly at the start, fortnightly once things steady, then monthly or as needed. The reverse happens too: a hard month arrives, and you book closer together for a while.

On InnerHub you book one session at a time. There is no subscription to pause and no plan to change. If your counsellor is not the right fit, you can also choose someone else for your next session at no extra cost. Our guide on how to find a counsellor who is the right fit covers what to look for.

What does each rhythm cost on InnerHub?

InnerHub charges $69.90 AUD per 50-minute session, so here is how that adds up over four weeks:

InnerHub's practitioners are experienced and qualified in their own countries. They are not AHPRA-registered, which is why sessions sit outside Medicare and no referral is needed. For how that compares with other options, see what therapy costs in Australia or our pricing page.

When should you get help sooner?

Counselling is for ongoing support, not emergencies. If you feel unsafe or are thinking about harming yourself, do not wait for the next session. Call 000 in an emergency, or Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any hour. Your GP is also a good first stop if you want a medical check or want to talk about medication.

InnerHub is for adults aged 18 and over. This article is general information, not clinical or medical advice, and not a substitute for professional care.

General information, not clinical or medical advice. For adults 18 and over. InnerHub is not a crisis service: in an emergency call 000, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.