Our Locations
We have locations throughout Sydney and its surrounds. You can also access counselling through Zoom and Skype.
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St Leonards
Suite 3, Level 4/66 Pacific Highway
St Leonards NSW 2065
T:(02) 8004 9966 View details
Ryde
Suite 7, 117 North Road
Ryde NSW 2112
T:(02) 8004 9966 View details
West Ryde
79 Ryedale Rd
West Ryde NSW 2114
T:(02) 8004 9966 View details
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T:(02) 8205 0566 View details
Cronulla
Level 1, 26-32 Ewos Parade
Cronulla NSW 2230
T:(02) 8004 9961 View details
Earlwood
Boomerang Ave
Earlwood NSW 2206
T:(02) 8004 9969 View details
Glebe
1 Arundel St
Glebe NSW 2037
T:(02) 8094 1796 View details
Elizabeth Street
411/185 Elizabeth St
Sydney NSW 2000
T:(02) 8205 0566 View details
Miranda
29 Kiora Road
Miranda NSW 2228
T:(02) 8004 9960 View details
Surry Hills
302/88 Foveaux St
Surry Hills NSW 2010
T:(02) 8094 1790 View details
Bondi Junction
404/332 Oxford Street
Bondi Junction NSW 2022
T:(02) 8094 1792 View details
Parramatta
26 Marion Street
Parramatta NSW 2150
T:(02) 8897 0803 View details
Castle Hill
Suite 14, 15-17 Terminus St
Castle Hill NSW 2154
T:(02) 8090 0817 View details
Caringbah
Level 1, 418 Kingsway
Caringbah NSW 2229
T:(02) 8094 1799 View details
Erina Central Coast
Suite 10, 166A The Entrance Rd
Erina NSW 2250
T:(02) 8004 5170 View details
Dapto
Laver Road
Dapto NSW 2530
T:(02) 4210 6170 View details
Wollongong
81 Keira St
Wollongong NSW 2500
T:(02) 4210 6170 View details
Macquarie Street
504/135-137 Macquarie St
Sydney NSW 2000
T:(02) 8205 0566 View details
Cabramatta

Cabramatta West NSW 2166
T:(02) 8897 0803 View details
Campbelltown
3/167 Queen St
Campbelltown NSW 2650
T:(02) 8897 0811 View details
Dulwich Hill
Challis Ave
Dulwich Hill NSW 2203
T:02 8004 9963 View details
Lilyfield
1/358 Catherine St
Lilyfield, NSW 2040
T:(02) 8007 7337 View details
North Strathfield
Level 1/5 George St
North Strathfield NSW 2137
T:(02) 8004 9964 View details
Norwest
Suite 20/1 Maitland Place
Norwest NSW 2153
T:(02) 8820 0717 View details
Stanhope Gardens
1 View St
Stanhope Gardens NSW 2768
T:(02) 8820 0717 View details
Beecroft
Karril Ave
Beecroft NSW 2119
T:(02) 8820 0717 View details
Bella Vista
Q Central Building, Suite 208A, 10 Norbrik Drive
Bella Vista NSW 2153
T:(02) 8820 0717 View details
Hornsby
202/16 Hunter St
Hornsby NSW 2077
T:(02) 8004 9965 View details
Northbridge
343 Sailors Bay Rd
Northbridge NSW 2063
T:(02) 8094 1793 View details
Chatswood
54/47 Neridah St
Chatswood NSW 2067
T:(02) 8004 8510 View details
Mosman
The Cottage, 44 Avenue Road
Mosman NSW 2088
T:(02) 8897 0810 View details
Cremorne
4/350 Military Rd
Cremorne NSW 2090
T:(02) 8897 0810 View details
Lane Cove
Room 3, 67 Burns Bay Rd
Lane Cove NSW 2066
T:(02) 8002 1201 View details
Narrabeen
9/12 Rickard Rd
North Narrabeen NSW 2101
T:(02) 8404 0622 View details
Dee Why (Narraweena)
Mundara Place
Narraweena NSW 2099
T:(02) 8404 0622 View details
Kogarah
Suite 5.01, Level 5, 15 Kensington Street
Kogarah NSW 2217
T:(02) 8897 0806 View details
Gosford
54 Hills St
North Gosford NSW 2250
T:(02) 8094 1785 View details
(02) 8205 0566
Mon-Fri: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Booking Request
We'll be in touch the same business day with some great options.


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    Thanks!

    We have received your enquiry.

    We will call you today to discuss your enquiry. normally within 2 hours.

    We offer each caller a personalised service to help you to make an informed choice about counselling. Part of our service is to take the time to answer your important questions and to help you decide on the practitioner who is best suited to your needs.

    On busier days there may be a delay. Please wait as we will call you and intend to offer you our full attention and assistance within 24 hours.

    With ‘Associated Counsellors’ you are in good hands assured that your therapist is professionally registered and bound by a code of professional ethics and conduct.

    addiction psychologist sydney
    Addiction

    Alcohol & Drug Addiction Treatment & Counselling

    Counselling, in person or online.

    CALL 02 8205 0566Weekdays 9am to 6pm, a person answers
    REQUEST A CALLBACKAfter hours, or any time

    For thousands of years, human beings have taken mind-altering substances as a way to alter their perceptions and play with their minds. Natural herbs, manufactured drugs, and alcohol have all been used in this way. Many people are able to take such substances only occasionally and without interference to their relationships or general wellbeing.

    Read more

    But there have also always been people who have had difficulty moderating their use of drugs or alcohol, and it is these people who may go on to suffer from addiction. Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney represents a network of professional psychologists and counsellors who have significant experience addressing addiction.

    counselling for problems with anger

    Clinicians offering alcohol and drug counselling

    Petra

    Petra

    Registered Counsellor

    RydeOnline

    Petra is a highly skilled, tertiary-qualified counsellor with almost 10 years experience supporting clients' mental health. Insightful and altruistic, Petra creates a safe space to support her clients to lead more fulfilling lives.

    Individuals ✓After hours ✓

    Phone bookings weekdays 9am-6pm02 8205 0566
    Book with Petra
    Sue

    Sue

    Registered Counsellor

    Surry HillsOnline

    Sue is a Masters-qualified counsellor. Compassionate and authentic, Sue supports individuals to better understand the interplay between their internal world and their external relationships.

    Individuals ✓After hours ✓

    Phone bookings weekdays 9am-6pm02 8205 0566
    Book with Sue
    Wade

    Wade

    Counsellor & Psychotherapist

    CaringbahOnline

    Wade is a tertiary-qualified Registered Counsellor with almost a decade of experience across hospital, community and private-practice settings. Warm and grounded, Wade works with individuals, creating a trusting space to allow for deep reflection.

    Individuals ✓After hours ✓

    Phone bookings weekdays 9am-6pm02 8205 0566
    Book with Wade
    Silvia

    Silvia

    Registered Counsellor

    MosmanOnline

    Silvia is a Registered Counsellor & Psychotherapist with qualifications in counselling, psychology and Somatic Experiencing®. Compassionate and supportive, Silvia works with individuals to manage life’s challenges.

    Individuals ✓After hours ✓

    Atia

    Atia

    Counsellor & Relationship Therapist

    GlebeOnline

    Atia is a degree-qualified counsellor with over 15 years experience working with individuals and couples. Compassionate and supportive, Atia supports her clients to develop self-awareness, empowering them to improve their wellbeing.

    Individuals ✓Couples ✓Weekends ✓

    Jonathan

    Jonathan

    Registered Counsellor

    NorwestOnline

    Jonathan is a tertiary-qualified counsellor with over 10 years experience working with adults and adolescents. Authentic and compassionate, Jonathan provides practical support, equipping clients with the skills and capacity to be their best.

    Individuals ✓Weekends ✓

    Daniela

    Daniela

    Registered Psychologist

    BeecroftOnline

    Daniela is a Registered Psychologist with over 20 years’ experience. Warm, empathetic and deeply humanistic, she creates a space where clients feel genuinely heard, challenged and empowered to make meaningful change.

    Individuals ✓Weekends ✓

    Revi

    Revi

    Counsellor & Relationship Therapist

    Bondi JunctionOnline

    Revi holds a Master of Social Work (Counselling) and has over 20 years experience counselling both individuals and couples. Compassionate and client-centred, Revi is passionate about helping her clients navigate life’s challenges.

    Individuals ✓Couples ✓After hours ✓

    Dinah

    Dinah

    Registered Counsellor

    CBDOnline

    Dinah is a degree-qualified counsellor with almost 10 years experience. Empathetic and optimistic, Dinah works in partnership with her clients, empowering them to bring about positive change and feel happier in their lives.

    Individuals ✓After hours ✓

    See all our clinicians

    Not sure who to choose?

    Call 02 8205 0566

    Weekdays 9am to 6pm, a person answers

    Request a callback

    After hours, or any time

    Why people choose us

    How we help you find the right clinician

    We have practices across Sydney, the coast and the Illawarra, and a full telehealth team. Our intake specialists know who works with what, and they will point you to the right person, whether that is near home, near work or online.

    Step 1

    A person answers the phone

    Call us weekdays between 9am and 6pm and one of our intake team picks up. They will ask what is going on and talk you through the options before you commit to anything.

    Step 2

    We match you to a clinician

    The fit between you and your therapist is the strongest thing we know of for making therapy work. We match on what you are facing, the approach you prefer, gender, language and how far you can travel.

    Step 3

    Your booking is scheduled

    We confirm your booking in writing so that you know when and where you’ll be meeting your new therapist.

    The guide

    The hallmarks of addiction

    Addiction can be characterised as a state in which the person or their relatives and friends come to experience their drug use as a hindrance to the quality of their everyday life. This interference to one’s life may come in many forms; but often involves an experience of depression or anxiety, for some people issues with violence or loss of control, for others loss of good judgment or a loss of a significant relationship.

    Counsellors & Psychologists have developed a number of evidence-based approaches for the treatment of addiction. Read on to find out more about drug addiction and how to enquire about the counselling options available to you through Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney.

    signs-of-addiction

    Developing an addiction

    Addiction to drugs (including marijuana, heroin, cocaine, ICE or alcohol) rarely happens instantaneously. Rather, the process of drug addiction is generally a slow one which builds up over time. People might, initially, use drugs only in a recreational way, they might use it to chill with some friends, make more of a dance party, or as a way to enhance the experience of sex.

    Alternatively, people might start using drugs initially for a specific purpose, a glass of wine after work to help unwind from the day, some lines of coke to aid a student cramming for an exam. (This article is electronically protected, Copyright © Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney PTY LTD)

    Using drugs in a contained way might seem fairly harmless, and certainly some people are able to use drugs sporadically or only in particular and limited circumstances. But for many others, drug taking can become habitual, desensitisation leads to increased use, and the addiction takes hold.

    Drug addicts typically spend a lot of time (and money) thinking about, purchasing and taking drugs, until the process of buying and taking drugs becomes the central interest in their lives. Other pursuits and responsibilities, such as work, study, friends and family, often fall by the wayside, jobs get lost, exams failed, and relationships fail.

    The spiral of addiction

    The downward spiral of drug addiction tends to worsen over time:-

    - Increased drug use leads to increased physical dependence, and users may find that they get sick if they do not take their drug.

    - Increased drug use leads to increased tolerance to the drug, and users may find that they need to take more of the drug to get the same effect or ‘high’ that they used to get from far less.

    - Drug users may harm themselves or others whilst intoxicated (for e.g. whilst drink driving) or by the actual act of drug taking (e.g. catching or passing on an infectious disease such as AIDS or Hepatitis through shared needle use).

    - Drug addicts might resort to activities such as theft or prostitution to help fund their drug taking, particularly if there drug addiction has forced them to lose their job.

    - Drug addicts might overdose, die of drug related disease or suicide.

    Can you be prone to addiciton?

    Why is it that some people seem prone to drug addiction, whilst others do not? No one knows for sure. However, it seems that certain factors are predicators to addictive personalities:

    1. Genetics, Vulnerability to some forms of drug addiction often seems to be heredity (this does not mean that if your parent was a drug addiction, you will be to. It simply means that you might be predisposed, genetically, to addictive behaviour.

    2. Childhood Abuse or Trauma, There is much evidence to suggest that addiction has a great deal to do with childhood experiences, so if you were subjected to abuse as a child (sexual, emotional or physical), or you experienced neglect or some sort of trauma, or you were the child of addicted parents, these are all indicators that you might be more susceptible to developing a drug addiction in later life.

    3. Mental Illness, There is some evidence to suggest that people who are mentally ill or affected by other psychological issues (such as anxiety or depression) may use drugs as a way to manage their condition.

    4. Chronic Pain, Suffers of chronic pain can become addicted to drugs as they search out solutions to their constant pain.

    Whilst these factors might predispose people to becoming addicts, it is clear that these are not essential criteria on which to develop an addiction. Drug addiction affects people of all races, classes, backgrounds and cultures. Anyone can suffer addiction, and all addicts are likely to suffer some kind of negative consequences to their addiction. (This article is electronically protected, Copyright © Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney PTY LTD)

    Counselling therapy for addiction

    If you think you might be addicted to drugs or alcohol, and your addiction is affecting the quality of your life, addiction counselling can help. Call Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney in complete confidence. We work with professional specialists in the area of addiction counselling including counsellors, psychologists and psychotherapists.

    If this article was relevant to you, you may also be interested in reading articles on Gambling Addiction, Sex Addiction, Prostitution or Pornography Addiction.

    Questions

    Questions about alcohol and drug use

    Before you book

    Do I need a referral?

    No referral is needed to start. For Medicare rebates, ask your GP about a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Please speak to our team about your options.

    How soon can I get an appointment?

    Most new clients are seen within days, sooner by telehealth. Many of our practices offer early morning, evening and weekend appointments, and our intake team will find the times that suit you.

    Can I see someone in person or online?

    Yes, you can choose either. You can see a clinician at one of our practices across Sydney, the coast and the Illawarra, or by video from anywhere in Australia, and many clients switch between the two.

    What happens in the first session?

    Your clinician listens to what’s brought you in, asks about your goals, and agrees to a plan with you. There is never any pressure to share more than you’re ready to.

    What are the fees, and can I claim Medicare?

    Sessions run for 55 minutes, and the fee depends on who you see. Counsellors start from $150, social workers and psychologists from $200, and clinical psychologists from $230. With a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, a Medicare rebate may apply to sessions with a psychologist or a registered mental health social worker, so please speak to our staff about your options.

    Fees & rebates

    Clear fees, no surprises

    Counsellors

    From $150per 55-minute session
    No referral needed · start straight away

    Social workers

    From $200per 55-minute session
    Medicare rebate may apply, please speak to our staff

    Psychologists

    From $200per 55-minute session
    Medicare rebate may apply, please speak to our staff

    Clinical psychologists

    From $230per 55-minute session
    Medicare rebate may apply, please speak to our staff

    Every clinician is fully registered and insured, and bound by their professional association's Code of Ethics, as our counsellor guarantee sets out.

    How to get started, and how Medicare can help
    Pathway A · Start now
    Book directly
    • No referral needed, so you can start straight away.
    • No Medicare rebate on this path.
    • You can still get a plan from your GP later and start claiming Medicare then. If a rebate matters, ask for a psychologist.
    Pathway B · With Medicare
    See your GP
    • Your GP assesses you. If you are eligible you get a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
    • The plan lets you claim Medicare rebates.
    • Tell us you have a plan and ask for a psychologist or registered mental health social worker when you book.
    • The rebate only applies to services provided by psychologists or registered mental health social workers.

    Not sure which suits you? Speak to our team about your options.

    Getting started

    From first call to first session

    Book with Sydney’s most trusted network
    With a wealth of experience and a board of certified professionals, you know you’re in safe hands.

    Call us, or ask us to call youMon to Fri 9am to 6pm a live intake specialist answers. No referral needed.
    We listen and matchBy concern, therapy style, gender, language and location across our practices and telehealth.
    Your first sessionIn person at a practice near you or by video, with evening and weekend times available.
    Review the fitIf it doesn't feel right, tell us, we'll rematch you quickly.
    Reviews

    What clients say

    I am a new mum and wanted a therapist near me who specialized in postnatal depression. I thought at first I was just tired and overwhelmed but I just seemed unable to cope with anything. I wanted someone who could help me refind myself. The whole process, from finding Counsellors Sydney via Google to attending my first session with a therapist, was 10 days. Really happy, was the best decision to contact Associated Counsellors Sydney.

    ★★★★★Tess W. April 6, 2022

    I have a very full schedule and wanted to find a therapist close to both where I work and where I live but I’ve found it harder than expected. I have had counselling before, but was not happy with my counsellor. Just not a great fit, and I was looking for a better one. Google, led me to stumble upon the great team at Counsellors Sydney; they’re professional, efficient, and really nice to speak to on the phone. I am sure they will provide me with some great options for who my new therapist will be.

    ★★★★★Karlie A. April 6, 2022

    Mental health has never been a priority in my family and so when it came time to find myself some support, I didn’t have anyone to get some guidance on where to start. Counsellors Sydney was able to find me some matches really quickly and their helpful team enabled me to trust they know what they were doing. If I ever need to find therapy in Sydney again, I know where I’m heading first :) .

    ★★★★★Lachlan R. April 6, 2022
    We are not a crisis service. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000. For 24/7 support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
    Request a Booking