How to get free therapy in 2025
In a Nutshell
Medicare covers up to 10 psychology sessions per year, but you will need a mental health treatment plan from your GP to be eligible.
Bulk billing can make therapy completely free. If your therapist offers bulk billing, Medicare will cover the full cost. Otherwise, you may need to pay a "gap" fee.
Medicare and some private health insurance also cover telehealth therapy, so you can access mental health support anytime and without leaving your home.
Therapy can have a reputation as being only for those who can afford it. But in Australia, accessing therapy isn’t only for the elite. With Medicare, you may even be eligible for free therapy. Get the help you need, without worrying about the financial strain.
How do I know if I’m eligible for free therapy?
To be eligible for free therapy, you need to enrol in Medicare. What this means is that you’ve opted in to let Medicare assist you with the cost of healthcare in Australia. While they don’t cover everything, enrolling can help you access a wide range of health care services. Including those for mental health.
People who can enrol in Medicare are:
Australian citizens
Permanent and temporary residents of Australia
People applying to become a permanent resident of Australia
New Zealand citizens
You may also be able to apply to enrol in Medicare if you’re visiting Australia from a country, provided your country of origin has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. (Each country agrees to assist visitors if they need medical attention while overseas).
Enrolling means filling out Medicare’s form and providing some certified documents relating to your identity. Once you’re enrolled, you’ll be able to access a range of mental health services at a lower or free rate.
Not sure if you’re eligible? It’s worth checking out some additional information over at www.servicesaustralia.gov.au.
How to get free mental health therapy?
To access free therapy in Australia, you first need to visit your doctor and ask for a mental health treatment plan.
Your doctor or GP will ask some questions about your mental health and assess what support is going to be most helpful for you. After the assessment, your doctor will produce two documents:
a mental health plan which will include your results of the assessment and a plan setting out your goals for seeking therapy; and
a referral for 6 therapy sessions.
They'll then be able to refer you to a mental health professional. This could be a therapist, counsellor, psychologist, or other mental health professional. It's important to note that you can only claim a rebate from a registered health care provider (like a psychologist). Learn about the difference between the therapists in our deep dive into the profession.
The mental health treatment plan your doctor writes lets you claim up to 10 therapy sessions. These sessions must be with a mental health professional. Ten sessions can be claimed each calendar year.
It's important to note that both your mental health plan and referral are valid for just 12 months. Your doctor will either email you the documents, print them out, or send them directly to your therapy provider, like Talked.
You can read more about mental health treatment plans on our support page.
How do I get a mental health plan?
To access rebated or free psychology sessions with Medicare, you must first speak with your GP about obtaining a mental health plan (also known as either a mental health treatment plan or mental health care plan).
Your GP will ask you several questions to gauge your mental health and undertake a mental health assessment of you. This often includes completing mental health tests, such as the DASS 21 or K10. These tests will help your GP provide a tailored plan for you to improve your mental health.
If your GP concludes that you require ongoing support from a dedicated mental health professional such as a psychologist, they will prepare a mental health plan for you. This will unlock up to 10 Medicare sessions for you.
If you do not have a regular GP, you can book in a call with our bulk billed GP partner right here on Talked to obtain your mental health plan.
Can I claim all 10 Medicare sessions?
In order to access Medicare rebated sessions, your GP will refer you to a Medicare psychologist for up to 6 sessions. If you need more than 6 sessions, you will need to see your GP for the remaining 4 Medicare covered psychology sessions.
For those who have used their 10 Medicare rebated sessions in the previous year, the Medicare rebate resets each calendar year. This means you can now book a Medicare psychologist in 2025 and claim your rebate after you have obtained a new mental health treatment plan.
Can I still claim up to 20 Medicare rebated therapy sessions?
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the Federal Government expanded the number of Medicare sessions from 10 to 20, giving eligible Australians an extra 10 sessions.
Unfortunately, as of 1 January 2023, the Australian Government rolled back this initiative and you are no longer able to claim up to 20 free therapy sessions.
But, you can still claim up to 10 free therapy sessions as long as you obtain your mental health treatment plan.
How much is a Medicare psychologist?
Mental health professionals set their own fees. This may mean Medicare may cover all or some of the bills. But, if you see a mental health professional who bulk bills, Medicare will cover the entire cost.
If your therapist bulk bills, you could get up to 10 therapy sessions for free, provided you have a mental health plan from your doctor. If you have obtained a mental health treatment plan, you can find a psychologist near you on Talked.
As of 2025, Medicare will rebate you $93.35 per session with a general psychologist, $137.05 per session with a clinical psychologist, and $82.30 per session with a social worker.
What is bulk billing?
Bulk billing means that rather than your doctor or medical health professional giving you the bill, they send it to Medicare which pays it on your behalf.
Mental health professionals set their own fees. This can mean that there may be a gap that you need to pay—that’s the difference between what Medicare covers and what the therapist charges.
By finding a mental health professional that bulk bills, you likely won’t have to pay anything to access the service. However, not all health professionals bulk bill. Do your research before booking an appointment, and don’t be afraid to ask if they offer bulk billing.
If they do, be sure to bring your Medicare card to your appointment so that they can request payment from Medicare.
Is telehealth therapy covered?
Yes, telehealth therapy sessions may be covered by Medicare. Medicare knows that sometimes it’s hard to get to a therapist in person, so you can find a therapist online instead.
Wanting support while you’re pregnant?
Medicare can cover the cost of three sessions when related to pregnancy support.
Pregnancy can be an emotional time, and counselling can assist with processing this stage of life. If you feel in need of some support for your mental health, you may be eligible for some free therapy sessions. Ask your doctor to refer you to a counsellor for support with your pregnancy, and be sure to check if your therapist offers bulk billing.
Is all therapy covered by Medicare?
While Medicare covers a broad range of therapy options, not all types of therapy are covered. Medicare only covers therapy that is undertaken by a licensed mental health practitioner. Counselling with a pastor, for example, is not covered by Medicare. Practitioners also need to enrol in Medicare to to receive payments.
To learn more about Medicare entitlements, visit Services Australia.
Can I access therapy through private health?
Yes. If you currently are paying for private health insurance, check your policy to see if you are eligible for free therapy, free counselling, or low-cost mental health sessions. Your fund may have ‘extras’ assisting its members to access mental health services. These can often be used to supplement the Medicare rebates, depending on your policy.
Examples of private health insurers who cover mental health therapy are:
We also prepared simple guides on how to claim your mental health cover from Bupa, Medibank, AHM, Police Health, Australian Unity, CUA Health, HCF, HBF, Doctors Health Fund and many more. If you need support, don't hesitate to contact us.
What if I need help now?
If someone’s life is in danger, or you feel unsafe, dial 000 for immediate help.
The following organisations are also ready to support. Thanks to the National Health Commission for putting this list together:
Lifeline | 13 11 14
Beyond Blue | 1300 22 4636 | Web Chat
Butterfly Foundation | 1800 334 673 | Web Chat
Carer Support | 1800 242 636 or 1300 554 660
Kids Helpline | 1800 55 1800
MensLine Australia | 1300 78 99 78 | Web Chat
National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline | 1800 250 015
Suicide Call Back Service | 1300 659 467 | Web Chat
1800RESPECT | 1800 737 732 | Web Chat
Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service | 1800 512 348 | Web Chat
Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling | 1800 011 046
All-hours Support Line | 1800 628 036
Defence Family Helpline | 1800 624 608
More resources
Still got questions? If you’d like to know more about therapy, visit our Ultimate Guide to Therapy. We have also prepared a list of the best therapy services for your needs.
Maybe you're thinking about trying BetterHelp or a similar subscription service - we've reviewed BetterHelp for the Australian market and found it's not very cost effective.
Finances don’t have to be a barrier to accessing the help you need, prioritise your mental health. Here is a list of low cost therapists, or you can book unlimited free introductory sessions through Talked.
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