*Please note – Counselling fees were updated in April 2026. The welcome video refers to earlier pricing. Please refer to the current fee information on this website. If cost is a concern or your circumstances have changed, please reach out to our team.
Phoenix Counselling Fees
Phoenix is committed to providing affordable and equitable counselling services. Due to limited government funding, Phoenix relies on client contributions to assist with maintaining the service.
Fees are structured so people with lower incomes pay less, while those who can contribute more do so. The fee applied is the same regardless of whether counselling is provided in person or via an E-service (e.g., online and/or by phone).
How counselling fees are worked out
Counselling fees are calculated as a percentage of an individual client’s gross annual income. Fees are calculated using the following approach:
- Fees are set at 1.5% of a client’s gross personal annual income (estimated)
- This amount is based on an average of 20 fortnightly counselling sessions per year rounded up to $5
- The annual amount is divided across the 20 sessions to determine the per-session fee
- Fees may be reviewed annually and adjusted in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
- The minimum fee charged for counselling sessions is $25.00 (exceptions outlined below)
Examples of fee rates calculated against income
| Client Gross Annual Income Estimate | Annual Fee (1.5%) | Approximate cost per session |
| $35,000 or less | $495 | $25 |
| $50,000 | $750 | $40 |
| $90,000 | $1,350 | $70 |
| $125,000 | $1,875 | $95 |
| $175,000 | $2,625 | $135 |
Counselling Sessions are approximately 50 minutes.
Payment arrangements
It is a requirement of the service that you pay any fees due on the day of the service prior to your appointment. Payment can be made via (a) Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to a nominated Phoenix account or via (b) our online system ‘Halaxy’. Please discuss and nominate an option with your counsellor. You can obtain banking details for an EFT payment from reception staff. The processes listed above are the preferred payment method. The Phoenix preference is to pay via Halaxy not in cash.
A copy of the payment remittance is to be emailed to info@phoenix.asn.au and please use your initials and client number as a reference or the invoice number. Your counsellor or admin staff can assist you with the payment options outlined above and payments must be completed prior to your session.
Financial Hardship
If your financial circumstances change or you experience financial hardship, please speak with admin staff or your counsellor. Applications for reduced fees may be referred for consideration by the Chief Executive Officer for approval.
Clients referred by Department of Communities (DoC) Child Protection and Family Support
Clients formally referred to Phoenix by the Department of Communities (Child Protection and Family Support) are not required to pay counselling fees, provided Phoenix has received written confirmation of the referral.
Please speak to Phoenix reception staff if you have any payment concerns or queries about the information above. Please be aware as per Phoenix Policy and Cancellation fee applies when notice of less than 48 hours is provided.
Download the Phoenix Counselling Fees here.
Some important information for clients
Cancellations/non-attendance
Phoenix understands that sometimes things may come up for you, such as illness, emergencies or family commitments which may make it necessary for you to cancel your counselling appointment at short notice. However, booking an appointment with a Phoenix counsellor means that this time is not available to others. When appointments are cancelled at short notice or when clients do not show up for appointments, other clients who are waiting for appointments miss out.
As a consequence, Phoenix requires that, where possible, 48 hours’ notice of cancellation of appointments is given to enable the appointment to be offered to another client. Where 48 hours’ notice is not given, and without sufficient reason, the fee normally applicable to your session will be charged. Where clients are attending Phoenix free of charge due to current financial hardship, the minimum scheduled fee ($25) will be charged.
Download the Cancellation Policy here.
Client non-payment of fees
If clients have failed to pay fees for previous appointments (including fees for nonattendance or cancellations), without providing a sufficient reason for the non-payment, no further appointments will be offered until outstanding account has been paid.