I need a psychologist but I don't have the money, what do I do?

Hey @SwiggitySwoog 

I'm really sorry to hear that you've been struggling lots with anxiety induced nausea. I really empathise with you here, I know from experience that this can be incredibly debilitating. I struggle lots with intense anxiety induced nausea and it's really really tough. I think when we think of anxiety, lots of people tend to immediately think about nervousness and stress, and overlook the physical symptoms, even when these are often just as challenging, if not more so. I'm also really sorry to hear that you've had both your mum and doctor telling you that this wasn't anxiety for a really long time. I've had quite a few experience in the last couple of years where i've been gaslit by health professionals about certain symptoms I was experiencing, and I vividly remember how hurtful and frustrating this felt for me. I can imagine that it would be really upsetting to feel unsupported by your mum in this way too.

I think that there's heaps of great advice here for you, and while it's certainly much harder to access psychological support when you have financial constraints, it's definitely not impossible. Like others have mentioned, there's lots of great hotlines where you can get short-term support, and chat through things a bit more. 

You're not alone, sending lots of care and good vibes your way. We're all here if you feel like venting a bit more too 💗.

Hi@SwiggitySwoog 

Thank you so much for reaching out on Reach Out forums.

I just wanted to acknowledge your bravery in speaking out and wanting to accept help, that shows how much self-awareness you have 🙂

Im really sorry to hear that you're experiencing anxiety and nausea, that sounds really tough. And the fact that there are barriers to seeing a psychologist, that is really tough. 
There are some services which are free such as Kids Helpline and eheadspace, which provide free, online and ongoing counselling.

You could also see if there are any psychologists who bulkbill, however you would have to have your own Medicare card or access to one which might be a bit tough in your situation, but just something to consider.

There is a reachout article called https://au.reachout.com/mental-health-issues/professional-help/how-to-get-affordable-professional-help which may also be helpful. 
There are apps which use cognitive behavioural therapy to help you see which cognitive distortions may be used in anxious thoughts.

I hope this post and the other replies are helpful, and we hope you receive the support you deserve.

Hey SwiggitySwoog,

This situation is very familiar to me.

I don't know the specifics of your household and what it permits and prohibits, but I can say that if you seek bulk-billed services, these services are a lot cheaper and go towards your Medicare. I've been using bulk-billed services for a long time, and they have cut costs exponentially; the only problem is the wait times.

Additionally, anxiety-induced nausea is something I tend to struggle with as well, I've noticed that cutting out any stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, etc... has improved the anxiety part. I also have an app called CalmHarm that provides a variety of different techniques and strategies to reduce feelings of distress, anxiety, and other feelings related to emotional duress.

I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this, let me know if this post helps or if you want alternative options for help.

Kind regards,

~ Stego

Hi @SwiggitySwoog 

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. It must have been a relief to finally get a diagnosis, but I can only imagine how hard it is not to have your mum’s support when you just want to feel better. You’re really strong for reaching out—it’s not easy to do that.

The good news is there are ways to see a psychologist even without money or family support. Here are some options that might help:

• Medicare & Mental Health Care Plan – Your doctor can create a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP), which gives you subsidized sessions with a psychologist. Some bulk-bill, meaning no cost to you. Search for bulk-billing psychologists here: healthdirect.gov.au

• Headspace (ages 12-25) – Headspace offers free mental health support, including psychologists. No cost, no parental permission needed. Find a centre here: headspace.org.au

• Community Health Centres – Many offer free or low-cost counselling. Check what’s available near you: healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-services

• University & Training Clinics – Universities with psychology programs often have clinics where provisional psychologists offer free or low-cost therapy.

• Helplines for Immediate Support – If you ever need someone to talk to, Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) and Lifeline (13 11 14) are free and available anytime.

I know this must feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. There are people who want to help, and you deserve that help. Take it one step at a time—you’re already doing an amazing job by reaching out. Please don’t give up, and if you ever need support, I (and so many others) are here for you. ❤️

Hi @SwiggitySwoog 

I am really sorry you are going through this. That sounds really difficult, and it is completely understandable to feel overwhelmed given that you currently do not have the financial means to pay for a psychologist. Regardless, I just want to acknowledge how strong you are for reaching out and looking for support — it is not easy, but you are doing your best, and that is really important.

Some great resources have already been shared, but I also wanted to mention a couple more that might be helpful:

• MOST — a free digital mental health service for young people (12-25) that is available through certain youth mental health services in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, and the ACT.
• Mello app — while it is not a replacement for seeing a psychologist, it has some great resources and exercises to help manage anxiety, and it might be useful in the meantime.

I know this is a really hard situation, but I hope you are able to find something that helps. You deserve to access the support you need to manage your situation 💌

Hi @SwiggitySwoog thank you for sharing this with us!

It must feel like a relief to you to finally have your diagnosis to understand what you have been feeling all this time. I am glad you have got your answers with that 💚

Like what @Riley-RO said, getting a mental health care plan from your GP may be the best way for you to go. I suggest doing some research beforehand and calling clinics that you think are a good fit to you accept mental health care plans as well as how long their waitlist is to see a psychologist.

In the mean time, did you doctor provide any guidance on some self-care strategies you can implement to help with you anixeties? Something i like to do is art - it helps to distract me but also get my feelings out without having to use words. 

Take care of yourself 😅 💜

Hi SwiggitySwoog, thanks so much for sharing and reaching out. It sounds like there’s been a lot on your plate recently and things have been overwhelming. I can see though how much you are wanting support & I think you should be proud of yourself for reaching out for it because it really can be such a challenging thing to do!

I wanted to share some mental health resources and services you might find helpful. 

Getting a mental health care plan from your GP is the first step towards unlocking bulk-billed or reduced fee psychology sessions. This plan usually allows up to 10 bulk-billed or reduced fee sessions per year through medicare. Here’s a little bit about that process: 

getting and using a mh care plan

Here's an article about getting mental health support if you don’t have much money: how to get professional support if you don't have much money 

Head to Health/Medicare Mental health has a free help line you can call to talk with a trained mental health specialist. They provide mental health advice and guidance and can help you find local services. Call 1800 595 212. You can also visit their website.

Headspace offers free counselling to young people.

You can use this website to find psychologists in your area and see costs and whether they bulk-bill. 

There are also online psychologist/therapy sites where some therapists will use a ‘sliding scale system’ which allows discounted sessions based on income.

I also just wanted to let you know I made an edit to your post just to remove your location and preserve anonymity in line with our community guidelines. 

Thanks again for sharing, I hope you find the support you’re looking for

Take care,

Riley 😁