A day in the life of a counsellor in Australia
By Sarah VercoePublished on
Reading over a job description only gets you so far. Here, we’re going inside the actual working day of a counsellor so you can get a genuine feel for what the role is like.
Inside the role of a counsellor
Counselling is one of those careers that’s hard to understand from the outside. Work is largely invisible, happening behind closed doors and in confidential conversations.
What people see is a title. What they don’t see is the preparation, clinical thinking, emotional attunement, paperwork, or the weight of what counsellors carry in their work.
One thing all counsellors agree on? No two days are the same. Caseloads shift, moments of crisis arrive without warning, settings can change drastically, and the emotional layers of a day are determined by the people who walk through a counsellor’s door.
A typical day in the life of a counsellor
Jane Kennedy, a Sydney-based counsellor specialising in religious trauma and rebuilding of identity, splits her week between in-person sessions in Marrickville and online sessions from her home in the Blue Mountains. Here's a look inside both.
Online day from home
8am - 10:00am, Preparation
Before clients begin, Jane reviews her notes and prepares for the day ahead. As an integrative therapist, she considers what approaches may best support each client.
“I'm an integrative therapist, which means I use a blend of modalities depending on the human in front of me and what resonates with them,” she says.
As a sole practitioner, this time can also include responding to enquiries, scheduling appointments and general administration.
11:00am, Client sessions begin
Jane sees up to five clients on a full day, with sessions starting from 11am. Each session runs for around 50 to 60 minutes, with short breaks in between for notes and preparation.
No two sessions are the same, with Jane drawing on different therapeutic approaches depending on the client’s needs and goals.
1:00pm, Break
There is usually a break in the middle of the day for lunch and time away from the screen before sessions continue.
2:00pm - 5.30pm, Afternoon sessions
Afternoon appointments follow the same structure, with flexibility built in to accommodate different client schedules and time zones across Australia and New Zealand.
5:30pm - 6:30pm, Notes and final session
After each session, counsellors complete clinical notes, including summaries, observations, and any relevant follow-up. By the end of the day, Jane is conscious of protecting her energy.
“The last session is usually about 6:30pm and that's about my edge in terms of energy flow,” Jane says.
In-person day - Marrickville, Sydney
Jane also works two in-person days a week from a shared consulting room in Sydney’s Inner West.
7:00am, Travel
In-person days begin with a drive from the Blue Mountains to Marrickville, a journey of around an hour and twenty minutes that marks the transition into the working day.
8:30am, First session
Client sessions begin earlier than online days, with the first appointment at 8:30am.
3:00pm, Last session
“My last session for the day is around 3pm,” Jane says. In-person days are condensed to allow for travel time.
Late afternoon, Notes and wind down
After sessions finish, Jane completes notes and begins winding down from the day, which includes making time to decompress after client work before transitioning out of work mode.
“This means daily movement and stretching before bed to undo the way I’ve been sitting, shallow breathing, clenching my jaw or my shoulders. We settle into unconscious habits and need ways to counter them.”
What unexpected tasks are part of the job?
While the clinical work is the core of being a counsellor, it doesn’t exist in isolation.
When operating in private practice, the work of running a business, from accounts to marketing and general admin tasks, sit alongside the clinical work.
"I had to accept that I am a counsellor who is also a small business owner," Jane explains. "The systems and admin, approach to my social media presence, and ongoing professional development mean I am constantly out of my comfort zone and having to learn new skills.
"I often trip up on the tech for my website and the amount of apps and passwords I have to remember for all the platforms.”
But even for employed counsellors in organisations there are things like grant reporting, crisis coordination and stakeholder meetings too.
What are the most rewarding parts of the role?
Jane describes the rewards of the work as subtle, building over time rather than coming in a big burst.
I watch clients grow in confidence and ease over time and build a sense of who they are separate to what has hurt them.
It might be a client putting something into words for the first time, noticing small shifts in how someone talks about themselves, or seeing gradual changes in how they cope between sessions.
A lot of the work is in the relationship itself, and in being alongside someone as things start to shift for them.
What are the challenges?
Counsellors working in areas such as trauma, abuse, grief or crisis are regularly exposed to other people's pain, and that takes a toll over time.
“I can hold a lot of pain but equally need a lot of rest and intentional, embodied release,” says Jane.
Daily movement and stretching is her balm, to undo a day spent sitting, breathing shallowly, or clenching her jaw and shoulders without realising it, she says. Supervision and personal therapy are also part of how she keeps it all manageable.
The workload itself might also surprise people. Jane sees up to five clients a day, and by the evening her capacity for focused, emotionally demanding work is usually spent. Session load, notes, and the mental shift required between clients all add up.
How does the day vary between workplaces?
Private practice
Counsellors in private practice set their own schedule, including their working hours, caseload size and the clients they take on. The trade is running a small business, which means no guaranteed income and managing costs such as superannuation, leave and administration.
Community organisations or NGOs
In community settings and non-governmental organisations, counsellors typically work as part of a team with a set caseload and access to structured supervision.
The work is often more crisis-focused, with clients presenting with complex needs and limited resources available, but it usually comes with a stable income and collegial support.
Schools or universities
Within education settings, counsellors support students and staff, with workloads shaped by the academic calendar. The role can be varied and unpredictable, responding to issues ranging from academic stress to personal or family challenges.
Hospitals or health services
Counsellors in hospitals or other health services often work within multidisciplinary teams alongside psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and nurses. The pace can be fast, and documentation can be more extensive because of clinical and legal standards.
To explore the full range of counselling settings and career pathways, read our guide on counselling jobs and career options.
Or explore the different counselling specialisations to see how the role can vary.
Who tends to thrive in this role?
People who thrive in counselling usually share a few core qualities, though they don’t always match common assumptions about the role.
Curiosity about people is more important than a desire to “fix” them. Counsellors who are focused on solving problems for others can find the work difficult, because counselling is about supporting people to find their own way forward.
Counsellors bring their own perspectives, experiences and responses into the room, so being able to reflect on this and do ongoing personal work is an important part of practice.
Resilience and attention to your own wellbeing can help make it a more sustainable career, too. The emotional demands of the work mean counsellors need to actively support themselves to work effectively.
Progress in counselling is rarely linear, and sessions often involve sitting with ambiguity rather than clear or immediate outcomes, so counsellors often have to be comfortable with uncertainty.
If you’re still considering whether this sounds like you, you may find it helpful to compare counselling with some related fields. Read our guides on counselling vs social work and counselling vs psychology to see which role plays to your strengths.
Want to explore your study options?
Has this glimpse into a counsellor’s working day sparked your interest? You can explore online counselling courses from different universities through Open Universities Australia. We can help you find a pathway into study, no matter where you’re starting from.
Still figuring things out? Try Help Me Choose to receive personalised course recommendations.
About the author
Sarah Vercoe
Contributor
Sarah Vercoe is a Queensland-based writer bringing lifestyle, education, and human-interest stories to life for national publications and non-profits. When she’s not writing, she’s lost in a book with her cat by her side.
FAQs about the life of a counsellor
How many clients do counsellors see in a day?
It varies depending on where a counsellor works, the complexity of their clients' needs, and whether they are in private practice or an organisation. Counsellors in private practice see around four to six clients a day, although some choose a smaller caseload to maintain the quality of care and support their own wellbeing.
How much paperwork do counsellors do?
Counselling involves more administration than many expect. Tasks can include writing case notes, completing intake assessments, preparing referral letters, maintaining professional development records and attending supervision. Counsellors in private practice also manage business tasks like scheduling appointments, invoicing and marketing.
Is being a counsellor emotionally demanding?
It can be. Counsellors often work with people experiencing trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, or other complex challenges, making self-care and professional support an important part of the role. Regular supervision, ongoing professional development, and, for many counsellors, their own therapy help them maintain their wellbeing and continue providing effective care.
Do counsellors work regular business hours?
Not always. Counsellors, particularly those in private practice, offer appointments outside standard business hours to accommodate clients' work and family commitments. Some also combine in-person and online sessions or work across multiple settings, allowing flexibility in how they structure their week.
How does a counsellor schedule their day?
This is shaped by setting and client needs. In private practice, counsellors often build their day around client availability. Session length, breaks for notes, admin time and flexibility for time zones or client circumstances all factor into how the day might be scheduled.
