How it Works + Fees
Rough Patch exists to support people who can’t ordinarily afford the cost of counselling.
Our experienced, professional counsellors reduce their usual fees to provide clients with the counselling and support they need. In turn, Rough Patch provides room hire at a significantly lower rate than other clinics. This means counsellors can charge their clients less, making counselling more affordable.
To keep waitlists short, clients are able to access up to 30 sessions per 12 month period. If more sessions are needed, the counsellor will work with you to find longer-term supports.
A GUIDE TO ROUGH PATCH SLIDING SCALE FEES
This guide is to help you decide your fee for counselling at Rough Patch. Each person’s situation is unique, so this is a guide only. Your counsellor will discuss fees with you during your first session.
Together, you decide the appropriate fee for your sessions based on your circumstances.
You may fit at the lower end of the scale if...
- You frequently experiences barriers to paying for daily living costs, such as housing, food, healthcare, school or higher education, childcare, clothing and transportation
- You have high daily living costs due to family responsibilities or single income family
- You have casual or insecure employment, or no capacity to generate income
- You qualify for Centrelink assistance such as JobSeeker, Aged Care Pension, Austudy
You may fit at the higher end of the scale if...
- You live in a multiple-income household or have living arrangements which share financial burden
- You have few or no dependents
- You can consistently manage daily living costs
- You have consistent income
- You have little or no debt
- You want to support the ongoing financial viability of Rough Patch
How is Rough Patch Different to What's Already Available?
Traditionally, mental health services in Australia are either full-fee, for-profit businesses which charge up to $250 per hour, or free services which are funded by faith-based charities or government departments. Often, the waitlists for free services are very long, and the organisations that provide them are underfunded, overstretched, and pay their counsellors a very low wage. They are also often faith-based organisations which isn’t the right fit for many people. At the other end, for-profit businesses charge high fees which aren’t affordable for many people, and generally only attract a partial Medicare rebate for a maximum 10 sessions per year.
Rough Patch provides a solution that sits somewhere between these two extremes. By offering a service that is subsidised by sales from our shop, by revenue from training, consulting to other health practitioners, organisations and businesses, and through donations and grants, Rough Patch provides counselling that is both affordable and accessible.
