Online counselling from home

Individuals paying privately, including people in regional areas with few local options and busy professionals who want flexible times.

A fee per online session. Low overheads mean more of each fee is kept, and you can offer evening or weekend slots to fit your own hours.

• Deep listening and empathy over video
• Professional boundaries and confidentiality
• Recognised counselling or psychology training
• Comfortable with booking, payment and video tools

• Counselling regulation differs from psychology; check protected titles and what your state or territory requires
• Professional indemnity insurance that covers telehealth, which you should confirm with your insurer
• Client privacy and data security; use a platform designed for health sessions and check your obligations
• Know the client's location and emergency contacts before every session in case of risk
• Home business rules vary by council, so check whether approval is needed
• Isolation and emotional load, so schedule supervision and peer contact

Estimated startup costs are typically around $500 to $2,500, depending on your video platform, insurance, home office set-up and supervision. Schedule supervision and peer contact too, as the work can feel isolating.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your caseload, session fees and how many clients you attract. The estimate assumes roughly 6 hours a week or more of client sessions.

Check protected titles and your state or territory's requirements, and confirm with your insurer that professional indemnity covers telehealth. Also check client privacy and data security, whether council approval is needed for a home business, and emergency procedures for each client's location.