University Counselling & Student Support Sydney

New Vision Psychology offers counselling and mental health support for university and international students, to help them cope with the challenges of student life.

What is student counselling?

University is an especially stressful time for students — the heavy responsibilities of managing studies while learning to be independent can result in high levels of stress and anxiety that are difficult to deal with.

A study in 2017 by the National Union of Students found that 65% of tertiary students aged 16-25 years reported high or very high psychological distress, while 35.4% had thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Student counselling provides a way for students in university, college, or TAFE to get professional support for their mental health needs, whether it’s dealing with the pressure of academic demands, balancing different aspects of life, relationship issues, or other personal challenges.

Our psychologists offer students a safe space to express themselves and their concerns freely, as well as effective strategies for coping with these difficulties. While university counselling in Sydney is often provided within universities, our psychologists complement their work by providing comprehensive assessments, diagnoses, reports and ongoing treatments. For instance, we conduct assessments and prepare psychological reports to support students in applying for special considerations or academic accommodations where required.

Our Session Fees

A standard session at New Vision Psychology is 50-minutes in duration.

Registered Psychologist

$146.65*

  • With Medicare rebate
  • Between 8am-5pm weekdays ($161.65 after hours)

Registered Psychologist

$240*

  • Without Medicare rebate
  • Between 8am-5pm weekdays ($255 after hours)

Clinical Psychologist

$142.95*

  • With Medicare rebate
  • Between 8am-5pm weekdays ($157.95 after hours)

Clinical Psychologist

$280*

  • Without Medicare rebate
  • Between 8am-5pm weekdays ($295 after hours)

Critical statistics for student mental health

  • 38.8% of students aged 16–24 years had a 12-month mental disorder (National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-2022)
  • More than one in four females (27.9%) aged 16–24 years had self-harmed in their lifetime (National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-2022)
  • 49% of female students report they feel very stressed compared to 33% of male students (Australian Council for Educational Research, 2018)
  • 75% of students reported that they lacked motivation and 71% reported changes to their mood as a result of stress about study and exams (ReachOut, 2022)

What student counselling can help with

Counselling for students can provide targeted support for a number of commonly faced issues such as:

  • Stress and anxiety regarding studies and performance
  • Depression or feelings of helplessness about personal situations
  • Difficulties in coping with cultural differences such as language or behaviour
  • Problems balancing studies, work, social life and relationships
  • Suicidal thoughts, self-harm thoughts or behaviour
  • Emotional trauma leading to isolation, loneliness, frustration or anger
  • Struggles with addiction or repetitive behaviour – e.g., binge eating, abusive relationships, drugs, smoking or alcohol abuse
  • Dealing with the loss of a loved one
  • Lack of self-confidence or worries about never being good enough
  • Career and future planning; discovering personal strengths and interests 

How we work

New Vision Psychology’s student counselling services in Sydney work in alignment with existing university counselling services. We understand that on-campus university counselling services are crucial and often face high demand, resulting in long waiting times and limited session availability. We’re here to provide additional support, offering same-week availability and your choice of over 30 experienced psychologists who speak more than 10 languages. We provide an extensive range of services, ranging from ADHD and ASD diagnoses to psychological reports. When appropriate, we work collaboratively with your student support team, family and other healthcare providers to ensure you have the best treatment outcomes. 

We also provide a range of psychological reports for students, including but not limited to: 

  • Psychological Evaluation Reports
  • Mental Health Diagnoses
    • Professional diagnosis of mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, ADHD or learning disabilities
  • Special Consideration and Academic Accommodations Reports
    • Evaluations focusing on learning difficulties with recommendations for academic accommodations (e.g., extra time on exams, note-taking assistance) or special consideration (e.g., assignment deadline extensions) 
  • Behavioural Assessments
    • Analyses of specific behaviours that may be impacting a student’s academic or social life, with strategies for intervention
  • Adjustment and Adaptation Reports

Meet Some of Our Student Psychologists & Counsellors in Sydney

Jacob Rath 

Registered Psychologist


  • Burwood: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri
  • Language: English

Avni Pawar

Registered Psychologist


  • Sydney CBD: Mon, Tue
  • Language: English

Cindy Chan

Registered Psychologist


  • Sydney CBD: Thu, Fri
  • Language: English, Cantonese, Mandarin

Kelvin Chong

Registered Psychologist,


  • Burwood: Tue, Thu
  • Hurstville: Fri
  • Sydney CBD: Mon, Wed
  • Language: English, Mandarin, Malay

Sherry (Xiaojun) Zeng 

Registered Psychologist


  • Burwood: Sat
  • Sydney CBD: Thu, Fri
  • Language: English, Mandarin, Cantonese

Elysia Sproule

Registered Psychologist


  • Castle Hill: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
  • Language: English

Counselling for international students

International students in Australia experience higher levels of mental health issues compared to domestic students, commonly experiencing anxiety, depression, loneliness and stress. Furthermore, language barriers and lack of cultural understanding can make it difficult to find a student counselling service where they feel safe, heard and understood.

New Vision Psychology has decades of experience providing culturally sensitive counselling. Our team of university counselling psychologists come from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, allowing us to offer counselling sessions for international students in their mother tongue. We offer counselling in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Greek, Bengali, Hindi, Afrikaans, Norwegian and Croatian.

Research shows that having a psychologist from a similar cultural background or who speaks the same language as you can lead to better therapeutic outcomes. When there is cultural and language concordance, there is often a stronger therapeutic alliance and a more nuanced understanding of your issues, resulting in more effective interventions.

Get the right support with New Vision Psychology’s student counselling services

Are you a university or college student?


If you are a tertiary student looking for the right support for your mental health struggles, we encourage you to book a student counselling session with one of our compassionate psychologists. Click here to find your best fit and book online anytime. 

Do you work in a university or college wellbeing department?


New Vision Psychology partners with universities and other tertiary institutions in Sydney to support existing student counselling services by providing comprehensive assessments and ongoing treatment. Get in touch with our team today to find out how we can bolster your student wellbeing initiatives.

Looking For A Psychologist Near You?

New Vision Psychology can help with 5 convenient locations across Sydney.

Explore our locations