How much does counselling cost in Ireland in 2026?
A private counselling session in Ireland usually costs €60 to €100, according to the HSE. Low-cost services charge €30 to €70, and some routes are free, including HSE Counselling in Primary Care for medical card holders, Aware and Pieta. With Rosemary Chaney, a 50-minute session costs €75 in Gorey or online and €85 in Phibsborough, Dublin 7.
Prices on this page are for the Republic of Ireland and were checked on 3 November 2026. Fees and schemes change, so confirm with any service before you book.
Key takeaways
- Private counselling in Ireland usually costs €60 to €100 a session (HSE, 2025).
- Low-cost services charge about €30 to €70, and several services are free.
- With a medical card, HSE Counselling in Primary Care offers up to 8 free sessions.
- Many health insurance plans pay part of each session; amounts vary by plan.
- Counselling fees don't qualify for health expenses tax relief unless the therapist is a doctor.
How much does a counselling session cost in Ireland?
A private counsellor in Ireland usually charges €60 to €100 a session, according to the HSE. Trainee counsellors charge €30 to €60, low-cost organisations €30 to €70, and private psychologists €90 to €180. The price depends on training, experience, location and any specialist focus.
| Type of service | Typical fee per session |
|---|---|
| Trainee counsellor | €30 to €60 |
| Low-cost organisation | €30 to €70 |
| Private counsellor | €60 to €100 |
| Private psychologist | €90 to €180 |
Source: HSE, Private therapy, reviewed August 2025.
- Typical range per session (HSE, 2025)
- Rosemary's fee (RC Psychotherapy, 2026)
- Free routes, if you meet the criteria
The €0 row stands for the free routes in the table of free and low-cost counselling.
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| Bar | Low (€) | High (€) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee counsellor | 30 | 60 | HSE, 2025 |
| Low-cost organisation | 30 | 70 | HSE, 2025 |
| Private counsellor | 60 | 100 | HSE, 2025 |
| Private psychologist | 90 | 180 | HSE, 2025 |
| Marker: Rosemary, Gorey or online | 75 | 75 | RC Psychotherapy fees, 2026 |
| Marker: Rosemary, Dublin 7 | 85 | 85 | RC Psychotherapy fees, 2026 |
A private counselling session in Ireland usually costs between €60 and €100, according to the HSE.
What does counselling cost with RC Psychotherapy?
With Rosemary Chaney, an individual session lasts 50 minutes and costs €75 in Gorey or online, or €85 in Phibsborough, Dublin 7. A 60-minute couples session costs €100 in Gorey or Dublin. The fee stays the same each week, and trauma-focused work, including EMDR, costs the same.
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| Session | Where | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Bodhi, 14 Main Street, Gorey, Co. Wexford | 50 minutes | €75 |
| Individual | Online by secure video, anywhere in Ireland | 50 minutes | €75 |
| Individual | 24 O'Connell Avenue, Phibsborough, Dublin 7 | 50 minutes | €85 |
| Couples | Gorey or Phibsborough, Dublin 7 | 60 minutes | €100 |
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| A 50-minute individual or 60-minute couples session | Crisis or emergency support |
| A private room in Gorey or Dublin 7, or secure video | Sessions for anyone under 18 |
| A confidential session with an IACP-accredited therapist | Free or HSE-funded counselling |
How payment works: you can pay by card on this website when you book, and your session is confirmed as soon as the payment goes through. For in-person sessions you can also pay by card, bank transfer or cash at the end of the session. Online sessions are paid by card when you book.
Full details are on the fees page.
What can change the fee: only a late cancellation. Cancel at least 48 hours before an in-person session, or 24 hours before an online one; later cancellations are charged in full unless the circumstances are exceptional. If cost is a barrier, say so when you get in touch, as a limited number of reduced-fee spaces may be available.
What affects the price of counselling?
The HSE says fees depend on the therapist's training, experience, location and any specialist focus. Session length matters too: many services run 50-minute sessions, and couples sessions often run longer. Online sessions are not always cheaper; with Rosemary, online costs the same as Gorey.
- Training and accreditation.Trainees cost less; accredited counsellors and psychologists cost more (HSE, 2025).
- Session length.The HSE says a session is usually about an hour (HSE, 2025). Aware and MyMind both run 50-minute sessions.
- Couples work.Couples sessions often cost more and run longer. MyMind charges €70 for 50 minutes or €140 for 100 minutes (MyMind); Rosemary charges €100 for 60 minutes.
- Where you meet.Rosemary charges €75 in Gorey and online, and €85 in Dublin 7.
- How often you go.Fortnightly sessions don't lower the price of a session, but they halve what you spend each month.
Can I get free counselling in Ireland?
Yes, if you meet the criteria. Medical card holders can get up to 8 free sessions through HSE Counselling in Primary Care with a referral. Aware, Pieta, Turn2Me and the HSE National Counselling Service offer free support to particular groups. Waiting lists can be long, so ask about timescales.
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| Service | Cost | Who it's for | How to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSE Counselling in Primary Care | Free, up to 8 sessions | Adults 18+ with a medical card | Referral from your GP or another health professional, then phone the local office within 2 weeks |
| Free counselling route for men | Free | Men, with or without a medical card (since September 2025). Providers include Connect Counselling, Counselling in Primary Care and MyMind | Freephone Connect Counselling on 1800 577 577 |
| HSE National Counselling Service | Free | Adults who experienced childhood abuse or neglect, former residents of mother and baby homes, and families affected by the Stardust inquest | Refer yourself, no medical card needed. Wexford: freephone 1800 234 118 |
| Pieta | Free | People with suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or bereaved by suicide | Freephone 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444, no referral |
| Aware | Free, up to 8 weekly 50-minute sessions | Adults 18+ with mild to moderate depression or anxiety, not in counselling elsewhere | No GP referral needed |
| Turn2Me | Free, up to 6 online sessions, then a low-cost rate | Adults living in Ireland | Online sign-up |
| MyMind | €60 for 50 minutes; €30 for up to 12 sessions if eligible | Reduced rate for people earning under €25,000, full-time third-level students, people on the State pension, and people who are unemployed or unwaged | Book directly; proof needed |
| Jigsaw | Free | Young people aged 12 to 25 | See Jigsaw's website |
| Accord | A contribution based on your circumstances | Couples | Lack of money won't stop you being seen |
Waiting lists are real. At the end of July 2024, 4,358 people were waiting for HSE Counselling in Primary Care and 791 of them had waited six months or more. The longest regional list, 704 people, covered Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford (Irish Times, 2024).
Free counselling exists in Ireland, but most free routes have criteria or waiting lists, so check before you rely on one.
Does health insurance cover counselling in Ireland?
Often, in part. Many Irish health insurance plans pay a set amount or a percentage of each session, up to a yearly limit, and some only pay for therapists registered with particular bodies. Some plans pay nothing towards a counsellor you choose yourself. Check your own table of benefits before you start.
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| Plan | What it pays | Limit | Table dated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vhi HealthSteps Gold | Up to €35 a visit | 7 visits | October 2024 |
| Irish Life Health HealthGuide 1 | 50% of each visit | 12 visits, up to €300 a year | July 2026 |
| Irish Life Health Be Fit 2 | 50% of each visit | 9 visits, up to €800 a year | July 2026 |
| Level Health Plan Pro | €40 a visit | 6 visits a year | December 2025 |
| Level Health Plan E | €50 a visit | 6 visits a year | December 2025 |
Rules about the therapist matter. Vhi's HealthSteps plans only pay for a counsellor or psychotherapist registered with the IACP or ICP, or a chartered member of the PSI, and need a dated receipt on headed paper (Vhi HealthSteps rules, 2024). Laya healthcare says many of its plans include counselling cover, and members aged 16 and over can use its own counselling service at no extra cost (laya healthcare). Some plans, such as Irish Life Health's BeneFit Access 300, include no counselling benefit.
Rosemary is an accredited member of the IACP. If you plan to claim, check your plan's rules first and ask Rosemary for a receipt for each session.
Can I claim tax relief on counselling in Ireland?
Usually not. Revenue's health expenses relief only covers treatment from a practitioner, which means a registered doctor or dentist. Fees paid to a counsellor or psychotherapist who is not a doctor don't qualify. The IACP has asked for this to change, but as of November 2026 Revenue's rules are the same.
Where relief does apply, it is usually given at the standard rate of 20% (Revenue). Revenue's list of qualifying expenses covers psychologist or psychotherapist treatment only when the therapist is a practitioner, or when a practitioner refers you for a diagnostic procedure (Revenue, 2026). If you think the diagnostic exception applies to you, ask Revenue.
The Med 1 form is no longer used. PAYE workers claim through myAccount, for the current year or the previous four, and self-employed people use Form 11. Keep your receipts for six years (Revenue, 2026). The IACP's pre-budget submission for 2027 asked for relief on counselling fees (IACP, 2026).
Counselling fees paid to a therapist who isn't a doctor don't qualify for Irish health expenses tax relief.
How much will counselling cost overall?
It depends on how often you go and for how long. Six weekly sessions with Rosemary in Gorey or online cost €450; twelve cost €900. Many people start weekly and move to fortnightly as things settle. Use the planner below to estimate a total, including any insurance refund.
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| Sessions | Gorey or online (€75) | Dublin 7 (€85) | Couples (€100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | €450 | €510 | €600 |
| 12 | €900 | €1,020 | €1,200 |
| 20 | €1,500 | €1,700 | €2,000 |
Counselling cost planner
Choose a session type, how often you might go and how many sessions, to see the total fees and roughly how many weeks they span.
Starts at 6 as an example only. There is no fixed number of sessions.
Your estimate
A planning estimate to talk through with Rosemary, not a recommendation.
- Session feeIndividual, Gorey or online, 50 minutes
- €75
- Number of sessions
- × 6
- Total fees
- €450
- Less insurance refundNone entered
- − €0
- Your share
- €450
- Time it spansOne week per session
- about 6 weeks
6 weekly sessions at €75 come to €450 over about 6 weeks.
Worth knowing
- Free and low-cost routes. With a medical card, HSE Counselling in Primary Care offers up to 8 free sessions. Low-cost services charge about €30 to €70, and several services are free. See the table.
- Health insurance. Many health insurance plans pay part of each session; amounts vary by plan. Check your own table of benefits before you start.
- Tax relief. Counselling fees don't qualify for health expenses tax relief unless the therapist is a doctor.
How the planner works: total fees are the number of sessions multiplied by the session fee. Time taken is one week per session if weekly, or two weeks if fortnightly. Your share is the total fees minus your insurance refund, where the refund is the amount your plan pays per session multiplied by the number of sessions it covers. It is a planning estimate only; your insurer's rules and Rosemary's current fees apply. Nothing you enter is saved or sent.
There is no fixed number of sessions. Some people come for a few sessions about one issue; others continue for months. You review this with Rosemary, and you can stop at any time.
How can I make counselling more affordable?
Check whether your employer offers an Employee Assistance Programme, which often includes a few free sessions, and what your health insurance pays. Ask about reduced-fee spaces. Consider fortnightly sessions once things settle. If you have a medical card, ask your GP about HSE Counselling in Primary Care.
- Employee Assistance Programmes.Many employers offer free, confidential, short-term counselling. The public sector scheme offers up to 6 free sessions where clinically appropriate (Employee Assistance Service guide). Ask HR what yours includes.
- Health insurance.Check your table of benefits and the therapist rules.
- Reduced-fee spaces.RC Psychotherapy may have a limited number. Mention cost when you get in touch.
- Online sessions.With Rosemary, online costs €75, the same as Gorey and €10 less than Dublin, and saves travel.
- Fortnightly sessions.Once things settle, fortnightly sessions halve your monthly spend.
- Free and low-cost services.See the table above if you meet the criteria.
How does Rosemary approach fees?
Rosemary agrees the fee with you at the outset and it stays the same each week. If cost is a worry, say so when you get in touch. She will tell you honestly whether a reduced-fee space is open, and if none is, your GP can tell you about free HSE talk therapy in your area.
Rosemary Chaney has been IACP-accredited since 2005 and works with adults aged 18 and over in Gorey, Phibsborough and online. No GP referral is needed.
Terms used on this page
- Medical card
- is a card that lets people on lower incomes get some health services free, including HSE Counselling in Primary Care.
- Counselling in Primary Care (CIPC)
- is the HSE's free short-term counselling service for adults with a medical card.
- Low-cost counselling
- is counselling from a non-profit or training service at a reduced fee, usually €30 to €70.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- is a free, confidential support service some employers provide, often including a few counselling sessions.
- Table of benefits
- is the document from your health insurer that lists what your plan pays for and how much.
- Health expenses relief
- is income tax relief from Revenue on some medical costs, usually at 20%.
Frequently asked questions about counselling costs
How much is a one-hour therapy session in Ireland?
A private counselling session usually costs €60 to €100, and a private psychologist €90 to €180, according to the HSE. Many sessions run 50 minutes rather than a full hour. With Rosemary, a 50-minute individual session is €75 in Gorey or online, €85 in Dublin 7, and a 60-minute couples session is €100.
Can I get free therapy in Ireland?
Yes, if you meet the criteria. Medical card holders can get up to 8 free sessions through HSE Counselling in Primary Care, men can use a free route through Connect Counselling, and Aware, Turn2Me and Pieta offer free support to particular groups. Most free services have waiting lists or criteria, so check before you rely on one.
Is counselling free with a medical card?
Yes, through HSE Counselling in Primary Care. Adults aged 18 and over with a medical card can get up to 8 free sessions, depending on need, after a referral from a GP or another health professional. You then phone your local office within 2 weeks to confirm. Waiting times vary by area.
Does Vhi cover counselling?
Many Vhi plans pay something towards counselling, but the amount depends on your plan. HealthSteps Gold, for example, pays up to €35 a visit for 7 visits. HealthSteps plans only pay for therapists registered with the IACP or ICP, or chartered PSI members, and need a dated receipt. Check your own table of benefits.
How much does couples counselling cost in Ireland?
There is no published national range. As examples, MyMind charges €70 for a 50-minute couples session, Accord asks for a contribution based on your circumstances, and Rosemary charges €100 for a 60-minute session in Gorey or Dublin 7. Couples sessions often run longer than individual ones so both people have time to talk.
Is therapy every two weeks enough?
It can be, once you're settled. Many people start weekly to build momentum, then move to fortnightly as things ease. What suits you depends on what you're working on and how you're coping between sessions. Agree the rhythm with your therapist and review it as you go.
Can I claim counselling on my tax?
Usually not. Revenue's health expenses relief only covers treatment from a registered doctor or dentist, so fees paid to a counsellor or psychotherapist who isn't a doctor don't qualify. There is a narrow exception for diagnostic procedures a doctor refers you for; ask Revenue if you think it applies.
Do I pay for a missed session?
With Rosemary, yes, if you cancel late. You need to give at least 48 hours' notice for an in-person session, or 24 hours for an online one. Later cancellations are charged in full unless the circumstances are exceptional. To change a booking, call 087 458 0150 or email Info@RCpsychotherapy.ie.
Still have a question? Call 087 458 0150 or email Info@RCpsychotherapy.ie.
- Counsellor and psychotherapist, IACP-accredited
- since 2005
- IACP-accredited supervisor
- since 2012
- MA in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (Clinical), Carlow Institute of Technology
- 2021
- BSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy, PCI College
- 2007
Sources and further reading
- Private therapy
HSE, reviewed 2025. Typical fees for each type of therapist.
- Counselling in Primary Care
HSE, reviewed 2026. Who qualifies for free sessions and how referral works.
- Nearly 800 people waiting six months or longer for counselling
Irish Times, 2024. Waiting-list figures by region.
- The Aware counselling service
Aware, 2026. Free sessions and who they suit.
- Our services and fees
MyMind, 2026. Standard and low-cost rates.
- HealthSteps rules
Vhi, 2024. Which therapists a claim can cover.
- What are qualifying health expenses?
Revenue, 2026. Why counselling usually doesn't qualify.
- Free counselling supports for men
Department of Health, 2025. The route open with or without a medical card.
What happens when you book
- You choose Gorey, Dublin 7 or online, then a session type and a time.
- You give your name, email and phone number. Clients must be 18 or over.
- Your slot is held for 30 minutes and confirmed as soon as the card payment goes through.
- You receive a confirmation email with the session details.
- Cancellation needs 48 hours' notice in person, or 24 hours online.
- Prefer to ask first? Enquiries are usually answered within one working day.
Who RC Psychotherapy works with
RC Psychotherapy offers private outpatient counselling and psychotherapy for adults aged 18 and over. It is a paid practice, not an HSE or free service, and it is not a crisis or emergency service. Under-18s should see a therapist trained in adolescent psychotherapy.
If you need help now
- If you are in danger now, call 112 or 999, or go to your nearest emergency department.
- Samaritans: freephone 116 123, day or night.
- Pieta: freephone 1800 247 247, or text HELP to 51444 (standard rates).
- Text About It: text HELLO to 50808, free, 24/7.
- HSE YourMentalHealth information line: 1800 111 888 (information, not counselling).
This is general information, not financial, tax or medical advice. Check your own insurance plan and Revenue's guidance for your situation.