For many people living with disability, counselling is more than just talking — it’s about building resilience, healing from trauma, reducing anxiety, and learning skills to cope with daily challenges. In South Australia, counselling can be funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), giving participants the opportunity to invest in their emotional wellbeing.

If you are a self-managed NDIS participant, you have the freedom to choose the counselling support that works best for you. This article explains exactly how to access counselling with NDIS funding in South Australia, step by step, so you know what to expect and how to get started.

Why Counselling Matters in the NDIS

The NDIS recognises that disability isn’t just physical. Emotional and mental health challenges can make daily life harder, too. Many participants experience:

Stress and anxiety that interfere with relationships or community participation
Trauma that affects confidence, safety, or independence
Sleep issues linked to nervous system overload
Grief and adjustment related to disability, chronic illness, or life changes
ADHD, psychosocial disability, or ARFID that impact daily routines

Counselling is included in the NDIS because it helps participants build capacity — meaning it provides long-term tools and strategies to live more independently and confidently.

Where Counselling Fits: Improved Daily Living

Counselling is funded under:

Capacity Building Supports → Improved Daily Living

This support category covers therapies that improve daily functioning, such as occupational therapy, psychology, and counselling. For emotional wellbeing, counselling is a recognised way to improve independence and quality of life.

Step-by-Step: How to Access Counselling with Self-Managed NDIS Funds

Step 1: Check Your Plan Goals

Your NDIS plan should include goals around emotional wellbeing, independence, participation, or improved daily living. These goals justify using funding for counselling.

If your goals don’t clearly mention emotional wellbeing, you can still access counselling, but it’s easier if they do. At your next plan review, you can request this to be added.

Step 2: Choose Your Counsellor

As a self-managed participant, you can choose any counsellor you feel comfortable with — they do not need to be NDIS registered. This flexibility means you can:

Work with specialists in trauma, stress, ADHD, ARFID, or grief
Avoid long waitlists tied to registered providers
Select someone who offers online or in-person sessions in Adelaide or regional SA

Step 3: Book Your Session

Once you’ve chosen a counsellor:

Book your first session directly.
Confirm the session format (face-to-face or Zoom).
Discuss your needs, challenges, and goals.

This first appointment helps create a plan tailored to your NDIS goals.

Step 4: Receive and Pay Your Invoice

After your session, your counsellor will provide an invoice. To be NDIS-compliant, it should include:

Your full name and NDIS number
The category “Improved Daily Living – Capacity Building Supports”
Session length and date
Hourly rate (usually aligned with the NDIS Price Guide, ~ no out of pocket expenses 2025)

You pay this invoice upfront.

Step 5: Claim Reimbursement in the NDIS Portal

Log into the myplace NDIS participant portal to claim your reimbursement. Upload the invoice, fill in the details, and the funds are returned to you.

Self-managing requires a little admin, but it gives you complete control and flexibility over your supports.

Benefits of Self-Managed Counselling

Choosing to self-manage your plan brings unique advantages:

Freedom to choose any counsellor (registered or not).
Specialist support for anxiety, trauma, ADHD, ARFID, or psychosocial disability.
Flexibility in pricing and scheduling — you’re not locked into one format.
Direct relationships with your counsellor without a third party involved.

For many participants in South Australia, this flexibility means they can finally access the right support without delay.

Types of Counselling Available Under NDIS

Counselling under Improved Daily Living can cover a wide range of needs:

Stress management counselling – calming the nervous system and reducing overwhelm.
Trauma counselling – gentle, safe support for past experiences.
Anxiety counselling – strategies for panic, worry, and constant overthinking.
Sleep counselling – tools for insomnia and night-time anxiety.
ADHD counselling – practical support for focus, organisation, and emotional regulation.
Psychosocial disability counselling – ongoing support for long-term conditions like PTSD, bipolar disorder, or severe depression.
Grief counselling – support for loss, including MS-related grief or grief linked to disability.
ARFID counselling – support for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.
Physical disability adjustment – counselling for adapting to conditions such as amputations, arthritis, or paraplegia.

Counselling in Adelaide and Across South Australia

Counselling services for NDIS participants are flexible and accessible:

In-person sessions in Adelaide for face-to-face support.
Online counselling via Zoom for rural and regional participants.
Flexible scheduling to suit energy levels, mobility, and personal commitments.

This flexibility ensures that counselling is available to participants no matter where they live in South Australia.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Counselling

Set clear goals with your counsellor that align with your NDIS plan.
Be consistent — regular sessions bring better results than one-off appointments.
Track your progress — notice improvements in sleep, stress levels, or confidence.
Communicate openly — let your counsellor know what works and what doesn’t.

My Approach to NDIS Counselling

As a counsellor working with self-managed NDIS participants in Adelaide and South Australia, my focus is on helping people:

Reduce stress and anxiety
Heal safely from trauma
Restore healthy sleep patterns
Build resilience and confidence
Adjust emotionally to disability or health changes

I provide clear, NDIS-compliant invoices under Improved Daily Living, making it simple for you to claim your sessions. My sessions are available both online and in-person, giving you flexibility and choice.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a self-managed NDIS participant in South Australia, accessing counselling doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right goals in your plan and a simple invoicing process, you can use your Improved Daily Living supports to fund counselling that makes a real difference.

By investing in counselling, you can reduce stress, process trauma, improve sleep, and build the resilience needed for independence and participation in everyday life.

📞 Contact me today to find out how counselling with NDIS funding can support your wellbeing and help you achieve your goals.