Feeling overwhelmed doesn’t always mean something is “wrong” – sometimes it simply means you need space to pause and breathe.
This blog explores why your GP may suggest counselling and how early support can ease stress, clarify patterns, and help you feel more grounded before life becomes overwhelming.
Many people don’t set out looking for counselling – it often begins with a quiet suggestion from someone they trust, like their GP. You might have gone in for headaches, restless sleep, fatigue, or a sense that you just don’t feel like yourself anymore. You may have sat in the consult room, trying to explain the heaviness or fog you can’t quite name… only to hear your GP say:
“It might help to talk to someone.”
For many, this moment brings relief and confusion at the same time. Nothing feels “wrong,” yet something is clearly asking for attention. Stress has a way of building slowly, showing up in the body long before the mind realises how much pressure has been accumulating beneath the surface. And often, a GP is the first to notice those early signs.
In this article, we’ll explore:
Why stress can show up physically long before you notice it
Why your GP might suggest counselling even when tests are normal
The difference between counselling and psychology (and how to know where to start)
How early support can prevent overwhelm before it builds
What counselling offers that complements your GP care.
If you’ve been feeling off, tired, or quietly overwhelmed – or wondering whether counselling is the right next step – this guide offers a grounded, compassionate place to begin.
GPs see the whole picture – physical symptoms, lifestyle patterns, and the impact of ongoing stress on your body. Research shows that up to 75% of GP visits are linked to stress and lifestyle factors, which means it’s incredibly common to seek medical help for things that aren’t rooted in illness at all.
So you’re not imagining it if you’re:
These are often early signs that your system is under pressure, not failing.
When your GP suggests counselling, it isn’t because they think something is wrong with you or that you need a diagnosis. It’s because they’re noticing patterns that tend to appear long before burnout – small shifts that point to stress accumulating beneath the surface.
When tests are clear but your symptoms linger, it usually means your body is responding to the load you’ve been carrying, even if your mind hasn’t caught up yet.
Counselling simply offers space to explore what’s underneath those symptoms. For example, the pace you’re keeping, the expectations you’re meeting, the emotional and practical weight sitting on your shoulders. It’s another layer of support, so you don’t have to hold everything on your own.
Stress often shows up in the body long before you realise how much you’ve been carrying.
You might notice headaches creeping in, your sleep becoming lighter or more restless, or a heaviness that won’t quite lift. You may feel flat, unfocused, or unusually tired for no obvious reason. These shifts can feel random, but they’re often early signals that your system is working harder than it seems.
When the nervous system stays in “keep going” mode for too long, the body begins to speak on your behalf.
Because you’re busy coping, you may not see the pattern forming – but your GP often can. They see the physical imprint of stress every day, even when your test results are perfectly normal.
These symptoms don’t mean anything is medically wrong. They simply show that pressure has been building quietly in the background, and your body is asking for support before overwhelm sets in.
Counselling becomes one way to explore what those physical signs are pointing to and to understand the emotional load sitting underneath them.
One of the most common questions after a GP visit is: “Do I need a counsellor or a psychologist?”
Here’s a simple way to understand the difference:
you’re stressed, overwhelmed, or emotionally tired
life feels heavy, but not unmanageable
you want space to reflect, talk, and reset
you’re navigating a transition and need clarity
you don’t want or need a diagnosis
patterns keep repeating and you’re not sure why.
anxiety or low mood is persistent or severe
trauma is present or being triggered
daily functioning is significantly disrupted
diagnosis and structured therapy are needed.
Neither option is “better” – they simply support different needs. Your GP’s suggestion is usually about early support, not treatment. Counselling often sits in the middle – a grounding space before the pressure grows.
A common misconception is that counselling requires a GP mental health care plan. It doesn’t.
private
flexible
accessible without a diagnosis
focused on what matters most to you.
Some people prefer this because it reduces pressure, avoids feeling pathologised, and offers support before things escalate.
It’s common to wonder whether counselling is covered by Medicare or whether a mental health care plan will reduce the cost of sessions.
In Australia, counsellors are not included under Medicare, even if they hold a degree.
Only specific professions are eligible to offer Medicare-rebated sessions under a GP Mental Health Care Plan:
Psychologists
Clinical psychologists
Accredited Mental Health Social Workers
Occupational Therapists with mental health endorsement
Some professionals also call themselves “counsellors” but are actually registered in one of the Medicare-eligible professions above – which can make things confusing.
Because holistic counsellors aren’t covered under Medicare, sessions with me are private and self-funded. For many people, this offers benefits: no diagnosis required, no time limits on sessions, no reporting back to your GP unless you choose it, and more flexibility in the pace and style of support.
If you’re looking to use a mental health care plan, a psychologist or mental health social worker may be the right fit. If you’re wanting a gentler, relational space to make sense of stress, overwhelm, or life transitions – without needing a diagnosis – counselling can be a grounding place to begin.
If you’re unsure which option suits your needs or your budget, your GP and I are both happy to help you explore what feels right for where you are.
The Federal Government has announced a new Medicare-funded early-intervention service for mild mental-health concerns, expected to begin in 2026 (Department of Health & Aged Care, 2025).
This service will likely operate through large national providers and use standardised, short-term CBT-style support delivered by registered practitioners under that program.
This is a wonderful option for people who want a brief, structured, Medicare-funded service.
My work sits outside this model by choice. I offer private, relational, whole-person counselling that isn’t limited by session timeframes, diagnoses, or Medicare reporting.
Many clients prefer this because it allows deeper work, more flexibility, and support that adapts to what’s happening in their lives – not to a preset program.
If you’re unsure which pathway suits your needs or budget, I’m happy to help you explore your options.
GP appointments are essential – but they’re short, structured, and focused on physical health. Counselling offers a different kind of space.
It gives you:
time to slow down
space to unpack what you’ve been holding
support to understand recurring stress or patterns
room to make sense of what’s building beneath the surface.
Where your GP helps you understand your physical symptoms, counselling helps you explore why the stress is there in the first place and how to move through it without burning out.
You don’t need to wait for a breaking point. You might benefit from counselling if:
you’re functioning well but feel internally overloaded
stress returns even after rest
you’ve lost clarity or direction
you feel disconnected from yourself
your emotions feel closer to the surface
you want to break old patterns
life transitions feel heavier than expected
others say, “You seem stressed,” but you can’t pinpoint why.
These aren’t signs of weakness. They’re signals that your body and mind are asking for support.
Counselling doesn’t replace your GP – it complements their role.
Together, they create a more complete support system:
GP care checks your physical health, rules out medical causes, and supports any physical symptoms.
Counselling helps you reflect, process stress, make changes, and stay grounded.
Other supports like nutrition, massage, movement, or acupuncture can also fit alongside.
You don’t need everything at once. You simply build your circle of care as life asks for it.
A first session often feels like a deep exhale.
Together, we gently explore:
what’s been feeling heavy
where stress is showing up
what you hope will change
what support you need right now
practical ways to steady your nervous system.
There’s no diagnosis, pressure, or agenda. Just space to be heard and to find clarity.
If your GP has mentioned counselling, take it as a sign that someone sees how much you’ve been carrying – and wants you to have support before things become overwhelming.
You just need a safe place to begin.
If you feel drawn to counselling, you’re welcome to reach out – in your own time, in your own way.
Amy is a Holistic Counsellor who helps her clients move from this idea that they are broken or missing pieces of their own puzzle, to owning their story, claiming back all parts of themselves and merging together as one team to allow them to rest and be in their deepest expression.
Australian Department of Health and Aged Care – 2025 Mental Health Reform announcements
PACFA summary of the National Early Intervention Service (2025)
Federal Budget 2024–25 Mental Health Initiatives
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