HOW TO HIRE · HEALTH & WELLBEING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a counsellor in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A counsellor in Ireland costs €50–€100 per session, typically around €70. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a counsellor in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers counsellor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — workshops and Seminars — counsellors may conduct workshops focused on mental health awareness, stress relief, or communication skills.
- How does counsellor's experience change the price?An established name can charge more because the diary is full. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does type of therapy provided change the price?An upgraded package costs more because it includes more. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the issues being addressed change the price?Anything bespoke takes longer to plan before it is made. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Counselling does not include medical treatment or psychiatric services — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a counsellor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register is open yet
Counselling and psychotherapy are designated for statutory regulation in Ireland and the register is not open. CORU lists counsellors and psychotherapists among the professions to be regulated, alongside psychologists, and separately lists the ten registers that are open today — counselling, psychotherapy and psychology are not among them. Two consequences follow, and they matter in opposite directions. Nobody practising today can be CORU-registered, so a claim to be is describing something that does not exist and is the clearest warning sign there is. And the titles are not protected yet, so anyone may use them: what distinguishes one practitioner from another is the training and the accrediting body, not the word on the door.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
The qualification, the length of the training and who awarded it — ask for all three, then look the awarding body up yourself; Accreditation by a professional body, by name, and whether it holds a register you can search and a complaints procedure you could use; Whether they are in clinical supervision, which is the ordinary standard in this work and the thing a client never thinks to ask about; Professional indemnity insurance, the insurer and the limit; The fee, the session length, the cancellation terms and how the work ends, in writing before the first session; Garda vetting where the client is a child or a vulnerable adult, which is a legal requirement for that work under the National Vetting Bureau Acts.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect professional indemnity insurance — ask for the insurer and the limit. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers counsellor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — workshops and Seminars — counsellors may conduct workshops focused on mental health awareness, stress relief, or communication skills.
A good answer: An established name can charge more because the diary is full. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: An upgraded package costs more because it includes more. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Anything bespoke takes longer to plan before it is made. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Counselling does not include medical treatment or psychiatric services — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a counsellor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect professional indemnity insurance — ask for the insurer and the limit — crisis Intervention — in urgent situations, counsellors offer immediate support to individuals in distress, helping them navigate through the crisis.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the counsellor starts, and an itemised invoice after — group Therapy — counsellors often facilitate group sessions where individuals with similar challenges can share experiences and coping strategies.
Getting the quote right
- Counsellor's experience — an established name can charge more because the diary is full.
- Type of therapy provided — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more.
- Complexity of the issues being addressed — anything bespoke takes longer to plan before it is made.
- Length of the sessions — the job is quoted in hours because that is what it uses.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: counsellor's experience — an established name can charge more because the diary is full
- They will not talk about it: type of therapy provided — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the issues being addressed — anything bespoke takes longer to plan before it is made
- A price for the counsellor before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the counsellor has begun
What a counsellor costs: €50–€100 per session
The figures are for the job, per session, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Individual counselling and Couples counselling each carry their own band. Counsellor price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Counsellors near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstCounsellor's experience — an established name can charge more because the diary is full — that is what the counsellor is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneType of therapy provided — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the issues being addressed — anything bespoke takes longer to plan before it is made — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherLength of the sessions — the job is quoted in hours because that is what it uses — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the counsellor is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, look for counsellors with recognised qualifications and relevant experience in your specific area of concern.
- Group Therapy
- Counsellors often facilitate group sessions where individuals with similar challenges can share experiences and coping strategies.
- Crisis Intervention
- In urgent situations, counsellors offer immediate support to individuals in distress, helping them navigate through the crisis.
- Workshops and Seminars
- Counsellors may conduct workshops focused on mental health awareness, stress relief, or communication skills.
- Individual Counselling
- One-on-one sessions focusing on personal issues such as anxiety, depression, or self-esteem.
- Couples Counselling
- Sessions designed to help partners address relationship issues and improve communication.
- Family Counselling
- Facilitated discussions among family members to resolve conflicts and improve relationships.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a counsellor: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the counsellor's experience, location, and the type of therapy provided. Specialised services or qualifications may also lead to higher fees.
Most counselling sessions typically last between 50 to 60 minutes. However, the duration can vary based on individual needs and the specific approach taken by the counsellor.
It depends on your specific needs. General counsellors can address a wide range of issues, while specialists may be more suited for specific conditions, such as trauma or substance abuse.
Some counsellors may offer emergency or same-day appointments, but availability can vary. It's advisable to check with the counsellor or their clinic for urgent support options.
Yes, many counsellors offer packages for multiple sessions, which can be beneficial for ongoing support. Additionally, they may collaborate with other professionals for comprehensive care.
Counselling does not include medical treatment or psychiatric services. If medication or intensive mental health interventions are needed, referrals to medical professionals may be necessary.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in health & wellbeing
Counsellors near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- CORU — public protection FAQs: which registers are open
- CORU — Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board FAQs
- CORU — update on the statutory regulation of psychologists
- Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010, Schedule 1 — exempt activities
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — STRESS COUNSELLING (Medical and miscellaneous services) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only