MEB Counselling

Home / Rural and remote counselling

From the Torres Strait, across Australia

Remote should not mean unsupported.

Confidential online counselling for people living and working in rural, regional and remote communities. Support that understands distance, limited local services, small-community privacy and the pressure of being one of the people others rely on.

Based on Thursday IslandAustralia-wide telehealthNo referral required
See available appointments
Stacked stones in an Australian coastal landscape

Counselling with remote reality in mind

Distance changes what access and privacy look like.

Living remotely can bring connection, purpose and community. It can also mean long waits, travel, unreliable services and the awkwardness of knowing the person at the clinic, the school and the supermarket.

Meg practises from Waibene (Thursday Island) in the Torres Strait. You do not need to explain why “just see someone locally” may not be possible, why confidentiality can feel complicated in a small community, or why work and community roles are difficult to separate.

Common pressures

The context belongs in the conversation.

Limited choice of services

Local supports may be scarce, transient, booked out or personally connected to you. Telehealth creates another option.

High-responsibility roles

Health, education, community, emergency and caring roles can bring isolation, ethical pressure and relentless visibility.

Privacy in a small community

It can be difficult to ask for help when personal and professional networks overlap. Attend from a private place that works for you.

Distance from family and services

Relocation, weather, transport, housing and separation can compound stress and make recovery harder to organise.

Accessible telehealth

Choose the format that asks the least of you.

Book online

Review appointment times and details without making an initial phone call. No referral is required.

Use phone, secure video or chat

Video is not compulsory. Phone can work better with bandwidth, privacy or screen fatigue, and chat may be available when speaking feels inaccessible.

Bring the whole situation

Sessions can hold emotional distress and the practical realities around it: work, family, community, health, services and distance.

Who MEB supports

For people living remotely—and people working at the hard end.

  • Adults, couples and families in rural, regional and remote Australia
  • Social workers, health professionals, educators and community workers
  • People experiencing burnout, grief, trauma or relationship pressure
  • People navigating complex mental health alongside limited local options
  • Neurodivergent adults who need flexible, low-demand access
  • People who want an experienced practitioner outside their local network

Rural and remote helping professionals

Interested in the next facilitated online group?

A proposed 4–8 week series for helping professionals carrying visibility, isolation, ethical weight, limited services and being one of the people everyone calls. Sessions are 50 minutes online, with an indicative fee of A$40 per session.

EOI for the next rural and remote group

A steady space, wherever you are.

View available telehealth appointments and choose phone, secure video or chat. MEB Counselling supports clients throughout Australia.

View appointments

Questions

Practical answers for remote appointments.

Do I have to live in the Torres Strait?

No. Meg is based on Thursday Island and provides telehealth counselling to clients across Australia.

What if my internet is unreliable?

Phone sessions are available and may be a more reliable option. You can choose the appointment format that suits your access.

How do I find privacy?

Some clients attend from a private office, parked car or another safe location. The important thing is that you can speak without being overheard and are not driving during the session.

Is MEB Counselling a crisis service?

No. Call 000 if there is immediate danger. Lifeline is available throughout Australia on 13 11 14.

See available times