NDIS Counselling for Anxiety: Regain Control of Your Life

What NDIS Counselling for Anxiety Looks Like at Ararat Wellness

NDIS counselling for anxiety at Ararat Wellness is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Your counsellor works with you to understand your specific anxiety triggers, how they affect your daily life, and what goals matter most to you. Every session is tailored to your NDIS plan and your personal capacity building objectives.

Our counsellors use evidence-based therapeutic approaches proven to help with anxiety:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps you identify and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns that fuel anxiety. You learn practical strategies to interrupt the worry cycle and respond differently to anxious thoughts.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) builds psychological flexibility. Rather than fighting anxiety, you learn to make room for uncomfortable feelings while still taking action toward what matters to you.
• Mindfulness-based techniques teach you to stay grounded in the present moment, reducing the grip of anticipatory worry and rumination.
• Positive behaviour support strategies help build routines and environments that reduce anxiety triggers and increase your sense of safety and predictability.

Sessions are available face-to-face at our Ararat practice or via secure telehealth. Many NDIS participants prefer telehealth because it removes the anxiety of travelling to an unfamiliar environment, and it means you can access support from anywhere in Australia.

How to Access NDIS-Funded Anxiety Counselling

Getting started with NDIS counselling for anxiety through Ararat Wellness is straightforward. Here is how the process works:

1. Contact our team – Call us on 0400 180 099 or (03) 8592 9305. We’ll answer your questions about NDIS anxiety counselling and check your funding category.
2. Initial consultation – Meet your counsellor (in person or via telehealth). We discuss your anxiety, your goals, and how counselling fits within your NDIS plan.
3. Personalised support plan – Your counsellor creates a tailored plan aligned with your NDIS capacity building goals. This includes which therapeutic approaches suit you best and how frequently you’ll meet.
4. Ongoing support and skill building – Each session builds on the last. You develop practical anxiety management skills, track your progress, and adjust the plan as you grow in confidence.

Counselling for anxiety typically falls under the Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living category of your NDIS plan. If you’re unsure whether your plan covers anxiety counselling, our team can help you check. We also provide services under the Improved Relationships category for participants needing behaviour support.

Who We Help: NDIS Anxiety Support for All Ages

Ararat Wellness provides NDIS anxiety counselling for participants aged 8 and over. Anxiety presents differently depending on age, life stage, and individual circumstances. Our counsellors adapt their approach accordingly:

• Children and adolescents (8+) may experience school refusal, separation anxiety, social anxiety, or meltdowns driven by worry. Our counsellors use age-appropriate techniques to help young people understand and manage their anxiety.
• Adults may face generalised anxiety, panic, social anxiety, health anxiety, or anxiety related to their disability. We focus on building practical coping skills and increasing independence.
• Participants with co-occurring conditions such as autism, intellectual disability, or trauma often experience heightened anxiety. Our team, including a practitioner with a Doctor of Clinical Psychology qualification, understands the intersection of disability and mental health.

Meet the Team Behind Your NDIS Anxiety Counselling

Your counsellor’s qualifications and experience matter, especially for YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) health services. At Ararat Wellness, our team includes:

• Karen Ceccon (Founder) holds a Master of Counselling and Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology), with ACA Level 4 membership. Karen founded Ararat Wellness in 2018 to address the gap in regional mental health services.
• Niva Perera (Senior Behaviour Practitioner) holds a Doctor of Clinical Psychology, bringing advanced clinical knowledge to complex presentations involving anxiety and disability.
• Lauren Walker (NDIS Registered Counsellor) holds a Diploma in Counselling with ACA Level 1 membership, providing warm, person-centred support for NDIS participants.
• Laura Dunning holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling, expanding our capacity to support more NDIS participants across the region.

Every member of our team is committed to ongoing professional development and works within evidence-based frameworks. As a fully registered and audited NDIS provider, Ararat Wellness meets the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission’s standards for both Counselling and Behaviour Support.

Flexible Delivery: In-Person and Telehealth NDIS Counselling

We know that getting to an appointment can be a significant barrier, particularly for NDIS participants experiencing anxiety. That is why we offer two delivery options:

• Face-to-face sessions at our Ararat practice provide a calm, welcoming environment designed to put you at ease.
• Telehealth sessions via secure video call allow you to access the same quality of NDIS anxiety support from home or any comfortable location. Telehealth is available to participants anywhere in Australia, making our services accessible well beyond regional Victoria.

Both options deliver the same evidence-based counselling. Your counsellor will recommend the format that best supports your anxiety management goals.

Take the Next Step Toward Managing Your Anxiety

Living with anxiety is difficult. Accessing the right support through your NDIS plan can make a genuine difference to your daily life, your relationships, and your sense of independence.

If you or someone you support is an NDIS participant experiencing anxiety, contact Ararat Wellness to discuss how our counselling services can help. Call 0400 180 099 or (03) 8592 9305, or reach out through our website.

This information is general in nature and does not replace professional advice. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.