Multicultural Counselling and Multilingual Therapy Services

In today’s increasingly globalised world, mental health care must reflect the diversity of the people it serves. For many migrants, international students, and culturally diverse communities in Australia, traditional counselling services may not fully address their needs. Language barriers, cultural differences, and unfamiliar health systems can make seeking help feel intimidating or inaccessible.

That is where multicultural counselling and multilingual services come in. At Live Your Story Counselling & Psychotherapy, we understand that culture and language are central to how people experience and express their emotions, relationships, and challenges. Our therapists provide culturally sensitive, evidence-based counselling in English, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, and Hakka.

We believe that therapy is most effective when you can speak freely in your own language, within a context that values and respects your cultural background.

What is Multicultural Counselling?

Multicultural counselling is an approach that integrates awareness of cultural values, identity, and lived experiences into therapy. It recognises that mental health is not shaped by biology alone; it is deeply influenced by family systems, cultural traditions, migration experiences, and social expectations. This form of counselling acknowledges:

• The role of cultural identity in shaping thoughts, emotions, and coping strategies.
• The impact of migration stress, including homesickness, language barriers, discrimination, and cultural shock.
• The importance of community, spirituality, and tradition in healing and wellbeing.
• The need for therapy that is both inclusive and adaptable across cultures.
   

By incorporating these perspectives, multicultural counselling services ensure that therapy is not “one-size-fits-all” but instead tailored to your unique background.

Why Multilingual Therapy Matters?

Language is more than a communication tool; it shapes how we think, feel, and connect. For many people, discussing deeply personal issues in a second language can feel limiting or even impossible. That’s why our team provides multilingual therapy in seven languages:

• English
• Mandarin Chinese (普通话)
• Cantonese (廣東話)
• Bahasa Melayu (Malay)
• Bahasa Indonesia
• Thai (ภาษาไทย)
• Hakka (客家話)
   

This allows clients to:

• Express emotions more naturally in their first language.
• Build trust with therapists who understand their cultural context.
• Avoid miscommunication or misunderstanding in therapy.
• Feel seen and valued as whole individuals, not just as “clients.”
   

Who Can Benefit from Multicultural Counselling?

International students

Australia welcomes hundreds of thousands of international students every year, offering world-class education and diverse cultural experiences. Yet, studying abroad is not always easy. Many students face stress, homesickness, cultural shock, financial uncertainty, and pressure to succeed academically. Struggles with English fluency or difficulties forming new social connections can also lead to isolation, anxiety, or depression. Multicultural counselling provides international students with a safe and supportive space to express their concerns in a culturally sensitive way. Through emotional support, practical stress-management strategies, and cross-cultural understanding, counselling helps students adapt to their new environment, build resilience, and achieve balance in both their studies and personal lives.

Migrants and newly arrived residents

For migrants and newly arrived residents, the transition to life in Australia often brings profound changes. Many experience identity shifts, settlement challenges, and changes in family roles, which can feel overwhelming. Migrants may also encounter discrimination, racism, or cultural misunderstandings, making it harder to feel a sense of belonging. Counselling offers support by addressing these challenges directly, whether it’s adjusting to new cultural expectations, navigating visa or housing stress, or resolving intergenerational family conflicts. By providing culturally aware and compassionate guidance, multicultural counselling can help migrants settle more smoothly and build confidence in their new lives.

Culturally diverse couples or families

Families from multicultural backgrounds often juggle different cultural values, parenting styles, and generational expectations, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or tension. Cross-cultural parenting challenges, intergenerational conflicts, and relationship stress are common issues. Multicultural counselling provides a neutral, safe environment for families to explore these differences together. With the guidance of a trained therapist, families can strengthen communication, resolve conflicts, and develop healthier dynamics that respect each member’s cultural identity while fostering harmony in the household.

LGBTIQA+ Communities Across Cultures

For LGBTIQA+ individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds, navigating both identity and cultural expectations can be particularly difficult. Stigma, cultural taboos, or lack of acceptance from family and community may contribute to feelings of isolation, fear, or distress. Multicultural counselling provides a safe, inclusive, and non-judgmental space where identity and cultural context are both respected. Our therapists work to affirm clients’ identities, support healthy relationships, and help individuals build resilience while maintaining cultural sensitivity.

What are some of the issues we commonly support?

Our multilingual and multicultural counselling services are designed to support a wide range of mental health and wellbeing concerns:

• Stress, depression, and anxiety related to cultural adjustment.
• Trauma and abuse, including PTSD and domestic violence.
• Relationship and marriage issues within multicultural contexts.
• Cross-cultural identity struggles for migrants and international students.
• Family conflicts stemming from cultural or generational differences.
• Workplace bullying, discrimination, and career challenges.
• Adjustment issues for neurodiverse individuals in multicultural communities.

Migration is often described as one of life’s most stressful transitions. For many, it involves leaving behind family, culture, and language to start anew. This can lead to:

• Loss and grief for the life left behind.
• Fear and uncertainty around visa status.
• Emotional strain during immigration processes or appeals.
• Identity challenges, such as feeling “caught between two cultures.”
   

Our team has experience preparing expert witness mental health reports for immigration matters and providing counselling that addresses the unique pressures of migration and settlement.

Why choose Live Your Story for Multicultural Counselling?

At Live Your Story Counselling & Psychotherapy, we offer more than just therapy. We provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive space where your culture and language are respected as vital parts of your healing journey. What makes us different are:

• Multilingual therapists – therapy available in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Malay, Indonesian, Thai, and Hakka.
• Culturally sensitive practice – therapy designed with respect for traditions, beliefs, and values.
• Inclusive environment – affirming for LGBTIQA+ individuals and culturally diverse communities.
• Evidence-based approaches – proven therapies tailored to your needs.
• Recognition by Medicare and NDIS – making therapy more affordable and accessible.
• Accessible telehealth services – counselling available across Australia and for international students.
   

If you are eligible for a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) from your GP, you may receive Medicare rebates for up to 10 counselling sessions per year. Our services are also available to NDIS participants under the psychosocial disability category. Sessions are conducted via secure telehealth or Zoom, making them convenient no matter where you are.

Seeking help is a courageous step, especially when cultural or language differences make it harder to access support. With our multicultural counselling and multilingual therapy services, you don’t have to choose between your culture and your wellbeing—you can have both. At Live Your Story, we are here to walk alongside you, in your language, with compassion and respect.

Take the first step today by visiting www.liveyourstory.com.au, emailing admin@liveyourstory.com.au, or calling 03-9999 7377.