Counselling for Gay and Queer Men in Australia

Based in Melbourne, supporting men online across Australia

You do not have to keep doing this on your own!

  • Constant overthinking that doesn’t switch off

  • Feeling alone, even in relationships

  • Burnout or emotional exhaustion

  • Shame or harsh self-criticism

Book your first counselling session

  • A simple place to begin

  • A space to talk and make sense of what’s going on

  • We go at a pace that feels manageable

  • Online across Australia or in person in Melbourne

  • A steady, supportive process

  • We slow things down and work through what matters, at your pace

  • A limited number of sessions are available each week

You can also start with a free 15-minute Discovery Call

Shaun Williams, counsellor at Bent Couch Counselling, smiling during a session, creating a welcoming and inclusive space for men's and LGBTQ+ mental health support

Men's and LGBTQ+ Counselling

+

A safe space to talk

+

Men's and LGBTQ+ Counselling + A safe space to talk +

BENT - Boldy Exploring & Nurturing Together

+

You don't have to do this alone

+

BENT - Boldy Exploring & Nurturing Together + You don't have to do this alone +

What this space can offer you

  • Feeling less stuck in your own head

  • Being less hard on yourself

  • Starting to understand what you actually need

This is a space to slow things down and explore what is happening underneath the surface

We focus on steady change, not quick fixes

Book your counselling session
Book your counselling session

Why Bent Couch?

Shaun Williams, founder of Bent Couch Counselling, smiling in a professional setting, providing specialised mental health support for men and the LGBTQ+ community

Bent Couch is a space built specifically for gay, bisexual and queer men

I created this practice because I understand how layered our lives can be. Identity, relationships, belonging. Things that are not always understood in general counselling spaces

I am a registered counsellor, a proud Wotjobaluk man, and a dad. I also came out later in life. That lived experience, alongside over 20 years in healthcare, shapes how I work

What you can expect here:

• Direct but compassionate
• Structured but flexible
• Grounded in real-life experience
• Focused on emotional steadiness and practical change

Bent Couch is not about labelling you. It is about helping you understand how you adapted, why those patterns formed, and how to reshape them in ways that feel more honest and sustainable

If you are looking for a space where you do not have to explain the basics of who you are, you are in the right place.

More About Us
More About Us

Testimonials

Three men are shown in a social media style graphic with colorful speech bubbles. The man in the yellow bubble is smiling and resting his chin on his hand, the man in the green bubble is smiling at the camera, and the man in the red bubble is smiling with his hand near his chin. The speech bubbles have thumbs-up and smiley face icons.

“Shaun has been invaluable to me in my journey to be the real and happy me. He follows up to be sure I’m doing okay and to offer assistance should I need it. He is responsible for a large support network where people like me can connect and not feel alone. I HIGHLY recommend him.” — Ray

Shaun has helped me through several personal issues dealing with my children, my grandchildren and the rest of my family. With his support I have had the strength to confront some really strong issues, including the fact that my youngest grandson is gay, and I was able to help him come out and keep support from the family at age 15.” — Cary

“

More testimonials
More testimonials

Latest Articles & News

Featured
A Counsellor’s Guide to Intimacy and Connection for Gay Men
Shaun Williams
A Counsellor’s Guide to Intimacy and Connection for Gay Men
Shaun Williams

Want deeper intimacy and real connection? Learn what gets in the way for gay men and how to build safer, more fulfilling relationships that actually last.

Read More →
Shaun Williams
Why Do Gay Couples Stop Talking About the Important Things?
Shaun Williams
Why Do Gay Couples Stop Talking About the Important Things?
Shaun Williams

Noticing conversations fading in your relationship? Learn why gay couples stop talking, what it means for you, and how to rebuild honest, meaningful connection.

Read More →
Shaun Williams
What Is Self-Intimacy for Gay Men? A Practical Guide
Shaun Williams
What Is Self-Intimacy for Gay Men? A Practical Guide
Shaun Williams

Curious what self-intimacy really means for gay men? Learn how understanding yourself can build confidence, deepen connection, and support your mental health.

Read More →
Shaun Williams
What Gay Couples Need Before Opening a Relationship
Shaun Williams
What Gay Couples Need Before Opening a Relationship
Shaun Williams

Thinking about opening your relationship? Discover what helps you feel secure, communicate clearly, and protect intimacy before making any changes.

Read More →
Shaun Williams
Read more
Read more

Follow us on Instagram

View fullsize There are things gay men say to themselves that rarely get said out loud. Not because they are small. Because they have become normal. Normal to question your worth. Normal to compare yourself. Normal to carry something quietly while still showing
View fullsize Therapy is not there to fix you. Most people arrive thinking something in them is wrong. That if they could just sort it out, settle it, or get over it, life would finally feel easier. But that is not what happens. You start to see where things c
View fullsize There is a lot of messaging about fixing what can be seen. Your body. Your appearance. How you look on the outside. But in my work with gay and queer men, the weight that often goes unnoticed is not visible like this. It is the constant holding.
View fullsize We grew up hearing “gay” used as an insult and we learned what not to be For a lot of us, it did not start with identity. It started with avoidance. “Gay” was something you did not want to be called. “Gay” was so
View fullsize Many men have learnt how to look okay. They go to work. They reply to messages. They show up in relationships. And underneath that, there can still be anxiety, exhaustion, or a quiet sense of disconnection. A lot of men do not reach out because th
View fullsize Hey gay man, there is nothing wrong with you A lot of this was learned slowly, over time in ways that made sense back then But what helped you survive does not always help you stay connected now This is where things begin to shift Gently Honestly
View fullsize Some people will never understand why this work matters. And sometimes, they make that very clear. I received an abusive message through my website this week. It did not shock me. But it did remind me of something important. For many gay and quee

Everyone is welcome on our bent couch

+

Everyone is welcome on our bent couch +

Let’s Connect

+

Let’s Connect +