Online therapy is a full therapy session held over secure video rather than in a room. You speak to a licensed clinician for the same length of time, about the same things, using the same methods. What changes is the travel, the parking and the hour of your day it used to cost. For most people seeking help for anxiety, low mood, burnout, relationship strain or a life transition, the research finds no meaningful difference in outcome between online and in person work.
How online therapy works at Relationary
Every new client starts with a free 15-minute call. That call is not therapy. It exists so we understand what you are dealing with and can match you to the right clinician rather than the next available one, and so you can ask whatever you need to before committing to anything. From there you decide: book a consultation, or begin therapy.
Sessions run on secure video. Our clinicians are registered with Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia and MAHPC, and the team works in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil. Evening and weekend slots exist because most people cannot take a weekday afternoon off indefinitely.
Being online does not mean being on a platform of anonymous strangers. You see the same clinician each time, they hold your history, and if the fit is wrong you tell us and we rematch you. If at any point we judge that in person work would serve you better, we say so and offer it. We are a physical practice in Subang Jaya, not an app.
Online therapy suits you if
- You live outside the Klang Valley and have few licensed options nearby
- Your schedule cannot absorb travel time on top of the session
- You are more honest in your own space than in a consulting room
- You are a Malaysian living abroad and want a clinician who knows the context you came from
- You have tried to start therapy before and the logistics defeated you
We will suggest meeting in person if
- You are in crisis or at risk, where remote care is not appropriate
- You need a formal assessment that requires in-room administration
- Play therapy for a younger child would be materially better face to face
- You have tried online sessions with us and they are not landing
Session rates
Every new client starts with a free 15-minute call, at no cost and with no obligation. After it you can book a consultation or begin therapy directly. Rates start at RM 150 for a consultation and RM 200 for a therapy session.
Consultation
| Service | Session | From |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | 30 minutes | RM 150 |
| Child and youth | 60 minutes | RM 250 |
| Couples | 60 minutes | RM 300 |
| Family | 60 minutes | RM 300 |
Therapy sessions
| Service | Session | From |
|---|---|---|
| Individual therapy | 50 minutes | RM 200 |
| Child and youth therapy | 50 minutes | RM 200 |
| Couples counselling | 75 minutes | RM 390 |
| Family therapy | 75 minutes | RM 390 |
Your first therapy session is an intake. It costs the same as a regular session but runs longer, 75 minutes for individual and child work and 100 minutes for couples and family, because there is history to gather before the work itself can start.
Beyond that, your rate depends on two things: the tier and specialisation of the therapist you are matched with, and which assessments your care includes. More experienced clinicians and more comprehensive assessment work carry a higher session rate.
Committing to a Journey Plan lowers the per-session rate by 10% to 25%, depending on the length of the programme.
Not sure what you need? That is what the free 15-minute call is for.
Common questions
Is online therapy as effective as meeting in person?
For the concerns most people bring to us, yes. Anxiety, depression, burnout, relationship difficulty and adjustment to a major life change all respond to online work at rates comparable to in person sessions. The exceptions are narrow and we are direct about them: acute crisis, certain formal assessments that must be administered in a room, and some play therapy with younger children. If your situation is one of those, we will tell you rather than take the booking.
How do I find a licensed online therapist in Malaysia?
Check registration first. In Malaysia, counsellors are registered with Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia and psychologists with MAHPC, and any legitimate practice will name its clinicians and their credentials rather than describe them generically. Be cautious of platforms that will not tell you who you are speaking to until after you have paid. At Relationary every clinician is named on our team page with their qualifications and the languages they work in.
What does online counselling cost in Malaysia?
A consultation starts at RM 150 for 30 minutes with an individual, RM 250 for 60 minutes for child and youth work, and RM 300 for 60 minutes for couples and family. Therapy sessions start at RM 200 for individual and child work and RM 390 for couples and family. Rates rise with the tier and specialisation of the clinician you are matched with and with the assessments involved. Journey Plans reduce the per-session rate by 10% to 25%. The first 15-minute call is free.
What is the difference between a consultation and an intake session?
A consultation is a short paid conversation with a clinician, from 30 minutes for individuals and 60 minutes for child, couples and family work. People book one when they want a professional read on their situation before deciding whether to commit to therapy. An intake is the first session of therapy proper. It costs the same as a regular session but runs longer, 75 minutes for individual and child work and 100 minutes for couples and family, because your clinician needs your history before the work can be planned.
Is an online session actually confidential?
Sessions run on encrypted video and your clinical records are held under the same confidentiality obligations that apply to in person work. The part most people underestimate is their own end. We will talk with you about where you take the session from, because a room where you can close the door matters more to how the hour goes than any technical detail. Headphones help. So does telling the people you live with that you are unavailable for that hour.
Can couples attend an online session from two different places?
Yes, and sometimes it is the only way the session happens at all, for example where one partner travels for work or you are in different cities. It works best when both of you can be somewhere private and undisturbed. Where both partners are in the same house, we usually suggest sitting together in one room, because a large part of couples work is what happens between you in real time rather than what each of you says to the therapist.
Start with a free 15-minute call
Tell us what is going on and we will match you with the right clinician. No cost, no obligation, and nothing to prepare.