We will aim to allocate you within 6-8 weeks of your initial assessment, but these wait times can vary quite a lot depending on various factors. For example, as we have a limited number of counsellors and set times of operation; if you have very limited availability for when you can see someone, it can be a while before that specific slot becomes free. If you specify that you can only do one format of counselling, strictly online or face-to-face only, this can also take longer to find for you. Other times the wait is increased because of counsellor holidays (ie: during summer time) or lots of people all accessing the service.

The initial counselling assessment is a vital first step designed to understand your unique needs and establish a strong foundation for your therapeutic journey. During this session, the assessor will seek to expand upon the information you've given in your intake form. The assessment will help to clarify your goals, find out a little more about your background and reasons for seeking counselling. It will involve a short risk assessment, as well as a series of questions called a 'Core 10' to establish your current level of psychological distress. All of these factors will help the allocations team to ensure that the right counsellor is chosen for you.

The initial assessment costs £20. The cost of ongoing counselling sessions varies from person to person based on what they're able to afford. Usually, this starts at £15 per session, but can be less for those finding things very difficult financially.

We use PayPal POS (formerly known as Zettle) as our payment management system. You'll either pay in advance of sessions via secure links sent from your counsellor over email, or (if you're face-to-face) you'll pay your counsellor directly via 'tap-to-pay' at the end of the session. Whichever you prefer.