One key barrier to the accessibility of therapy is the cost. Private therapy usually ranges from £40 to £100 per session, with the average fee being around £50 in the UK. For many people this simply makes therapy unaffordable, and whilst the NHS offers free therapy services, the waiting lists are long and often only for short-term therapy. For those on low incomes or not working there are other options. Student therapists from the second year of training onward gain supervised experience from working at their training institutions, or at low cost charity organisations. Some of these organisations will also offer services from fully qualified counsellors.
The following is a list of some of the London-based counselling organisations that offer free or low cost counselling and some local specialist services in the area.
Community Counselling
St Bart’s Community Centre, 292b Barking Road, East Ham E6 3BA
Phone: 020 8524 9711 / 075 4789 3700 Email: www.communitycounselling.org.uk
Fees: from £6
ELMS in Waltham Forest Community Counselling Service
ELMS in Waltham Forest, 388-392 High Road, Leyton E10 6QE
Phone: 020 3598 8021 Email: counselling@elms-in-wf.org.uk / http://www.phptrial1234.com/
Fees: Free.
Cruse Bereavement Care
National service
Phone: 0808 808 1677 Website: www.cruse.org.uk/get-help/local-services
Phoenix Counselling Service
Address: 591 Heathway, Dagenham, Essex RM9 5AZ
Phone: 020 8595 9633 / 079 4194 3916
Fees: from £15
NAFSIYAT Intercultural Therapy
Address: Unit 4 Lysander Mews, Lysander Grove, Archway, London N19 3QP
Phone: 020 7263 6947 Website: www.nafsiyat.org.uk/index.php/therapy-via-referral/
Fees: Currently offer intercultural therapy to people living in the London boroughs of Camden, Islington, Enfield and Haringey. This therapy is short-term only, but available at no charge.
Ascent Counselling Services at Women & Girls’ Network (part of Solace Women’s Aid)
Phone: 020 7610 4678 Email: ascentcounselling@wgn.org.uk / www.solacewomensaid.org/
Fees: Free, women-only service that supports women in London who have experienced violence, or are at risk of violence.
ELOP East London Out Project
Address: 56/60 Grove Road, Walthamstow E17 9BN
Phone: 020 8509 3898 Email: counselling@elop.org / www.elop.org
Fees: Low-cost service for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual people. It operates on a low cost sliding-scale (based on annual income). We are unable to offer open-ended counselling but have set contracts of 14, 28 and 42 sessions for our individual (1 to 1) counselling service. We also offer couples counselling, youth counselling and therapy groups.
The Centre for Better Health
Address: 1A Darnley Road, Hackney E9 6QH
Phone: 020 8985 3570 Email: admin@centreforbetterhealth.org.uk / www.centreforbetterhealth.org.uk
Fees: Offers a low cost integrative counselling service that adheres to BACP guidelines. Fees begin at £5 for unemployed and can range to £20 for employed persons.
The Awareness Centre
Address: 41 Abbeville Rd, Clapham Common, London SW4 9JX
Phone: 020 8673 4545 Website: https://theawarenesscentre.com/therapy-services/low-cost-counselling/
Crossroads Counselling
Address: 144 Roman Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 0RY
Phone: 020 8981 8388 Email: info@crossroadscounselling.org / www.crossroadscounselling.org
Fees: Crossroads offer affordable counselling for any adult who is resident or working in Tower Hamlets.
Bow Haven
A user run mental health centre based in Tower Hamlets. They also accept referrals for clients with schizophrenia and BPD.
Address: Bow Community Hall, 1 William Place, Roman Road, London E3 5ED
Phone: 020 7364 5531 Email: www.bowhaven.org.uk
EACH Counselling
Address: Vine House, 1-2 Factory Yard, Hanwell, London W7 3UG
Phone: 020 8577 6059 Website: www.eachcounselling.org.uk/
Solace Women’s Aid
Offers weekly long-term counselling for women recovering from experiences of trauma - domestic and sexual violence.
Address: Unit 5-7, Blenheim Court, 62 Brewery Road – London, N7 9NY Email; counselling@solacewomensaid.org
Phone: 020 76191360 (between 9am and 1pm)
Help Counselling Centre
Address: 57 Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, London W11 3DB
Phone: 020 7221 9974 Website: https://www.helpcounselling.com/
Sliding scale based on income with minimum fee of £10.
Muslim Bereavement Support Service
This is a registered charity serving the Muslim community by supporting bereaved women who have lost a loved one, providing spiritual context to the bereavement support services.
Address: PO Box 2241, Ilford, IG1 9UX
Phone: 020 3468 7333 Email: info@mbss.org.uk Website: http://mbss.org.uk/home-page/
Waterloo Community Counselling
Address: Greet House, Frazier St, Bishop's, London SE1 7BD
Phone: 020 7928 3462 Website: https://www.waterloocc.co.uk/
Fees: Free for asylum seekers or refugees.
Relate
Phone: 0845 456 1310 Website: www.relate.org.uk
Relationship Counselling from local centres. eg. Bromley, Croydon, Dartford etc.
Training Centres that have a low cost counselling and psychotherapy service with students under supervision:
Westminster Pastoral Foundation
WPF Therapy, 23 Magdalen Street, SE1 2EN
Phone: 020 7378 2000 Email: counselling@wpf.org.uk Website: www.wpf.org.uk
Fees on a sliding scale.
CPPD Counselling School
Unit 1-2 Palace Gates, The Campsbourne, Hornsey, London N8 7PN
Phone: 020 8341 4843 Email: counselling@cppd.co.uk Website: https://cppdlondon.com/low-cost-counselling/
Fees on a sliding scale from £10-25 per session.
Guild of Psychotherapists
47 Nelson Square SE1 0QA
Phone: 020 7401 3266 (The administrator is available to answer the phone Tuesday to Friday) Email: admin@guildofpsychotherapists.org.uk Website: www.guildofpsychotherapists.org.uk
There is a sliding scale of charges ranging from £4 - £20 per session, with an initial consultation costing £7 - £25.
Psychosynthesis & Education Trust
92/94 Tooley Street, SE1 2TH
Phone: 020 7403 7814 Email: cservice@petrust.org.uk Website: https://psychosynthesistrust.org.uk/counselling/
Counselling can be offered to those who cannot pay the full session fee and who are considered suitable to work with 2nd and 3rd year training counsellors supervised by the Trust. If you are interested in this scheme, please say so when making contact.
Institute of Family Therapy
24/32 Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2HX
Phone: 020 8579 2505 Email: clinical@instituteoffamilytherapy.org.uk Website: www.instituteoffamilytherapy.org.uk
The Minster Centre
Address: 20 Lonsdale Road, Queen’s Park, NW6 6RD
Phone: 020 7644 6242 / 020 7644 6240 Email: counselling@minstercentre.org.uk / www.minstercentre.org.uk
Fees: Low-cost Counselling and Psychotherapy Service.
* The above list is intended as a guide and is not a personal recommendation of the effectiveness of the individual services.
** Fees provided as estimate and may have changed since publication.
