Counsellors in the UK

Finding a good counsellor or therapist in the UK

Counsellor and psychotherapist are not protected titles in the UK, which means anyone can use them — so the first thing to check is registration with a body accredited by the Professional Standards Authority: the BACP, the UKCP, the NCPS or the BPC. A registered therapist has trained to a set standard, works to an ethics code, is insured and supervised, and can be complained about. Psychologists are different: clinical and counselling psychologists are regulated by the HCPC and 'practitioner psychologist' is a protected title. Psychiatrists are doctors who can prescribe. For most everyday difficulties a registered counsellor or psychotherapist is the right first step.

The approaches vary — person-centred, CBT, psychodynamic, integrative, EMDR for trauma, systemic for couples and families — and the evidence says the relationship with the therapist matters more than the label, which is why a first session is partly an interview in both directions. Most therapists now offer sessions in person, online or by phone, weekly for fifty minutes, with a set fee and a cancellation policy. Some specialise: bereavement, couples, children and adolescents, addiction, trauma, neurodiversity.

NHS talking therapies are free but have waiting lists and a limited number of sessions; private therapy is faster and open-ended, and many therapists offer reduced fees for lower incomes. The listings here show each therapist's reviews, approach, specialisms, whether they work online, and contact details, so you can see who is nearby, who is registered, and who works with what you are facing.

What counsellors and therapists do

Individual counselling and psychotherapy: anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, life changes and anything else you bring, weekly, short-term or open-ended.

Bereavement and loss: grief counselling after a death, a miscarriage, a diagnosis or a divorce, often with specialist training.

Couples and families: relationship counselling, separation and co-parenting, and family therapy that works with the whole system.

Children and young people: play and creative therapies for younger children, and counselling for teenagers, with parents involved as appropriate.

Specialisms: trauma and PTSD (including EMDR), addiction, eating difficulties, OCD, neurodiversity, and workplace and career counselling; plus employer-funded sessions through EAP schemes.

Before you book a therapist

• Check the register: BACP, UKCP, NCPS or BPC for counsellors and psychotherapists, HCPC for psychologists; every legitimate practitioner shows a membership number.
• Ask about their experience with what you are bringing and the approach they use, and whether they offer a short introductory call.
• Ask the fee, the session length, how often, and the cancellation policy, all in writing.
• Decide whether you want in-person, online or a mix; both work, and online widens the choice.
• For a child, ask about their specific training with young people and how parents are involved.
• If the first session does not feel right, say so and try someone else; the fit matters more than the credentials.

What therapy costs in the UK

As a rough guide, a fifty-minute session with a registered counsellor or psychotherapist costs £45 to £70 in most of the country and £60 to £120 in London, with psychologists and highly experienced therapists at £80 to £150. Couples sessions are longer and cost £70 to £120. Many therapists keep a few reduced-fee places for students, low incomes or trainees' clients, and charity services such as Relate and Cruse charge on a sliding scale or nothing. Online sessions are usually the same fee as in person.

Short-term work is often six to twelve sessions; open-ended therapy continues as long as it is useful. The fee is per session and there is no contract beyond the cancellation notice, so the cost is in your control.