Help Counselling: Fees: Minimum fee £25-35. Online and In Person, UK-wide

MIND: A UK-wide mental health charity offering different kinds of support including low-cost counselling. 

Relate: Affordable couples therapy: Fees: Means tested. Various local centres UK wide.

The Mix: Free online counselling service for under 26's: UK Wide.

Arbours Association: Fees: £30-60 per session. London-wide.

The Association for Group and Individual Psychotherapy (AGIP): Group and individual work offered: Fees: £8-25 per session. Full fee assessments and psychotherapy offered. London-wide.

The Bowlby Centre: Minimum of two session per week and 18 month commitment: Fees: £20 per session. London-wide

The British Psychotherapy Foundation: Minimum commitment of 2 years, three times a week: Fees: £10-25 per session. London-wide.

Headstrong: Fees: £45 assessment, then £15-40 per session. London-wide.

Inner City Centre: Fees: Sliding scale according to income. London-wide. 

The Association for Group and Individual Psychotherapy (AGIP): Group and individual work offered: Fees: £8-25 per session. Full fee assessments and psychotherapy offered London-wide. N19 3EW.

The Brandon Centre: Counselling and psychotherapy for young people (16-24) in Islington and Camden. Coaching and Wellbeing service also available. Fees: Free. NW5 3LG.

Camden Listening & Counselling Centre: Fees: £5 initial consultation, then £15-25 per session. NW1 8NJ.

Camden Psychotherapy Unit: Group therapy also offered: Fees: Free and low fee options, up to two years. NW5 3NT.

Centre for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD): Fees: £50 assessment, then £15-35 per session. N8 7PN. 

Claremont Project: For people who live and work in Islington. Couples therapy also available: Fees: £10-30 per session. N1 9PD.

Gestalt Centre: Group work available: Fees: £25-50: NW1 0PT.

Help Counselling: Fees: Minimum fee £25. N1 9PD.

Highgate Counselling Centre: Fees: Negotiable. N6 5HX.

iCope: NHS service for London Boroughs of Camden and Islington residents. Self-referral via form on website. 

London Borough of Islington Counselling Service: For people of all genders who live in the Borough of Islington and who are survivors of domestic or sexual violence.

London Friend: For LGBTIQ people and those who may be questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity: Fees: Vary according to income. N1 9DN.

Manor House Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling: Fees: £50 assessment, ongoing sessions from £20. N2 2SY. 

Maya Centre: Counselling for Women: For women living in Islington, Hackney, Haringey, and Camden who have experienced trauma including domestic violence, physical or sexual abuse, war and conflict: Fees: Free (12 sessions). N19 4AJ. 

Mind in Islington: Islington mind provides counselling of up to 20 sessions to residents of Islington. N19 4RU. 

Minister Centre: Group work available: Fees: £15-40 assessment, sliding scale for further sessions. NW6 6 RD.

Re-Vision: Counselling with a spiritual perspective: Fees: £20 assessment, further session £12-35. NW6 6RY.

Society of Analytical Psychology (SAP): A commitment to 1-4 session per  week for 1-2 years required: Fees: £90 assessment (2 session) for low income, further sessions on application. NW3 5BY.

Spiral Holistic Therapy Centre: Fees: £11-60. N7 6DL.

Tavistock Clinic - Young People's Consultation Service: Free within the NHS. Up to four meetings. Available in Barnet (up to 25 years old), Camden (16-30), Hammersmith & Fulham (18-30). NW3 5BA.

Women and Heath: Counselling for women registered with a Camden GP Available to male client on Thursday and Friday from 5pm: Fees: Free (Short term); £15-45 (Long term). NW1 OHU.

Woman's Trust (Recovery from Domestic Abuse): Offers 18 weeks of free therapy, support groups and workshops also available. NW1W 7QL.

Centre for Better Health: Fees: £5-40. E9 6QH. 

Community Counselling - East Ham: Fees: £15-25. E6 3BA.

Help Counselling: Fees: Minimum £25. EC1A 2EJ

Mind in City and Hackney: City and Hackney Mind provide a wide range of free services including counselling to people who are registered with a GP in Hackney or the City of London. E9 7SN.

MIND in Tower Hamlets: Mind in Tower Hamlets provides counselling of up to 8 sessions to residents of Tower Hamlets and Newham: E3 4DA.

Off Centre: Free counselling or art therapy for young people aged between 16 and 25 who live in the City & Hackney and who have a City & Hackney GP: E9 6FJ.

Step Forward: Free counselling and advice for 11-25 year olds on wellbeing, sexual health, personal development, LGBTQ+ and mental health. Available to people living in and around Tower Hamlets. E2 0AA.

The Awareness Centre: Fees: £40 per session (Clapham), some free NHS service, full fee private service available. W1G 9RJ (Marylebone).

Centre for Counselling & Psychotherapy (CCPE): Fees: from £35 per session. W2 6NE.

Ealing Abbey Counselling Service: For residents of Ealing and neighbouring boroughs. Some couples counselling available: Fees on a sliding scale. W5 2XP.

Gay Men's Therapy: Psychotherapy and counselling service for gay men and men attracted to men: Fees: £40-60. WC1H 0AF. 

Help Counselling: Fees: Minimum £25. W1G 9RT and W2 6NE.

London Clinic of Psychoanalysis: Long-term commitment, 5-times-a-week psychoanalysis: Fees: £5 minimum per session: W9 2BT.

Metanoia Institute: Group work available: Fees: £25 assessment, £5-35 per session. W5 2QB. 

Albany Trust: Specialising in relationships and sexuality: Fees: £30-50 for assessment. SW17 7BE.

The Awareness Centre: Fees: £40 per session, some free NHS service, full fee private service available. SW4 9JX (Clapham) and SW17 7PB (Tooting).

Guild of Psychotherapists: Clinic for people on low income living in Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham. Referral service for private psychoanalytic psychotherapy across London and surrounds: Fees: £35 consultation, the £5 session minimum. SE1 0QA.

Help Counselling: Fees: Minimum £25. SW15 2SP.

The Koan Practice - Reduced Cost: RCC – Reduced Cost Counselling at £25 per session for full-time students. W1W6AB

Number 42: Fees: £50 assessment, £15 minimum per session. SE1 1XW.

Psychosynthesis Trust: Fees: £25 includes registration and assessment, session fees dependent on income. SE1 2TH.

Waterloo Community Counselling: Counselling offered for up to 2 years: Fees: Based on income. SE1 7BD. 

These are explained here https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/ 

MIND have also produced a a good introductory guide explaining different types of therapy and ways to access counselling/therapy: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/talking-therapy-and-counselling/about-talking-therapies/

It's important you see a professionally registered or accredited therapist. To find out more, see here: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/accreditation.html

See also the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) guide to choosing a therapist which explains the different routes into talking therapy. It includes questions to ask the therapist before you choose (page 5): https://www.bacp.co.uk/media/6811/bacp-choosing-counsellor-psychotherapist-c3.pdf

Expect to pay approx. £50-£70+ per session in London (usually lower fees outside London). Some counsellors offer ‘sliding scale fees’ or ‘concessions’ depending on your income; flexibility with ‘off-peak’ daytime appointments helps. Many therapists offer a free initial phone call for about 15-30 minutes but usually charge for the first full appointment ("assessment” or consultation session).

BACP is a membership organisation that sets standards for therapeutic practice and provides information for therapists, clients of therapy, and the general public.

Counselling directory is a database of counsellors and psychotherapists working in private practice with information on their training and experience, fees and contact details

BABCP is the lead organisation for CBT in the UK

BPC is a leading organisation for psychoanalytic psychotherapy 

UKCP is a leading organisation for psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors 

The Free Psychotherapy Network website lists free and low cost services for ongoing psychological therapies.

A group can be the ideal place to explore social and relationship problems. 

A directory of counsellors and psychotherapists

Pink Therapy: For gender, sex, and relationship diverse clients

Gendered Intelligence: Networks of therapists and counsellors who wish to offer their services to trans people and their families and partners.

Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN): A directory of private therapists of colour and a range of wellbeing resources. 

On Your Side: Provide support and reporting mechanisms for individuals from East and Southeast Asian communities who have experiences or witnessed racism or hate. A free 24/7 helpline available in languages specific to East and Southeast Asian communities, online resources, and community-based support. 

Neurodivergent Therapists: A directory of therapists helping neurodivergent clients find neurodivergent providers. 

Frank - honest information about drugs: talktofrank.com

Drink Aware - support for understanding drinking and reducing alcohol consumption: drinkaware.co.uk

Alcoholics Anonymous - support and recovery for those having trouble with drinking: alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

NHS - information about getting help for drugs: nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/drug-addiction-getting-help/ 

Antidote - LGBT run and targeted drug and alcohol support service: londonfriend.org.uk/antidote-drugs-alcohol

Anxiety UK - support and resources for living with anxiety: anxietyuk.org.uk

Students Against Depression - advice, information and guidance to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking: studentsagainstdepression.org

Mind - what is stress? Mind.org.uk

Women and Girls Network - advice and helplines: wgn.org.uk/our-services/advice-and-helplines 

Refuge - 24hr national domestic abuse hotline: nationaldahelpline.org.uk

Beat Eating Disorders - information and support: beateatingdisorders.org.uk

GamCare - the leading national provider of free information, advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling: gamcare.org.uk

Mind - about self-harm: mind.org.uk

RASASC - Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (free helpline): rasasc.org.uk

Victim Support - get help after experiencing crime: victimsupport.org.uk

Samaritans - 24/7 support via phone or email: samaritans.org

Campaign Against Living Miserably - suicide support and prevention: thecalmzone.net

Papyrus - prevention of young suicide: papyrus-uk.org