Frequently Asked Questions

Counselling provides a safe, confidential space to explore whatever may be troubling you. It’s a collaborative process in which you and your counsellor work together to make sense of your thoughts, feelings and experiences, and to support you in developing greater self-understanding and emotional wellbeing.

People come to counselling for many different reasons. These might include anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, loss and bereavement, low self-esteem, trauma, life transitions, or simply a sense of being “stuck.” Find out more about some of these issues.

You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy — it can also be a space for personal growth, reflection and change.

Sessions are usually held weekly with the same counsellor, either in person or online. Over time, a trusting relationship develops that allows you to explore experiences at your own pace. Your counsellor won’t give advice, but will help you reflect, understand and find your own way forward.

Therapy with Help is offered on an open-ended basis, allowing you to continue for as long as it feels helpful. Most clients stay in therapy for several months, and many choose to work longer term.

Yes. What you discuss in counselling is treated as confidential. The only exceptions are rare situations where your counsellor has a legal or ethical duty to share information to protect you or someone else from serious harm. These limits will be explained clearly in your first session.

Most of our counsellors are integrative practitioners, which means they draw on a range of therapeutic models (such as person-centred, psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioural approaches) to suit each client’s unique needs.

All counsellors are in the later stages of professional training, working under regular supervision. We also offer sessions with qualified therapists through our Help Counselling Plus Service.

No. You can contact us directly to arrange counselling — there’s no need for a GP referral.

Sessions are usually held weekly at the same time each week. This regular rhythm helps create safety and continuity in the work.

Each counselling session lasts 50 minutes.

There’s no fixed number. Some clients come for a few months; others continue longer term. You and your counsellor will review your progress periodically and discuss what feels right for you.

Our fees are based on a sliding scale according to income, helping to make counselling accessible to as many people as possible.

More information about fees can be found on our Fees page.

Yes. For those clients who struggle to afford our standard prices, we can discuss other options depending on your circumstances.

You can get started by booking an assessment session. Alternatively you can contact us and we will guide you through the process

Payment is usually made by bank transfer or online payment within 24 hours of the session taking place. Details will be confirmed when you begin therapy.

Waiting times vary depending on counsellor availability, your preferred location or online option, and any specific requirements you have, e.g. the counsellor’s gender, age or ethnicity. Initial assessments, provided by our team of experienced counselling assessors, are usually available most weekdays and can be booked up to 2 working days before. Once the assessment session has taken place, clients usually start therapy within two weeks.

We ask for at least 48 hours’ notice to reschedule a session, but clients are asked to commit to attending at the same time each week wherever possible. This consistency provides stability, helps maintain momentum and is strongly associated with positive outcomes. Cancellations are chargeable in most but not all circumstances.

We ask that contact outside of sessions is limited to practical matters such as scheduling or cancellations. Therapeutic work takes place within the session itself.

Yes, Help Counselling holds appropriate public liability insurance, as do all of our counsellors. Details can be provided on request.

Our clinical team work hard to match each client with the right counsellor for their unique circumstances. We do not operate using algorithms or a ‘cab rank’ method. During your initial assessment, the assessor will explore with you the reasons for your seeking therapy, and any specific needs you may have. You will also have an opportunity to talk through any preferences such as gender, cultural background and language. The assessor will feed this back to our clinical team who will match you with the most suitable available counsellor based on your needs and preferences.

Most of our counsellors are in the later stages of recognised professional training, and some are recently qualified. Each is carefully selected by our clinical team and all are supported by experienced clinical supervisors via regular supervision sessions.

We also have a number of qualified counsellors available through our Help Counselling Plus Service.

Yes. Help Counselling is registered with the BACP (registration number 00180556), and all our counsellors are either student members or registered members of professional bodies such as the BACP, UKCP or NCPS. As such, their work is guided by clear professional and ethical frameworks.

Yes. Our counsellors work with a wide range of issues and bring varied experience and training. We’ll do our best to match you with someone who has suitable experience for your needs.

The quality of the therapeutic relationship is central to effective therapy. If you feel your counsellor isn’t the right fit, you can discuss this with them or with our clinical team, who can arrange an alternative counsellor where possible.

We offer counselling in several locations across the west London boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, and Westminster. You can find full details and maps on our Locations page.

Most of our locations offer disabled access. Please let us know your requirements when you enquire so we can find the best match for you.

All our locations are accessible by public transport. Parking availability varies by location — details are available on our Locations page.

It depends. We can only support UK clients but can usually continue to support clients on temporary trips abroad. Please mention this when you enquire so we can advise you.

We currently work with individual adults aged 18 and above.

A couples counselling service is planned for the near future. Please contact us and we will add you to our waiting list for this service.

We’re not a crisis service. However, we can provide signposting to local and national crisis services that can offer immediate support.

If you feel you are in danger or need urgent help, please contact your GP, NHS 111. If life is at risk, call 999.

You can also contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24 hours a day).

More information about where to find crisis support.

Not at this time.

You may notice changes such as feeling more self-aware, less reactive, more emotionally balanced or better able to make choices that feel right for you.

Progress is different for everyone — your counsellor will support you in reflecting on how the work is evolving.

Endings are an important part of therapy. You can decide to end at any time, but we encourage clients to plan this in discussion with their counsellor so that the process can be explored and brought to a thoughtful close.

Yes. We welcome returning clients and are happy to discuss restarting therapy whenever you feel ready.