Talking therapies or psychological therapies, such as counselling, may be available on the NHS. However, in some cases, you may need to get private treatment.
Counselling on the NHS
Your GP or another healthcare professional may refer you to a qualified counsellor. In this situation, you will receive counselling through the NHS free of charge. In some areas, the choice of counsellors may be limited and there may be long waiting lists.
In 2010, the government announced plans to make psychological therapies more widely available across the NHS. This is because they have become internationally recognised as effective treatments for common mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. The use of psychological therapies is being encouraged as an alternative to medication or to be used alongside it.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides recommendations about the therapies that should be prescribed for certain health conditions. See Counselling - talking therapies for more details.
For certain conditions, it may be possible to get some types of therapy on the NHS. For other conditions, it may be more difficult.
Private counselling
Certain types of counselling may not be available on the NHS. For example, some types of psychotherapy may only available from appropriate professionals, such as psychotherapists.
Therefore, you may need, or decide, to seek private counselling. The cost of private counselling can vary considerably. A 50-minute session can cost £40-100. Before you begin a course of counselling, ask about charges and agree a price.
Use the Services directory to find psychological therapy services in your area.
Registered therapists
The British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy and the UK Council for Psychotherapy have details of therapists who have registered with them as members. It is good practice for therapists to register with a professional body, such as these, although they do not have to.
If a therapist is registered with a professional body, it usually means they have agreed to follow good practice guidelines, such as maintaining high ethical standards. If you are unsure, ask a therapist about their qualifications and whether they are registered with a professional body.
Charities and voluntary organisations
Some charities and independent voluntary organisations may offer counselling. These organisations will usually specialise in a particular type of treatment or area, such as bereavement, couples counselling or family guidance.
Voluntary organisations or charities that may be able to help include:
- Cruse Bereavement Care - a charity that provides support and information for bereaved people
- Relate - an organisation that offers advice and relationship counselling
- Rape Crisis - an organisation for women and girls which co-ordinates rape crisis centres across England and Wales
- Victim Support - a charity to help victims and witnesses of crime
You may also be able to access support groups through your local church, social services or local community.
You can use the services directory to search for support services in your local area, such as bereavement support services and relationship support services.
