Important: Get urgent help
Support is available if you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis or emergency, no matter what you're going through.
What counselling is for
Counselling can help you to deal with a range of different issues, including:
- difficult emotions, such as stress, low mood, worry, or anger
- life events, such as illness or bereavement
- problems in your relationships, at school or at work
The NHS only offers counselling for certain mental health conditions, such as depression.
How to get counselling
There are many different ways to get counselling.
NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression
You can refer yourself to an NHS talking therapies service without having to speak to a GP. You can also ask your GP to refer you.
You may be able to get counselling, or another type of therapy. The type of therapy you can get depends on what you need it for and what’s available in your area.
To use this service, you must be registered with a GP and aged 18 or over (or 16 or over in some areas).
Other ways to get counselling
You may be able to get free counselling:
- as part of your treatment at another NHS service
- through your employer, school or university
- from a charity
You might choose to pay for private counselling. Before choosing a private counsellor, make sure they’re on a recognised professional register, such as British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
Find out more about how to find therapy or counselling on the Mind website
If you’re under 18
Getting talking therapies on the NHS is different if you’re under 18 (or under 16 in some areas).
Find out more about getting mental health support for children and young people
Self help for mental health
How counselling works
Counselling can be done in many ways, including:
- in person, over the phone or online
- on your own, as a couple or family, or in a group
Counselling sessions usually last 50 to 60 minutes. If you get counselling on the NHS, you’ll usually have between 8 and 16 sessions.
During your counselling session, the counsellor will:
- listen to you without judgement
- try to see things from your point of view
- encourage you to talk about your thoughts, feelings, and life experiences
- help you to find your own solutions to problems
Counsellors do not usually give advice or tell you what to do.