How do I get free or very cheap therapy/counselling that isn’t NHS

[HelpforFree]

Is this even possible ?

Looking privately it seems to be £80+ per hour which is not something I can afford

Is there any charity service that offers this I’ve been Googling but nothing

My friend has therapy with a lovely woman that qualified in a different european country, she checked her credentials completely and because that country is much cheaper she only pays like £10 per hour for video chats. It really helped her so maybe try that?

Mind

If you are in work, your employer may have an employee assistance programme and some offer blocks of counselling. If you have a partner who works, you may able to use their employee assistance programme.

@Shelvesoutofbooks

My friend has therapy with a lovely woman that qualified in a different european country, she checked her credentials completely and because that country is much cheaper she only pays like £10 per hour for video chats. It really helped her so maybe try that?

I’ll try and have a google for that is there a name for the place you book it ?

I use a local charity subsidised counselling service. Vi believe they have such in most areas. It's 20 per hour.

If you live near a university, they often have Psychology students who need to practice counselling and offer it free or very cheap. They are fully supervised and usually master's students. If the university offers it, it will be from a proper place, not a random students home!

If you're happy to have therapy from a Lived Experience Practitioner rather than a counsellor (a professional who's had experience of mental health problems), I know a company who offer pay as you can/free sessions via Skype. PM me if you want any details.

Also if you have a professional body they may offer it , if you don’t want to use your employer .
If it’s relationship related Relate used to do a pay what you can afford system.

It would be individual not relationship counselling /therapy

@MsFrog

If you're happy to have therapy from a Lived Experience Practitioner rather than a counsellor (a professional who's had experience of mental health problems), I know a company who offer pay as you can/free sessions via Skype. PM me if you want any details.

Thanks will pm

Psychotherapist here, although not currently practising
Some private therapists offer a sliding scale of fees
Relate used to offer a sliding scale and they do 1:1 therapy as well as couples counselling. I haven’t checked this out for ages though
There are local organisations providing low cost counselling as someone mentioned above. The one close to us offers sessions for £10/hour

There are various small local counselling services/listening services run by charities - can you share whereabouts you are? They tend to be very emphatic that they aren't offering "therapy" though - the people are volunteer listeners not trained psychotherapists. The one I used had a "pay what you can afford" policy and I paid £20 ph.

Another option might be a self-help group for survivors of (insert traumatic experience).

I would look into someone who offers a sliding scale or concessionary rates. I’ve paid between £45-60 per hour. I would also say that you don’t have to do it weekly. If you can find someone at £50 per session and can afford 2 sessions a month, that would still be really beneficial.

freepsychotherapynetwork.com/organisations-offering-low-cost-psychotherapy/

I'm not sure how up to date it is, but there's a list of organisations here.

There are a few organisations that offer low-cost counselling or determine fees on the basis of income - and receive some charitable funding to make this possible.. Where are you (roughly) in the UK, OP? (If you're happy to say, of course.)

NW London

I am a counsellor. I have a set fee but I try to accommodate everyone. I explain on my website that if someone is facing financial hardship or is struggling then still to get in touch and I can discuss with them options. I also do special rates for those who have been affected financially by Covid.

Basically what I try to get across is, your financial situation shouldn’t stop you receiving help.

It may be worthwhile contacting a few therapists in your area and see what they say and if they do something similar to me

My dd got free online and then one to one via a local woman just qualified.. Found under out local mh services..

I had a couple of free sessions with Mind I dont know if I would have had to pay if I kept going, I stopped because the counsellor said in most cases of domestic violence the women was 'asking for it'. Out workplace also had a free counselling service which was very helpful, if you work for a large company they may have something similar.

Google Women’s Centre.

Depending on the root of your issues there mat be something available through a charity linked to your trauma.

We can have up to 6 sessions through our employee assistance programme.

Wilfred Faber counselling is £25 per session. I’ve not tried it myself but have been considering it.
Here’s the link www.wfcslondon.org/costs

Look on BACP. There are counsellors near me charging £45 per session. Outskirts of London.

When I lived in Leeds I had the most amazing counsellor that charged 25 per session as she did the sessions in her conservatory so she didn’t have to pay rent on premises and honestly, it’s the most relaxed I’ve ever felt being in a home rather than an office. ( been in therapy since 9 years old) Try and look at ones that do the sessions from their homes as they will be significantly cheaper.