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

Anxiety U.K. offer discounted therapy and the fee is structured based on income (see link). www.anxietyuk.org.uk/get-help/book-your-therapy/

You'll need to be a member which is about £40 a year if I remember correctly. There's also group therapy/courses available for very little.

Ask your GP to to refer you to a social prescriber, they will undoubtedly know various avenues of free counselling. Our knows so many.

My DH is a counsellor and charges £40 an hour - in person as well as online- he’s in Essex but there are some around like that

@HelpforFree OP, if you're in North London you can access low cost therapy at CPPD Counselling School cppdlondon.com in Hornsey.

You can have a free consultation and then £5 sessions.

rema.lst.ac.uk/ there may be something like this in your area? I'm sure if you contact them they will point you I the right direction.

I am a CBT counselor, based in Portugal so all sessions are by phone or video. The first session is free and I charge €30 a session thereafter. Please dm me if you’re interested.

These people have helped me in the past. They used to work from caravans behind St James’s Church in Piccadilly pre-Covid, but they’re currently doing phone counselling. You make a donation if you can. caravandropin2012.wordpress.com/

I went through my local NHS Counselling service but they couldn’t meet my needs (only really do anxiety management). They sign posted me to a local college. Counsellors have to do so many hours (I think it’s 100) of counselling for free before they can set up private practice. I had sessions for free with a trained counsellor completing her hours. It really helped me. I did mine online actually so I’ll link the place in case they are still offering it.
Link here: www.lindumcounselling.co.uk/

If you are in Hertfordshire, Watford Women’s centre does low cost counselling, including offering remote sessions.

There are many centres that provide low cost counselling, they are staffed by advanced psychotherapy trainees, which is the same level that most nhs counselling is provided by.

Most places charge about 10-20 per session.

There is a place in Ealing www.eacs.org.uk/ (long term available)
This one in Camden www.mentalhealthcamden.co.uk/services/women-and-health-camden-counselling-and-psychotherapy-service
Most are running online services at the moment, but some are face to face if you want - eg www.phoenixcounselling.org near Heathrow. Also long term available, no /short waiting list.

Google low cost community counselling and your area if none of these fit the bill.

Through work in my case. The same psychologist who I saw again a few years later was £35 an hour so they aren't all so expensive.