Counselling through a charity

[Littlefishtin]

Does anyone have any experience of this? Do you pay a reduced fee or are limited to a certain amount of sessions?

Sorry wrong section!!!

A reduced fee is sometimes applicable, especially if the counsellors are still training. The number of sessions can be limited too eg a year's worth

I saw a counsellor through a carers charity. I had applied through IAPT for counselling, there was a 6 month wait just for an assessment and then I don't know how long after that to be allocated a counsellor and I think it was just 6 free sessions after which I would have to pay full fees, which I couldn't afford. When I went for the assessment they gave me the number for the charity as another option.

The charity offered 10 free sessions, then the rest of the sessions were at a very reduced and affordable rate for a further 30 sessions. The counsellor was very young and perhaps in training. It wasn't therapy, it was just a lovely sympathetic ear. It was a god send. I am incredibly grateful to her and to the charity for providing the service. I was absolutely at the end of my tether at the time and it was amazing to have a friendly ear. Perhaps life saving.

Thank you both so much.

IME any counselling (except private, presumably) is limited to a certain number of sessions initially, but it can be extended if you and the counsellor think it's needed.