Has anyone been put on a waiting list for counselling sessions by relate?

[louloulouise]

We had our initial session/detail taking thing nearly 7 weeks ago - the counsellor said she would recommend we come back weekly and that we would need to ring the main number to arrange further sessions. We've been put on a waiting list and heard nothing since?

Is this normal? Things aren't desperate between us but I dread another huge argument and I want to start sorting out our problems sooner rather than later!

My mum used to work for Relate and the waiting lists can be pretty long, depending on your area / how many counsellors they have trained etc. Seven weeks sounds possible to me. Have you tried ringing the local branch to ask how long their current waiting list is and how near the top you are? I'm sure they'd be happy to tell you.

And hope that the counselling helps, once you get to see a counsellor.

we were and we were given an appointment 2 weeks later. I would give them a call and make sure you haven't been missed.

Think I will give them a ring and see whereabouts we are on the list. Feel like I'm starting to lose the positive 'can do' vibe which I got from the first meeting and, want to get cracking, strange as that probably sounds!

I got an initial consulation the same week I rang, and got my regular sessions straight away.
I think it was because I was really flexible about times etc.
Either that or I was an emergency lol! ;)

I would give a them a call and remind them that you exist. We waited a very long time when our counsellor and I realised we had a mutual friend. It was so long that I had got pregnant and was too near brith to accept the appointment.

I gave them a ring - apparently we're top of the list but there are very few appointments to start off with at our nearest centre so she said people do tend to wait a long time at this particular one. So hopefully we should be up soon!

You could probably get seen quicker if you can afford to go private. If you can afford it, you can search for a therapist specialising in relationship counselling at bacp.co.uk

Good luck and hope the counselling helps.

Possible re going private, although if we are having a weekly session as been suggested, we will struggle to cover the £25 per session as it is - I'm presuming private will = more expensive? I'll definately look into it though, although at the rate we're going I feel like starting afresh on my own soon!