United Kingdom: Counselling Options For Mental Health Support

Connecting with a therapist can be a crucial step toward addressing life challenges and improving well-being, but navigating the range of therapy and counselling options in the UK can feel overwhelming. Here, we’ll explore available options for therapy and what to expect, including the types of treatment to consider and your options for paying for care.

Need support? Virtual mental health care is available

Connect with a therapist

Therapy options in England, Scotland, Wales, & Northern Ireland

NHS mental health services

Other providers

If NHS services are unavailable or do not meet your needs, non-public counseling could be another option to explore. Independent therapists often provide a variety of specializations and approaches, and many offer sliding-scale fees to accommodate different budgets.

Online counseling platforms like BetterHelp are also an option, often providing similar types of counseling at a lower cost compared to traditional in-person sessions with non-public providers.

Mental health charities and nonprofits

A number of UK-based charities and nonprofits provide more affordable or free counseling services. Such organizations often cater to specific groups, such as those coping with bereavement or trauma or those of a marginalized identity. Many also offer helplines and community-based mental health programs to support individuals in need. 

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

Employee assistance programs

If your workplace offers an employee assistance program (EAP), you may be able to receive mental health support at no cost to you. Counseling services often include counselling sessions, stress management resources, and referrals to specialized support when needed. Many universities and schools offer similar support options for students.

Counselling costs and considerations

The NHS provides free mental health services at the point of use, making it a valuable resource for many. In addition to NHS support, individuals may explore other options for mental health care, including other practices or nonprofit services. These options, while requiring payment, can sometimes offer flexible formats or specialized care. Here’s an overview of what you might expect:

• Face-to-face therapy: Traditional in-office sessions typically range from £90–180 per session or £360–720 per month, depending on factors like location, provider expertise, and specialization.
• Online counselling: If you’re open to teletherapy through an online platform like BetterHelp, you can find subscriptions as low as £65, billed every four weeks.
• Group therapy: Many non-public therapy practices offer group sessions for individuals with common challenges such as anxiety, depression, or trauma, often at a lower cost than one-on-one therapy. Support groups are another option and may or may not be led by a credentialed provider.

Types of therapy to consider

Mental health professionals may employ any number of evidence-based therapeutic approaches to help people address mental health challenges. Understanding your options can be helpful as you search for a mental health provider who suits you.

Here are a few examples of common approaches to talk therapy, though hundreds exist.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT focuses on helping people recognize and change unhelpful thought patterns that may be affecting mental health and behavior patterns. It’s often considered the “gold standard” of talk therapy, as a substantial body of research suggests its effectiveness in treating a wide range of common mental health challenges. 

There are many forms of CBT that build on its core principles, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), exposure therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Mental health professionals may use these approaches to treat specific challenges or to tailor sessions to a client’s unique needs.

Mindfulness-based therapy is a type of therapy that helps people develop mindfulness as a skill. Mindfulness refers to the practice of being fully aware of your feelings, thoughts, emotions, and surroundings in the present moment. It can be helpful for staying calm and centered in difficult situations so that you can decide how best to respond. 

Mindfulness-based therapy can often be an effective treatment for stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological challenges. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) are two specific forms of mindfulness therapy that have also demonstrated significant effectiveness in improving mental health in many cases.

Trauma therapy is used to help people process and heal from distressing events, such as abuse, accidents, or combat. This type of therapy is often recommended for those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that can develop in some people after witnessing or experiencing trauma. Whether you lived through a traumatic event in the distant past or more recently, trauma therapy can often be helpful for reducing distress and moving forward. 

Two common trauma therapies are eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and progressive exposure therapy (PEP). EMDR involves guided eye movements to process trauma, while PEP involves gradual exposure to trauma-related stimuli. These methods aim to help reduce the emotional intensity associated with traumatic memories and may be effective in addressing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. 

Many therapists and counsellors incorporate elements of several different types of therapy to address various parts of a person’s experiences or concerns. This approach is often referred to as integrative therapy. It means that the therapist combines techniques and principles from various modalities to address complex or overlapping challenges. 

For example, a therapist might use mindfulness techniques to help a client recognize the thoughts and feelings that arise when navigating a difficult interpersonal issue. Then, the therapist may use CBT techniques to help the client reframe unhelpful thoughts so that they can effectively problem-solve. An integrative approach often offers versatility and adaptability in addressing a wide range of topics. 

Marriage and family therapists tend to focus on topics like communication and conflict resolution within families and couples. This type of therapy is commonly used to address marital difficulties, parenting issues, and other conflicts that may arise within a family. It might involve all family members or just key participants to address dynamics that affect the group. Marriage and family therapy (MFT) can often be effective in improving communication and strengthening families and partnerships. 

Family therapists may use functional family therapy, structural family therapy, or strategic family therapy approaches. Common couples therapy methods include cognitive behavioral couple therapy, emotionally focused therapy, and the Gottman Method. 

Counselling & therapy for children and young people

Counselling can often be helpful for an individual of any age—including children and young people. It may help individuals of this age group explore their emotions, build coping skills, and address challenges like anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, bullying, family changes like divorce, or behavioral difficulties. Therapists often combine elements of different types of therapy to suit the child’s age and needs. 

Sessions may involve talking, creative activities, and/or structured exercises designed to help children express themselves or work through difficult emotions. Research suggests that therapy modalities like CBT can be highly effective for children and adolescents—particularly for managing anxiety and mood disorders.

What to expect from your first counselling session

Your first therapy session is usually an opportunity to get to know your provider and discuss what you hope to achieve through treatment. Many people feel nervous about starting therapy, but knowing what to expect in general may help ease some uncertainty. Here’s an overview of what typically happens in the first or first few therapy sessions:

• Introductions and rapport building: The therapist will usually introduce themselves, explain their approach, and create a comfortable environment for open conversation.
• Discussing your concerns: You’ll have the chance to talk about what brought you to therapy, including any challenges or goals. At this stage, you generally don’t need to go into great detail if you aren’t comfortable doing so. 
• Exploring your history: The therapist may ask about your personal and medical history to understand the context of your situation, which can help them develop a suitable treatment plan.
• Setting goals: Together, you and your therapist will define what you’d like to work on and discuss how therapy can help. Based on what you talk about, they may give you details about what you can expect from your time in therapy.
• Answering your questions: This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the process or what to expect in future sessions.

The first session is primarily about establishing trust and laying the foundation for a successful therapeutic relationship. It’s okay to take your time to decide if the therapist is the right fit for you, and it's not uncommon to switch therapists a few times until you find a good match.

Cost-effective mental health support for British Isles residents

If you’re experiencing mental health challenges, it can be reassuring to know that BetterHelp offers access to qualified therapists who provide evidence-based therapy at an accessible price point. As the world’s largest online therapy provider, BetterHelp networks with more than 1,000 mental health providers across the UK, making it easy to find one whose background and experience match your needs. Plus, many people can be matched with a credentialed therapist in as little as 48 hours.