If you need counselling but can’t afford standard private therapy, there are other options. Low-cost counselling, NHS Talking Therapies, workplace support, charities and free support groups can all provide routes to help. At Cherry Tree Therapy Centre in Buckhurst Hill, we offer low-cost counselling for £30 per session as well as a range of free support groups.
The cost of living has changed what many people can realistically afford.
You might know that talking to someone would help, but when you’re already watching the cost of food, energy bills, rent or your mortgage, finding another £60, £70 or more every week for private counselling may simply not be possible.
At the same time, you may have looked at getting help through the NHS and be worried about how long you’ll have to wait.
That can leave you caught in the middle: you need support, but private counselling feels too expensive and you don’t want to wait months before talking to someone.
So, what are your options?
How much does counselling cost in the UK?
There isn’t one standard fee for private counselling in the UK. What you pay can depend on the therapist’s qualifications and experience, where they’re based, the type of therapy you need and whether sessions are online or face-to-face.
For many people, the question isn’t whether counselling would be helpful. It’s whether they can afford to attend regularly enough for it to be useful.
If standard private counselling is outside your budget, it doesn’t mean therapy is completely out of reach.
There are lower-cost and free options worth exploring.
Can I get free counselling through the NHS?
Yes. NHS Talking Therapies provides free psychological therapies for adults experiencing problems such as anxiety and depression, and in many areas of England you can self-refer without seeing your GP first.
For some people, this is the right route.
However, services and waiting times can vary depending on where you live and the support you need. You may also be looking for a different type of therapy, more flexibility around appointments or support sooner than is currently available locally.
If you’re waiting for NHS support, or you’re unsure whether it will meet your needs, you can still explore other affordable options.
What is low-cost counselling?
Low-cost counselling is therapy offered at a reduced fee to make counselling accessible to people who might otherwise struggle to afford it.
At Cherry Tree Therapy Centre, our low-cost counselling service offers individual counselling for adults for £30 per 50-minute session.
Our low-cost counsellors are therapists in training who are completing the clinical hours required as part of their professional training. They receive regular clinical supervision and work within the professional and ethical framework of the centre.
You can meet our low-cost counsellors and find out more about the people currently offering reduced-fee sessions.
Does low-cost counselling mean lower-quality counselling?
This is an understandable concern.
A trainee counsellor isn’t yet a fully qualified therapist, but that doesn’t mean they’re simply practising without support.
Trainee counsellors undertake professional training, work within the limits of their experience and receive regular clinical supervision. Their client work forms an important part of becoming a qualified therapist.
What matters is whether low-cost counselling is appropriate for your particular needs.
Some people are very well suited to working with a trainee counsellor. Others may need a therapist with more experience or specialist training.
That’s why we assess suitability rather than simply allocating everyone who asks for low-cost therapy to the next available counsellor.
Who can use low-cost counselling?
You don’t need to be receiving benefits or prove that you’re on a low income to ask about low-cost counselling at Cherry Tree Therapy Centre.
There are many reasons someone might struggle with the cost of private therapy.
You might be managing a household on one income, studying, retired, supporting children, dealing with increased mortgage or rental costs, between jobs or simply finding that your disposable income has been squeezed by rising living costs.
You don’t have to justify why £60 or £70 a week isn’t affordable for you.
If cost is preventing you from accessing counselling, our low-cost service may be worth exploring.
What can low-cost counselling help with?
Low-cost counselling can provide support with many of the difficulties that bring people to therapy, including anxiety, low mood, stress, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, bereavement, loneliness and challenging periods of change.
It isn’t appropriate for every situation.
If there are significant risks, particularly complex needs or an issue requiring specialist clinical experience, we may recommend working with a qualified or specialist therapist instead.
You can explore our wider counselling and psychotherapy services if you’re unsure which type of support you need.
Can I access affordable counselling online?
Yes.
Online therapy can be particularly helpful if getting to a counselling centre is difficult because of work, caring responsibilities, transport or where you live.
It also means your choice of therapist doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to people within travelling distance.
Cherry Tree Therapy Centre offers online counselling as well as face-to-face therapy in Buckhurst Hill.
When asking about low-cost counselling, tell us whether you’d prefer online or in-person sessions so we can consider the options available.
What if I can’t afford £30 a week?
Even £30 per session won’t be affordable for everyone.
If money is extremely tight, don’t assume that means there is nowhere you can turn for support.
There are several places worth investigating.
NHS Talking Therapies is free, and your GP can also help you understand what NHS mental health support may be available locally.
If you’re employed, check whether your workplace provides an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). These programmes sometimes include a limited number of confidential counselling sessions at no cost to you.
Universities and colleges may provide counselling or wellbeing services for students, while charities and community organisations sometimes provide free or reduced-cost mental health support.
And there is another option that people don’t always think about: support groups.
Are there free mental health support groups?
Yes. Support groups aren’t a replacement for individual therapy, but they can be an important source of connection and support.
Being in a room, or an online space, with people who understand something of what you’re going through can reduce isolation and give you somewhere to talk, listen and learn from other people’s experiences.
At Cherry Tree Therapy Centre, we run a number of free support groups and workshops.
Our groups include support around emotional wellbeing, men’s wellbeing, betrayal trauma and the impact of sex and porn addiction.
Some take place in person in Buckhurst Hill and others are available online, which means you may be able to attend regardless of where you live in the UK.
There is no charge to attend our free support groups.
Should I wait for NHS counselling or pay for private therapy?
There isn’t one answer that will be right for everybody.
If NHS support is available and you’re comfortable waiting, it may be the best option for you. If you can comfortably afford private therapy and want more choice over your therapist, type of therapy or appointment times, private counselling may suit you better.
Low-cost counselling sits somewhere between the two.
It provides access to private counselling at a substantially reduced fee, while free support groups can provide another source of support if paying for individual sessions isn’t currently realistic.
You also don’t necessarily have to choose one route and abandon all the others. You might, for example, join a free support group while waiting for NHS treatment or explore whether low-cost counselling is appropriate for you.
I need help now. Where should I start?
If you’re struggling emotionally, the number of different services and types of therapy can make finding help feel like another problem you have to solve.
It doesn’t need to be.
Start with what you know.
What is happening? What kind of support do you think you need? What can you realistically afford? And would you prefer to see somebody in person or online?
If you’re considering counselling at Cherry Tree Therapy Centre, you can contact us and tell us a little about what’s happening.
We’ll talk through your needs and help you understand the options available.
That may be our £30 low-cost counselling service, one of our qualified therapists, online counselling or one of our free support groups.
You don’t need to know which one you need before you contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is low-cost counselling at Cherry Tree Therapy Centre?
Low-cost individual counselling at Cherry Tree Therapy Centre costs £30 for a 50-minute session.
Can I access low-cost relationship counselling?
Yes. Cherry Tree Therapy Centre also offers low-cost relationship counselling for £45 per session.
This is for adults who want support with their relationship but may find the cost of standard private couples or relationship therapy difficult to afford. You might be struggling with communication, conflict, trust, changes in your relationship or simply feel that you’ve become disconnected.
Our low-cost relationship counselling is provided by therapists in training and is subject to suitability and availability.
You don’t need to wait until your relationship is in crisis to ask for support.
Do I need to be on benefits to qualify for low-cost counselling?
No. You don’t need to be receiving benefits or provide evidence of your income. The service is designed for adults who would find standard private counselling fees difficult to afford.
Are low-cost counsellors qualified?
Our low-cost counsellors are therapists in training rather than fully qualified therapists. They are completing professional counselling training, undertake client work as part of their clinical placement and receive regular clinical supervision.
Can I get low-cost counselling if NHS waiting lists are long?
You can enquire about low-cost counselling regardless of whether you’ve also approached the NHS. We’ll discuss your needs and whether our low-cost service is an appropriate option for you.
Is low-cost counselling available online?
Online options may be available as well as in-person counselling. Let us know what you’re looking for when you enquire.
Is there free counselling at Cherry Tree Therapy Centre?
Our individual low-cost counselling service isn’t free; sessions cost £30. However, we run a number of free support groups for specific areas of emotional wellbeing and recovery.
How quickly can I start low-cost counselling?
Availability varies depending on our current counsellors and your needs. Once you enquire, we’ll discuss what you’re looking for and whether low-cost counselling is suitable before matching you with an appropriate counsellor.
Affordable support at Cherry Tree Therapy Centre
Money shouldn’t be the reason you don’t even ask what help is available.
If you’re struggling with the cost of living, facing a wait for NHS support or simply can’t afford standard private counselling fees, get in touch with Cherry Tree Therapy Centre.
We can talk through what’s happening and explain the support currently available, including low-cost counselling for £30 per session and our free support groups.
You don’t have to commit to counselling just to ask what your options are.