better health Counselling

The Centre for Better Health counselling and psychotherapy service provides inexpensive access to talking therapies.

Our service

We offer low-cost counselling to help you make sense of difficult experiences, deal with negative thoughts and feelings and make positive changes in your life.

Our counsellors come from a range of therapeutic approaches, but broadly speaking offer therapy under the umbrella of humanistic counselling. This approach focuses on the individual as a whole, encourages people to think about their feelings, and promotes self-development.

We work with issues such as aggression, anxiety, depression, emotional difficulties, loss, low self-esteem, sexuality, stress and trauma. Sometimes these issues can be triggered or exacerbated by external factors such as money concerns, relationship or work difficulties. 

A lot of the work done explores how individuals can resource themselves and learn ways to navigate their thoughts, feelings and interactions with others. 

As well as one-to-one counselling, we also offer therapeutic support groups. You may like to access these while you’re waiting for counselling.

How much are the sessions?

We operate a sliding fee scale for our daytime appointments:

• £5 per session if you are not working, sick or a carer and claiming a means-tested

  benefit

• £15 per session if you are working (including self-employment) and claiming a means-tested benefit; a full-time student; or retired

• £20 per session if you are working and earning less than £25,000 (gross salary) and not

  claiming benefits, or claiming a non-means-tested benefit

• £40 per session if you are working and earning £25,000 (gross salary) or more

All of our evening sessions are charged at £40. You will need to provide proof of circumstances for our concession rates.

Please note that the Centre charges for missed or cancelled sessions, even if you notify us in advance that you will not be able to attend. The Centre does not charge for sessions cancelled by your therapist. Further information (in the form of our Client Guidelines) will be provided if you start in the service.

What can I expect?

What we offer: The Centre for Better Health is committed to offering quality, low-cost counselling and psychotherapy that adheres to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) guidelines. We offer weekly, 50-minute sessions that take place on the same day and time each week. We offer morning, afternoon and evening sessions.

How long for: We will initially contract with clients for six weeks, although this can be extended on mutual agreement by the client and counsellor. Most clients attend counselling at the Centre for six months, although clients can access counselling for up to a year. We only offer one period of counselling to each client; clients are not able to reapply in future.

Who our service is for: Individuals over the age of 18 and who are resident in London (we are primarily a face-to-face service and experience high demand at all times. As such, we are only able to accept applications from London residents).

While we are able to support a broad range of issues, we are not able to work with clients whose main current presenting issue is adoption, eating disorders or drug and alcohol misuse; or who have a level of complexity or risk that is not manageable in this service. This may include, for example, C-PTSD, BPD, active psychosis, and dissociation. 

Our counsellors: The Centre for Better Health offers placements to counsellors in training. All our counsellors are enrolled on a recognised diploma counselling course and receive clinical supervision at the Centre as well as with their training organisation. While many of our counsellors stay with us beyond their training, it is important for prospective clients to understand that it is likely that they will be allocated to a counsellor in training.

The application and allocation process: Our team will review your application. You may be invited in for a face-to-face assessment, which is an opportunity for us to assess whether the service can meet your needs. If we feel the service is suitable, we will allocate you to a counsellor based on the complexity of your needs and the experience and ways of working of our counsellors. Please note that we are not able to accommodate requests to work with a particular model of counselling, or provide disorder-specific specialist therapy, for example, for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

How long you can expect to wait: Our Counselling Service is heavily subscribed, and we operate a waiting list at all times. The current average waiting time is 3 to 4 months (from applying to starting your counselling). We ask for your patience and aim to continue reducing the waiting time.

While you are waiting for counselling, you may find it useful to speak to your GP, look at alternative providers, or access one of our therapeutic support groups.

Please note that we are not a crisis service. For someone to talk to immediately, you can call the Samaritans 24/7 for free on 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258. If you are in crisis, you can attend your nearest A&E. Homerton Hospital A&E (Tel: 020 8510 5555) offers access to support 24/7, and specialises in the assessment, treatment and management of mental health problems.

Accessibility: Our counselling service is accessible to wheelchair users. There is an accessible WC adjacent to our counselling rooms; the key can be requested from reception.

How can I apply? Complete the application form available on the top/left of this page.

I’m a counsellor. How can I apply for a placement within this service?

If you’re a qualified counsellor or a counsellor in training and are interested in applying for a placement within our counselling service, please visit this page for more information.