Find a Counsellor near you
The average rating for Bark Counsellors is 4.92, based on 118,841 reviews
5/5
based on 118,841 reviews
Want to speak to a counsellor but not sure of the cost? Read our handy guide to find out how much you can expect to pay for different types of counselling therapy throughout the UK, as well as how to keep costs down if you’re on a budget.
A counsellor is a trained professional who can help you to understand and overcome emotional distress by talking to you about your feelings. Counselling can help you with a range of problems, including:
A change in circumstances or a difficult life event, like bereavement, work-related stress or a relationship ending
A mental health condition (depression, anxiety etc.)
Relationship problems
Difficult emotions, including anger or low mood
Counselling takes place in a safe and comfortable environment. This is normally in the professional’s clinic, but they may be willing to travel to your home. Find a Counsellor near me.
Online counselling is becoming increasingly popular as it gives people the option to have the session from the comfort of their own home if they’d prefer.
The price of a counsellor depends on several factors. To give you a general idea, we’ve put together the average cost per session based on local professionals across the UK. A session usually lasts for 50-55 minutes.
| Average cost (per session) | £50 |
| Minimum cost (per session) | £40 |
| Maximum cost (per session) | £60 |
The cost of a counsellor can vary depending on different factors. These include:
Location
Experience
Type of counselling service
The price of a counsellor will vary depending on where you are in the UK. If you are in a big city, you are likely to spend more than if you live in a rural area or a smaller city, as the cost of living is higher. Counsellors charge the most in London, reflecting the cost of living. If you are wondering how much you can expect to pay based on where you live, we’ve put together a handy breakdown:
| Location | Average cost (per session) |
| London area | £55 |
| South, South West and Midlands | £45 |
| Outer region and North | £45 |
Nothing is more important than your mental wellbeing, so you shouldn’t cut corners when it comes to hiring a counsellor. A counsellor needs to have the right skills and ethics in place to make sure they can help you to overcome emotional distress, which is why they are required to obtain qualifications before being able to practice.
In the UK, a counsellor might have completed a university degree in counselling or psychotherapy, or a course like the Level 3 Certificate in Counselling or the Level 4 Diploma in Counselling Skills.
A general rule of thumb is that the more experienced a counsellor is, the higher they will charge per session. A highly qualified and experienced counsellor may charge anywhere from £60 - £150. If a professional has additional qualifications, like a PHD, they could charge even more than this.
Online counselling, which takes place either through live text, video or phone calls, is less expensive than face-to-face counselling. It's also much more convenient as you don’t have to factor in commuting times. Some people also feel more comfortable discussing their problems from home rather than in a counsellor’s office. The table below shows price variations for online and face-to-face counselling services based on local UK professionals:
| Type of counselling | Average cost (per session) |
| Face-to-face | £45 - £55 |
| Online | £25 - £40 |
Everyone should be able to speak to a counsellor if they need to, regardless of their financial situation. There are lots of ways to keep costs down when hiring a counsellor:
Price packages - Most counsellors will offer a discounted price for a package of sessions, which will work out cheaper than paying per session or hour.
Discounts - Lots of counsellors operate a sliding scale on fees, which means students, job seekers or those on lower incomes will pay less than the standard amount.
Get it for free - Counselling is free on the NHS, but there can be long wait times. Some charities also provide free or heavily subsidised counselling costs. You can search for local charities online or ask your GP who can normally point you in the right direction.
Your wellbeing is your best asset. Take care of yourself and hire a Counsellor with Bark today.
The average rating for Bark Counsellors is 4.92, based on 118,841 reviews
5/5
based on 118,841 reviews
