Where to Find Free and Affordable Therapy
If you’re worried about the cost of getting help, there are free therapy options across England that you can trust. Many of these are well-known organizations that have been helping people for years.
You can find support through face-to-face sessions, by phone, online chat, or even by text. Here are some of the top choices to get started, no matter where you live or how you want to talk.
Also read our posts on support for depression and free suicide helplines.
Free Therapy Options in England
NHS talking therapies are free on the NHS with referral from a GP. You can also refer yourself if you prefer or have an unhelpful GP who prefers to always dole out drugs.
You do need to be registered with a GP to access cognitive behavioural therapy, counselling and guided self-help to treat common issues like: anxiety, depression, social anxiety, phobias, post-traumatic stress, irritable bowel syndrome and body dysmorphia.
You can get help:
- In person at local clinics
- Over the phone
- Through online video calls and courses
Mind is one of the largest mental health charities in the UK. They don’t offer formal therapy everywhere, but many local Mind branches have free or low-cost support programs. These services may include:
- Short-term counselling
- Peer support groups
- Crisis lines
- Advice and information
Mind also has an online community called Side by Side, which connects people who are dealing with similar issues. You can join from anywhere and talk freely with others, day or night.
Local Minds are independent organisations that provide mental health services in communities across England and Wales. They exist as independent charities, and their own services like peer support groups, working directly with communities where they are based.
Kooth is a free online counselling and mental health support service aimed mainly at young people aged 10–25. It’s available across much of the UK, especially through schools and colleges. Kooth offers:
- Live chat with professional counsellors
- Discussion boards
- Self-help resources
Everything on Kooth is anonymous and you can join up with just a username—no real names needed. This can be a good choice if you don’t want to talk face-to-face or need support after school hours.
There’s no single “right” option, and many people find a mix of informal support, online help, and more formal therapy works best. Don’t be afraid to try more than one service until you find what feels best for you.
Affordable Counselling and Support
Not everyone qualifies for free therapy, and NHS waiting lists can be long. If you need to talk to someone soon, there are many affordable counselling options across the UK. These services keep prices as low as possible so you can get help without extra stress.
Some work with sliding scales, others use charity funding, and all aim to make mental health support easier on your budget.
Affordable Counselling Network offers online counselling at £25 per session with concessionary rates, run by a Community Interest Company (all profits are reinvested). Each session is 50 minutes for as long as you like.
How it works:
- Sliding scale payments: Fees depend on your income, so you won’t pay more than you can manage.
- Choice of therapist: You get to pick from a list of counsellors, most offering both online and in-person options.
- Short waits: Unlike the NHS, ACN’s waiting times are usually much shorter.
If anxiety or stress is what keeps you up at night, Anxiety UK is worth considering. This charity specializes in affordable therapy for those dealing with anxiety disorders, phobias, and related mental health issues.
Key features include:
- Membership discounts: By becoming a member for a small yearly fee, you unlock discounted therapy rates (often around £15-£50 per session).
- Specialist network: Access to therapists who understand anxiety struggles inside and out.
- Flexible formats: Sessions are available by phone, video, or face-to-face depending on your area.
Women’s Trust supports women dealing with the impact of domestic abuse and offers low-cost counselling in London. Their main goal is to make talking therapy safe and available for every woman who needs it, no matter her financial situation.
Why Women’s Trust is a lifeline for many:
- Free or low-cost sessions: Depending on your income or benefit status, you may qualify for free support.
- Focus on safety: All sessions are confidential, with trained counsellors who understand the trauma women face.
- Long-term help: You can usually access more than just a handful of sessions, which matters when working through complex issues.
Low-Cost Therapy Through Your GP
What you can expect:
- Referrals to local services: GPs often know about networks or clinics offering sliding scale or subsidized sessions.
- Short-term counselling: Some GP practices have in-house counsellors for brief therapy, usually between six to twelve sessions.
- Flexibility: Therapists may offer appointments during the day or evening, with in-person and remote options.
GPs can’t always refer you for long-term or specialized therapy, but their connections can get you into a trustworthy, lower-cost service much quicker than waiting on the NHS list.
University and College Counselling
Students can usually access free counselling through their university or college. Most institutions have mental health teams that offer short-term counselling, workshops and wellbeing advice.
Staff often include trained therapists who understand the stress that comes with studies, exams and living away from home.
Community Centres and Faith Groups
Many community centres and faith-based groups provide free or donation-based counselling. These places serve as local hubs, helping people from all walks of life. Support often comes from trained listeners and volunteers.
Learn more about starting your own mental health ministry. The Quaker Mental Health Fund also offers grants to help communities provide good mental health services.
Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs)
Many employers provide free access to confidential counselling through Employee Assistance Programmes. These programmes usually include a set number of sessions and work with outside providers, so your details stay private. Ask your HR team if your workplace offers this support.
An Affordable Therapist (in book form)
Real Talk is a ‘therapist in a book’ with lessons that you would learn in therapy to cover trauma, love, trust, boundaries, family and self-esteem. Our past shows up in mysterious ways – unhealthy patterns and unmet emotional needs, or the people we continue to attract into our lives.
And this relates to how we relate to others in the world. Until we can unpack our roots and history, we will be haunted by it.
As a trained psychologist, I meet a lot of people who were once children with big feelings. But now they are grownups with big feelings and adult-size emotional wounds.
These wounds show up as perfectionism, self-sabotage, people-pleasing, and problems with love and relationships. Each of these wounds comes from something in the past, that never had the chance to heal.
She writes that her book won’t always make you feel better, as you are going to have to ‘go there’ to examine the feelings and past, in order to heal, just like with a real therapist. And that’s because ‘there is no healing without feeling’
