The UK Counselling Network CIC provides affordable, low cost counselling and psychotherapy to clients nationwide. We are passionate about helping people overcome the common barriers to therapy; cost and local access. We are also committed to ensuring that our low cost counselling clients get access to the same quality of service that is available in the Private sector. We are one of the few organisations that offers access to long term psychotherapy and Couples Counselling at an affordable rate.
Does low cost counselling mean less value?
Every client that comes through our low cost counselling service is nurtured and welcomed from the moment they make contact which is usually on the same day. What takes place next is a telephone assessment. We really value this part of our service as it means that each individual client has the opportunity to share relevant personal information. This enables us to make a sensitive match with an appropriate therapist. This can often be based on their needs and sometimes, specific requirements such as a male or female therapist.
Once the client has been allocated a therapist, contact is made and the first appointment is secured. Our clients are often surprised to find that we have no limit on how many sessions they can have. We don’t believe the mental health needs of an individual should be restricted. Weekly sessions then follow by zoom, face to face or telephone.
How much does it cost?
We like to keep our structure simple so here is a breakdown:
- Part-time salary £15
- Full-time salary £20
- Couples £40
Focusing on social inclusion
Many of our counsellors are attracted to the UK Counselling Network CIC because of our focus on social inclusion and affordable access to low cost counselling. As a result our team is motivated and focussed on our mission. This is passed down to the excellent service delivered to all our clients. We now have placements from all over the country and we are expanding every month.
We provide a supportive and nurturing clinical placement for trainee counsellors and offer autonomy and professional development to those qualified counsellors looking to develop their skills further. We have created a culture of inclusivity that allows everyone involved to feel empowered and part of an organisation that cares.
The Future
Over the next 12 months our main focus is to expand our client base across the country so that we can provide our low cost counselling service wherever it is needed. We believe that offering therapy on-line will allow us to reach areas that often feel excluded from therapeutic services e.g.: rural areas and areas of social deprivation. We are also keen to develop a range of specialist services to work with marginalised client group’s e.g. neurodiverse clients.
So if you or someone you know is in need of our low cost counselling service, they can self-refer through our website www.ukcounsellingnetwork.co.uk or ring us on 0113 285 2899.
This article was written by Sally Benson, Director of The UK Counselling Network CIC
