You’ve taken the first big step and got yourself here, now we are here to help you and walk you through the next steps to get you started with your counsellor.

Access Counselling in 5 Easy Steps

Following assessment you could be allocated a counsellor in as little as 2 – 4 WEEKS depending on yours/counsellors availability

Step 1

Complete online form and pay registration fee.

Step 2

Tell us more about yourself

Step 3

Arrange initial assessment

Step 4

Assessment Appointment

Step 5

You’re allocated a counsellor*

*subject to suitability to access counselling services.

Start your journey here

Counselling can help if you are;

experiencing anxiety or anxious feelings, these may include panic attacks
not feeling like your ‘usual self’ and disconnected from the world around you
feeling confused and unable to cope or lack confidence
having difficulties within personal or family relationships
experiencing loss or bereavement
facing a problem which is hard to talk about
experiencing stress or problems related to your work

We provide a safe place to talk to a skilled counsellor, who will listen and help you understand how past experiences, worries about the future, or lack of self-confidence may be affecting your life. Counselling will help you reflect on how you respond to events and explore the way you interact with those around you.

You can bring thoughts and feelings which you may not feel able to share with friends or family. Your counsellor will not tell you what to do but will help you to make your own choices.

We provide a confidential setting in all our venues. You are free to talk safely, without fear of rejection, criticism, or blame. The confidentiality of the relationship between GCS and those seeking counselling is protected within current legislation and the ethical frameworks we work within.

Please note we operate an appointment only service and are not able to see anyone who ‘drops in’.

Counselling for Adults

We provide a safe place to talk to a skilled counsellor, who will listen and help you understand how past experiences, worries about the future, or lack of self-confidence may be affecting your life. Counselling will help you reflect on how you respond to events and explore the way you deal with relationships.

BACP Accredited

Trained and Professional

Affordable

Supervised

Accessing Counselling

Counselling registration forms are available to complete online.  You will need to pay the registration fee of £20 (which includes your assessment) or enter a code from a pre-approved partner see Referrals for Funded Counselling

Once your registration has been received, we will ask you to complete some additional information – following this we will contact you to arrange the initial assessment appointment which will take place over the telephone.

The assessment, like a regular counselling session, is carried out in an empathic, safe and non-judgemental environment. You will be asked a number of questions to explore what has brought you to counselling at this time. This will enable us to assess your needs and decide if the services we offer are appropriate.

If you have been referred by a pre-approved partner who is funding your counselling at GCS for six sessions your first counselling session will be your assessment.

Cost of Counselling Services

We believe that everyone should have access to counselling this means that we offer subsidised rates to everyone that needs them.

Starting with you counsellor

We aim to start your counselling as soon as possible and you can help speed things up by being as flexible as you can be about the times you can come for counselling. Please note that evening sessions are in great demand.

Ongoing sessions last for 50 minutes and are once weekly. Counselling may last for a few weeks or a longer period of time depending on individual circumstances.

Our Therapists

All of our therapists have relevant experience and are BACP registered. After completing the initial assessment we will review your responses and match you with a therapist most suited to your needs.

BACP Accredited

Trained and Professional

Affordable

Supervised

FAQ’s

What is counselling?

Counselling provides an opportunity to discuss issues that may be troubling or causing you problems. Your counsellor will not know you or have any involvement with the issues you wish to discuss, or offer advice but instead will provide a space where you are able to explore and reflect on the difficulties you are experiencing.

Once you have decided you would like counselling you will be offered an assessment before you commence. The assessment provides the opportunity to decide whether counselling would be appropriate for you or not.
How often would I meet with my counsellor?

Once you commence ongoing counselling you will see the same counsellor (this will not be the counsellor you saw for the assessment). You meet weekly at the same time and the same place, each session usually lasts for 50 minutes. This space is held for you each week and as a result if you are unable to attend for any reason you will be expected to pay for the missed sessions.
Will my counsellor be qualified and experienced?

All GCS counsellors are supervised and managed within GCS and work within the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Ethical Framework. Most of our counsellors are qualified but some are in training and work to the same high standards as qualified counsellors.
How long does counselling take?

There is no one answer to this question as it depends on the issues you wish to address and the depth to which you wish to explore them and other related matters. GCS offers open ended counselling but if it is more appropriate we are able to offer a more focused, fixed term option usually up to 12 weeks.
Where will I have to go for counselling?
How long will I have to wait for a counselling appointment?

Once you have registered for counselling you will be offered an appointment for an assessment relatively quickly, usually within two weeks. How quickly you will be offered an appointment for ongoing counselling is dependent on your availability and the demand on the service. Evening appointments can be available but are usually in high demand therefore may incur a delay.
How much is counselling?

Gloucestershire Counselling Service is a registered charity (No. 1109904) and one of its principal aims is to make quality counselling accessible to the people of Gloucestershire.

We do not receive any government grants so we rely on the fees we charge to the people using the service. Our fees aim to be progressive and socially responsible. To allow us to operate this way, we apply a sliding scale of fees.

Please note that you will be expected to pay for missed or cancelled sessions, except for sessions cancelled by your Counsellor.
What if I am unhappy with my counselling?

If you are unhappy with any aspect of your counselling you should discuss this with your counsellor as it may be related to the issues you have brought to counselling. If this is inappropriate or does not resolve the matter you can write to the Head of Counselling at GCS explaining your concerns. If you are still unhappy you can use GCS’s formal Complaints Procedure.

Locations

Stroud

Gloucester

Cheltenham

Tewkesbury

Cirencester