Frequently asked Questions

What is counselling/psychotherapy?

‘An arrangement by which a counsellor meets a client, in privacy and confidence, to explore distress the client may be experiencing, or a difficulty, perhaps their dissatisfaction with life, or loss of sense of direction or purpose’
- British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

How are your counsellors selected?

All our counsellors undergo a rigorous selection process, and receive regular training to ensure high professional standards and effectiveness. Some are BACP accredited and/or are registered members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP); others are in further or advanced training. All are professionally supervised by fully-trained clinical supervisors, and work within the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Is Leeds Counselling a professional and effective service?

Leeds Counselling is an Accredited Service of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP); this means that as well as following the BACP’s Ethical Framework for Good Practice, we have been identified as providing “a high standard of counselling/ psychotherapy”.  Leeds Counselling is regularly appraised to ensure a highly professional standard of practice.

Leeds Counselling measures its effectiveness through client feedback and satisfaction levels.  We monitor clinical improvement/recovery through CORE (a Department of Health-validated measurement tool), which uses questionnaires to allow your counsellor and you to assess the impact that counselling has had on key areas of your life.

How confidential are Leeds Counselling’s services?

As you'd expect, Leeds Counselling offers a confidential setting where you are free to talk safely without fear of rejection, criticism, or blame.  All personal information disclosed to us will remain confidential within the organisation, (except in very rare circumstances where the risk of imminent severe harm to yourself or others is present – even in these circumstances, information will usually only be disclosed with your full consent).

What sort of people use Leeds Counselling’s services?

Our clients are of all ages over 18, from diverse ethnic backgrounds, with a wide variety of problems or issues. We see nearly as many men as women. Most clients refer themselves to our service; many come to us because a friend or family member has benefited from our service. Others clients are sign-posted to Leeds Counselling by GPs, Social Services, other counsellors, other agencies, psychiatrists, and Community Mental Health Teams.

Is Leeds Counselling connected to the NHS?

Leeds Counselling is a charity seeking to provide inclusive and accessible services which promote emotional well-being. Although many GPs, mental health workers, and NHS therapists recommend Leeds Counselling to provide counselling to their patients, we are independent of the NHS. Leeds Counselling relies on generating funding from its services and from grant-giving bodies.

How much does counselling cost?

The aim of our service is to provide accessible and inclusive counselling.  However, as a self-funding charitable organisation we need to ask our clients to pay something towards their counselling in order to keep our service viable.  The range of charges is designed to take account of your income and personal circumstances.  At our main service, the fee you will pay for your initial assessment and ongoing counselling will be decided with you at the initial assessment.  For an initial assessment, the highest charge is £46 and the lowest charge is £11. For counselling the highest charge is £46 and the lowest charge is £11. You will be asked for payment within these ranges.

How do I make an appointment?

See Counselling - making an appointment for full details.

When is Leeds Counselling open?

Our main service is open 9am – 9pm (Monday to Thursday) and 9am to 5pm (Fridays). We are closed on Bank Holidays, and usually between Christmas and New Year.

Where is your main service located?

Our main service is located in Leeds Bridge House on Hunslet Road in the city centre.

(PLEASE DO NOT CONFUSE US WITH THE SIMILARLY NAMED BRIDGE HOUSE, LOCATED FURTHER AWAY FROM THE CITY CENTRE BUT ALSO ON HUNSLET ROAD).

From the centre of Leeds proceed down Briggate, then Lower Briggate, and cross the River Aire at Bridge End. On passing the Adelphi pub you will see Leeds Bridge House in front of you. It's a very distinctive red brick building, (which looks like the Flat Iron Building in New York).

The picture on the right shows the building as you approach it. Go to the right of the building and the entrance to Leeds Counselling is towards the rear of the building. Press the buzzer to gain entry and come up to the second floor.

You can also find us on this map