How much does therapy cost?

The cost of therapy can vary from very little to over £100 per session.  If you go through the NHS, then it is free, of course.  The downside is that you usually have to wait at least eight weeks, sometimes much longer. 

Why does the price of therapy vary so much?

As with many things, you tend to pay more for better quality.  It may come as a shock, but anyone can advertise themselves as a psychotherapist or counsellor.  It isn’t illegal to do so.  Unlike many other professions such as Doctor, Dentist, Pharmacist and Physiotherapist, there is no regulatory body for counselling and psychotherapy. 

How do you know whether your counsellor is qualified?

You should always check that a Counsellor, Psychotherapist or Psychologist has relevant qualifications.  When you look at their website or directory listing, any professional worth seeing will mention their training.  You can always ask them on the phone if it doesn’t. 

What qualifications should they have?

There are many relevant qualifications, so I’ve listed the best.  Here they are:

• Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• PhD in Clinical or Counselling Psychology
• Masters in Systemic Family Therapy
• Advanced Diploma in Counselling

You should be careful because some people say they have a certificate or diploma in CBT or counselling, but this doesn’t mean it is a post-graduate course.  If they are not post-graduate, then they could be cheap online certificates.  They are bogus, and you shouldn’t trust people who do that.

The safest way to ensure your counsellor has the appropriate training is to check whether they are accredited.  Accreditation means that a therapist is a member of a professional organisation. 

It’s not like anyone can join because you have to show proof of training.  People must go through a rigorous process of proving they have the right attitude, ethics, training, and experience. 

Always make sure that your therapist has one of the following accreditations:

• British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
• British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
• UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
• Association for Family Therapy (AFT)
• British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
• Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) [for psychologists]

There will be other professional bodies outside the UK, so check what they are if you are seeing a therapist abroad. 

It may seem strange that there isn’t just one professional body.  It’s because different therapies have developed over time and not from one central place, just like we don’t have one single supermarket or make of car.  There are various therapy brands, and you aim to find the brand you like best.

What is the average price of counselling?

As you’d expect, prices are often the highest in London.  Across the rest of the UK, you can pay as little as £40 per session or as high as £150.  Psychologists often charge more than counsellors because they’ve often undergone more extended training.  However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best person to help you. 

What do you charge at Openforwards?

At Openforwards, we have a standard hourly rate of £105 per session.  It is higher than average, and here is why.

We charge more because we do more. 

We aim to ensure that you BUILD and RETAIN the skills you need to lead a happier and more fulfilling life.

Many counsellors see you for your appointment; they listen and help you reflect.  And that’s it – no coping strategies and no in-between support.

We are different.

Lasting change is possible.

Openforwards believes that you need more from us to make lasting change possible.  It’s not enough to talk about your problems.  We all need to learn the psychology skills our parents and schools couldn’t teach us.  That’s why we are specific and direct.

Humans are a complex species, and to master your mind, you must do more than challenge your thoughts.  We’ll teach you:

•             How to handle your emotions
•             What to do with physical pain and discomfort
•             How to control your attention to improve focus and concentration

Your habits matter, too.  We need to address what others can see and what we do privately in our heads.  Some routines are more visible.  Other patterns like self-criticism, rumination and self-pity only you can see. 

We must identify both the habits that help and those that hinder our progress.

Building stronger relationships

You’re social, although you may not like seeing people right now.  Humans evolved in small groups; you aren’t supposed to be alone.  You’re not that animal, so we’ll help you build stronger relationships and resolve problems in those you have here and now.

In summary, we go beyond conventional wisdom and teach you evidence-based strategies so you can work, love, play and feel better.

A wealth of experience

Our therapists, counsellors and psychologists are skilled in multiple therapy models, which means they have an extensive toolbox of coping strategies that can teach you.  They’ve also acquired an in-depth knowledge of how people function, so they can help you figure out why you are stuck.

Each session is sixty minutes structured to ensure you learn a new skill.  We want you to have something new and to practice between sessions.

You create a powerful transformation when we teach you the right skills and invest in the practice.

Remembering what we cover in each session is difficult, so your therapist will send you a written summary after each appointment.

You’ll get audio exercises, written worksheets, articles to read, videos to watch and podcasts to listen to while on the go.  Together, we’ll create action plans so you know what you need to do.

Your life and well-being are valuable to us, and we want to do all we can to improve it.

Why do we go further?

Our founder, Jim Lucas, has been doing therapy since 2003 and has learned many things about what works and doesn’t.  Breaking old habits is hard, and so is building new ones.  It’s why we go further and give you more.

We are eager to keep learning, and how we best help you is an evolving process.  We always want to do our best, so we listen and adapt.

Change isn’t easy, and yet the world keeps turning.  You get older, and you experience new challenges.  We are here to help, listen, and share what we’ve learned.

If you are ready to work together, please get in touch, and we’ll arrange a time to talk.