Therapy and counselling

Every fact on this page comes from the NHS in each nation, the regulators and the organisations named. We last checked it on 6 October 2026. Each helpline shows the date we last checked it. This is general information, not medical advice.

Ways to find trauma counselling

Through the NHS

The NHS offers talking therapies in every part of the UK. How you get them depends on where you live.

• England: NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression are free. You can refer yourself online, without seeing a GP, if you’re 18 or over (16 or over in some areas). A GP can also refer you.
• Scotland: speak to your GP or another healthcare professional about psychological therapy. If you’re 16 or over and registered with a GP in Scotland, you can also refer yourself to Living Life, a free phone service run by NHS 24, and NHS inform lists free online courses you can use yourself.
• Wales: ask your GP, who can refer you to your local primary mental health support service. If you’re 16 or over, you can also sign up yourself to SilverCloud, an online course based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
• Northern Ireland: talk to your GP, who may treat you directly or refer you to mental health services. There is a waiting list for counselling through the Health Service, and some community and voluntary organisations offer talking therapies.

Talking therapy can be in person, by video or phone, or as an online course. For post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the NHS lists trauma therapies such as trauma-focused CBT and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR).

Specialist abuse services

Some specialist organisations offer counselling or support groups for survivors, and some of this support is free. There may be a waiting list.

• Most Rape Crisis centres in England and Wales offer free counselling to women who have experienced sexual violence or abuse. Some also counsel girls, men and boys.
• Rape Crisis centres in Scotland offer free, confidential support.
• In Northern Ireland, Nexus offers counselling to adults and children affected by sexual abuse.

Find services near you in our Support Directory: rape and sexual abuse, abused as a child, domestic abuse or mental health and emotional support.

If you’ve been raped or sexually assaulted

A sexual assault referral centre (SARC) can help you whenever it happened, whether or not you report to the police. It can arrange for you to see an independent sexual violence adviser (ISVA), who gives emotional and practical support. Read more about ISVAs and SARCs.

Paying privately

Some people choose to pay a private therapist, which can mean a shorter wait. Before you start, check that they are on a register, and that they have experience of working with trauma and abuse.

• Psychologists: titles such as “clinical psychologist” and “counselling psychologist” are protected by law. Anyone using them must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You can check the HCPC register.
• Counsellors and psychotherapists: these titles are not protected by law, so anyone can use them. You can check whether someone is on a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), such as those held by BACP, UKCP, NCPS or COSCA. Use the PSA’s Check a practitioner page.

What to expect

• You decide how much you share, and when. A good therapist won’t push you to talk about details before you’re ready.
• The first session is usually about getting to know each other and what you’d like help with.
• It’s okay to ask questions about how they work, and to try someone else if it doesn’t feel right.

While you wait

Waiting for therapy can be hard. These helplines can listen in the meantime.

Feeling safe with your therapist

You should feel respected and listened to. If anything a therapist does makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you can stop seeing them. You can raise a concern about a psychologist with the HCPC, or about a counsellor or psychotherapist with the register they belong to.

If you’re worried about your health, talk to your GP.

Where this information comes from

• NHS (England): find NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression
• NHS (England): talking therapies
• NHS (England): treatment for PTSD
• NHS inform (Scotland): what is psychological therapy?
• NHS 24 (Scotland): Living Life
• NHS inform (Scotland): get help with your mental health
• NHS 111 Wales: mental health and wellbeing
• nidirect: mental health services and support
• nidirect: mental health care professionals
• Rape Crisis England & Wales: counselling
• Rape Crisis Scotland: local centres
• Nexus NI: counselling
• HCPC: the professions we regulate and protected titles
• Professional Standards Authority: Accredited Registers
• BACP: using our therapist directory
• HCPC: raising concerns

Checked on 6 October 2026. Services and opening hours can change, so check the official pages before you act.