Life is pretty ironic. Just when you’re feeling good, it throws a curveball, and suddenly you’re stressed out.
Everyone handles it differently. Some people roll with it, others… not so much. And if you’re the latter, it’s totally fine to reach out for a hand.
To make your journey to healing or self-improvement much easier, our team looked for and found the best counselling services in London. These are the professionals we’d hit up ourselves when life decides to keep tossing lemons our way.
How much do counselling services cost in London?
Counselling services in London usually cost £60–£120 per session, with prices in central areas or with very experienced therapists sometimes rising to £150 or more. Lower-cost options exist through charities or trainee counsellors, often £20–£40.
How we chose the best counselling services in London
- Qualifications: We chose therapists and counsellors who are fully qualified, accredited, and registered with recognised UK bodies.
- Professionalism and Communication: We focused on therapists who are clear, respectful, and easy to communicate with. They must explain the process up front and make clients feel comfortable from the first interaction.
- Session Availability: We prioritised therapists who offer consistent weekly slots and flexible options such as evening, weekend, and online sessions.
- Pricing: We looked for transparent pricing with no hidden fees. We selected services that clearly explain their session costs and offer fair value for the level of experience provided.
1. KlearMinds Therapy London
Address: 11/12 Tokenhouse Yard
Phone: +44 333 772 0256
Business hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 8 AM – 9 PM
- Friday: 8 AM – 6 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
KlearMinds Therapy London has strong credentials behind it. A national British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) for clinical excellence isn’t handed out lightly, but they have it.
We looked through their roster, and with 14 qualified counsellors on their team, it doesn’t seem like they’ve got an understaffed setup.
In terms of what they offer, it’s more than just standard counselling. There’s cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based therapy, and one-to-one counselling. They tend to mix approaches instead of sticking rigidly to one method too.
They also cover some areas you don’t see highlighted everywhere, like workplace mediation, couples’ syndrome therapy, and self-bullying.
Logistically, they’re flexible. They offer in-person sessions in Central London and the City, plus online therapy, and same-day appointments often pop up.
The biggest downside, though, is the price. Sessions usually cost £100–£200+, and they don’t work with public health insurers.
Reviews back this up. Even happy clients mention that cost can be a stretch, especially for longer-term therapy.
Supportive, insightful, and easy to talk to
“I had therapy sessions with Maggie every other week for six months and they we invaluable. Maggie was amazing — supportive, insightful, and easy to talk to. Each session gave me tools and perspectives that I still reflect on today, long after our sessions ended. The work we did together continues to help me navigate challenges more effectively. If I ever felt I needed support again, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Maggie.”
– Sarah, Google review
I’m incredibly grateful for all of the work she has done with me
“Carmen was amazing. I’m incredibly grateful for all of the work she has done with me. When I first came to her, I was feeling very overwhelmed and anxious but she made me feel completely safe and understood from the start. Her warmth, insight, and guidance helped me find confidence and calm in many situations I’ve been faced with since beginning with her. Working with her has been transformative and I couldn’t thank her enough.”
– T R, Google review
2. Harley Therapy – Psychotherapy & Counselling
Address: 8 St Thomas St
Phone: +44 345 474 1724
Business hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 8 AM – 8 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Harley Therapy do well in handling complex stuff. They know how to deal with anxiety, depression, and relationship issues.
But where they really shine is when it comes to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), trauma, and neurodiversity.
They offer eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), brainspotting, ADHD coaching, and even psycho-sexual therapy.
Clients often mention how effective the CBT-based work is too. Some said they noticed progress faster than they expected, especially when sessions were kept weekly.
The feedback around assessments is very strong. One person talked about how thorough the process felt.
Their therapist took time to understand the full picture, involve important people in the client’s life, and explain how everything actually connects.
They’ve been around since 2006 and work with a large team of fully qualified therapists. Many have NHS and private backgrounds, including specialists in child therapy and family work.
However, their pricing sits in the premium bracket. There are no discounted bundles, and if you’re paying out of pocket, weekly sessions can add up fast.
They do work with private insurance and handle claims directly, which can help with that.
She put in extra effort to deliver exactly what we needed in her assessments
“A wonderful experience! Maria is a thorough and consummate professional who obviously has special knowledge, experience, and skills in Psychotherapy & Counselling. She put in extra effort to deliver exactly what we needed in her assessments. Highly recommend seeking her services.”
– Perry Pitchford, Google review
She created a safe, supportive, positive environment
“Meeting Caroline has been life changing, she’s really supported me in understanding and working to overcome my mental health issues. She created a safe, supportive, positive environment and i looked forward to speaking to her every time. I wouldn’t hesitate to book further sessions in the future.”
– Lauren Alderton, Google review
3. One Therapy London
Address: 20 Great Portland St
Phone: +44 333 207 9330
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7:30 AM – 8:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 8 AM – 6 PM
One Therapy London isn’t short on options. With over 30 therapists, clients aren’t stuck with whoever happens to be free. Clients can choose based on gender, speciality, and even the type of therapy they want.
A first-time client even mentioned feeling comfortable straight away and genuinely understood.
They focus a lot on unconscious patterns and past experiences. It’s much more about understanding why people keep ending up in the same situations, especially in relationships.
They’re particularly strong when it comes to couples therapy and sexual issues. Infidelity, communication breakdowns, and even non-monogamy are very much their expertise.
We also found out that their psychosexual therapy is handled by specialists. Other counselling centres quietly outsource this kind of work.
They also offer both short-term and long-term therapy, which gives clients some flexibility.
Not everything’s perfect, though. There’s a report raising concerns about how payments were handled.
A client felt pressured to continue therapy, was charged more than expected, and had trouble getting clear communication or receipts.
Our work together allowed me to gain a new level of understanding of myself
“I worked with Ben for a long period of time during a number of significant and challenging life changes. My sessions during this time helped me process everything going on as well as the personal insecurities, anxieties and past traumas that inevitably came up due to such life upheaval. Our work together allowed me to gain a new level of acceptance and understanding of myself and some of the things that had been holding me back for much of my life. I’m very grateful for Ben’s counsel and would highly recommend his services to anyone!”
– Michael Palfreeman, Google review
I was able to re-interpret my traumas
“One Therapy has really helped me in ways I could’ve never imagined. Without my consistent sessions, I don’t know where I’d be. I found One Therapy in a time when my life was in turmoil due to bad negative experiences that in the past current experiences were bringing back memories of, and a lot of depression and anxiety. With my therapist, I was able to re-interpret my traumas, and develop systems to help me handle when I get down or fearful.”
– Arthur Kerry, Google review
4. Therapy in London
Address: 45-55, Norvin House, Commercial St
Phone: +44 7786 440737
Business hours: Monday to Sunday: Open 24 hours
Therapy in London shines in creating a safe and supportive environment. In this particular branch, it seems to operate with just one main counsellor and therapist, Philip.
From what we’ve gathered, he’s someone clients really connect with. People consistently mention that he’s patient, thoughtful, and genuinely cares about helping them work through challenges.
One client said he helped him understand areas of his life that needed addressing. He also guided him to develop skills to handle tough situations when they come up.
Philip’s approach seems to combine reflection with accountability. He listens carefully, asks the right questions, and encourages clients to look at things from different perspectives.
We also liked his honesty. Clients pointed out that he doesn’t shy away from giving constructive feedback while still being supportive.
Just keep in mind that it can sometimes be tricky to get an appointment here.
Philip instantly made me feel at ease
“As someone who has never done therapy before I was initially sceptical and apprehensive towards the idea. Philip however, instantly made me feel at ease. The clarity I have gained from these sessions is much more than I could have expected. Overall I would highly recommend Philip.”
– Ethan Shaw, Google review
I would recommend Philip to anyone who is going through a rough period in life
“I am very happy with my sessions with Philip, I think we managed to connect very well and he is someone who is not just a passive listener, but has a proactive approach and does not hesitate to challenge certain beliefs and ideas. This is exactly what I am looking for in a therapist and I would recommend Philip to anyone who is going through a rough period in life.”
– Todor Papanov, Google review
5. U Matter Counselling
Address: Unit 11, 2nd Floor, Pepys House, Greenwich Quay
Phone: +44 20 3518 6693
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 10 AM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
One of the things that really makes U Matter Counselling stand out is how many languages they offer sessions in.
They cover English, Hindi, Arabic, and more. It’s very helpful for people who don’t feel comfortable speaking English, especially refugees or multicultural clients.
One client, for example, shared that doing therapy in Hindi made a huge difference. They felt emotionally connected and understood.
Sarah, the founder, has experienced childhood trauma and domestic violence herself.
She struggled to trust the therapist her GP recommended. That’s why she decided to study psychology to understand her experiences and start healing.
She knows firsthand what it’s like to feel unsafe or misunderstood in therapy. That experience makes her especially empathetic and understanding, and clients backed this up.
They offer individual counselling, couples and family therapy, and group sessions.
They also work with companies, providing Employee Assistance Programs, workshops, and even advice on mental health in the workplace.
However, they’re very in demand, so booking can take some time.
I’m more confident and at peace with myself thanks to her
“I started counselling at U Matter Counselling at December 2022 and I felt very good & comfortable talking about my past with my counsellor . She was very kind & helped me through all the seances , trying to not make me feel bad. I could call her anytime if I had something I was dealing with . Now I’m more confident and at peace with myself thanks to her.”
– Florida Koka, Google review
She gave me support and made me believe in myself again
“Highly recommended. I am really grateful and extremely happy to have been treated by such a wonderful therapist as Sarah. She gave me support and made me believe in myself again. The therapies that I have done have been developed in a very calm and very comfortable environment, also not to forget the care and support that Sarah gives us at every moment. Very wonderful staff and really helpful. God bless you!”
– Ina Kertuka, Google review
