Free and low cost counselling in Edinburgh

Last updated October 2023

Here you can find a wide range of free and low-cost counselling available in Edinburgh. We have listed services that are in-person, over the phone, and online via video calls and email.

Find out more about the different types of counselling and how they can help you on the NHS Inform website.

If you would like to add a free or low-cost counselling service to this page, please email us at ithrive@health-in-mind.org.uk.

Black and minority ethnic communities

Feniks

This service is for people aged 18 years old and over, and from the Polish and/or Central-Eastern European community.

Counselling is available online or over the phone.

The standard track counselling service is for individuals in a difficult financial situation, are on benefits, threatened with homelessness, are victims of domestic or sexual violence. You will be offered up to 8 sessions.

Cost: Standard track is free/donation-based. Fast Track is £35-45 depending on the therapist, and couple counselling starts at £60
Phone: 07510 122 425
Website: www.feniks.org.uk
Email: info@feniks.org.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/centrum_feniks
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Feniks.Support.Services

Saheliya

Thi service is for women from black and minority ethnic communities. The young people’s service for girls aged between 12-18 years old.

If you would like to be referred to this service please complete the referral form and email it back to info@saheliya.co.uk.

Cost: Free
Phone: 0131 556 9302
Website: www.saheliya.co.uk/saheliya/services/counselling
Email: info@saheliya.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Saheliya
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Saheliya

Carers

VOCAL Edinburgh counselling for carers

This service is for unpaid carers who require emotional support.

Cost: financial contributions are agreed upon at a level to suit your individual circumstances.
Phone: 0131 466 8082
Website: www.vocal.org.uk/carer-support/care-for-yourself/emotional-support/counselling-for-carers
Email: counselling@vocal.org.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/VOCALEdinburgh
Facebook: www.facebook.com/VOCALEdinburgh

General counselling services

Craigmillar Counselling

People aged 18 years old and over and living in the Greater Craigmillar area. This counselling service offers up to 12 sessions by telephone or video counselling.

Cost: Free
Phone: 0131 225 8508
Website: www.health-in-mind.org.uk/services/craigmillar_counselling
Email: counselling@health-in-mind.org.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Health_in_Mind
Facebook: www.facebook.com/healthinmindscotland

The Edinburgh Counselling Service

A general counselling service based in the city centre and north-west Edinburgh for adults, couples and young people. Our concessionary spaces are for those aged 16 or over and are for face to face sessions which take place in our city centre branch.

To access our low cost counselling spaces, please complete our self-referral form on the website.

Cost: £30+
Email: hannah@edinburghcounsellingservice.com
Website: www.edinburghcounsellingservice.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theedinburghcounsellingservice/
Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/edinburghcounsellingservice/

The Health Agency

Counselling and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) are available to anyone in South West Edinburgh aged 16 and over and can take place face-to-face, online, or by phone. You can self-refer or be referred by your GP, Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN), social worker, or other organisation you are working with.

Counselling is time-limited (maximum of 12 weeks). This service operates a waiting list.

Cost: Free but donations are welcomed.
Phone: 0131 453 9400
Email: Frontdesk@thehealthagency.org.uk
Website: www.thehealthagency.org.uk/self-referral-page/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WesterHailesHealthAgency
Twitter: www.twitter.com/healthagencywh

Hope Park Counselling Centre

Hope Park Counselling Centre offers counselling to individuals over the age of 16 living in the Edinburgh area.

Counselling sessions are available online.

Hope Park Counselling Centre is primarily staffed by counsellors in training who are studying at the University of Edinburgh on the postgraduate Counselling and Psychotherapy Masters Programme.

Cost: Donation for the first appointment then £2 – £30 moving forward. The ability to pay does not affect your access to counselling.
Phone: 0131 650 6696
Website: ed.ac.uk/health/hopepark
Email: counselling@hopepark.org.uk

Life and Soul Counselling at St Mungo’s Wellness Centre

Life and Soul Counselling is British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) organisation, offering counselling to adults, children and couples.

All counsellors are volunteers who have been trained to a minimum of Diploma level and are members of Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA) or BACP.

Counselling is available in-person and online.

Cost: Counselling is free but donations in support of this service are welcomed.
Phone: 0131 451 5226
Email: lifeandsoul@stmungos.org
Website: www.stmungos.org/counselling
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stmungos
Twitter: www.twitter.com/stmungoschurch

The Next Chapter

This service is for people aged 16 and over living in Edinburgh and the surrounding area only. All spaces are subject to availability and there is a waiting list.

Please fill in this form to get an answer about availability and waiting times for counselling. Counselling sessions are available online.

Cost: Contribution from £10 up to your counsellor’s standard fee, depending on what you can afford. Reduced fee places are initially offered for 12 weeks per client, with the possibility of additional sessions in the following discussion with your counsellor.
Phone: 0131 467 4044
Website: www.thenextchapter.org
Email: info@thenextchapter.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nextchapteredinburgh

PF Counselling

This service is for adults in Edinburgh.

In-person and online sessions are available. Remote sessions are available via the Attend Anywhere platform, which can be accessed from the PF Online page.

Cost: Contributions are encouraged but not required.
Phone: 0131 447 0876
Email: info@pfcounselling.org.uk
Website: www.pfcounselling.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pfcounselling
Twitter: twitter.com/pfcounselling

Projekt 42

This service is for people aged 18 years old and over. You can access mental health support either online or face-to-face at the new mental health hub at Ocean Terminal. Online counselling involves the delivery of counselling sessions via video. Sessions last for 50 minutes.

To access counselling, please complete the self-referral form on the website.

Cost: For the most vulnerable people in the community, access to counselling services are free, and for those that can contribute, there is a subsidised price per session based on a salary-based sliding scale. Costs range from £25 to £55 per session (based on income).
Phone: 0131 555 3436
Email: info@projekt42.co.uk
Website: www.projekt42.co.uk/
Facebook: facebook.com/Projekt42Edinburgh
Twitter: twitter.com/Projekt42EDI

Spark Counselling

This service is for people aged 16 years old and over. Counselling is available over the phone and online via Zoom.

The Relationship Helpline offers 200 hours per week of free counselling which is available to callers who need it. You can access 6 free sessions through this service.

Cost: Donations based
Phone: 0808 802 0050
Website: www.thespark.org.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/SparkScotland
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheSparkCounselling

South East Counselling (Health in Mind)

Health in Mind offers up to 12 sessions for people aged 18 years and over, living in the South East area of Edinburgh. This counselling service offers telephone and video counselling (face-to-face counselling is currently suspended due to COVID-19).

Cost: Free
Phone: 0131 225 8508
Website: www.health-in-mind.org.uk
Email: counselling@health-in-mind.org.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Health_in_Mind
Facebook: www.facebook.com/healthinmindscotland

Wellbeing Therapies (Health in Mind)

To reflect our expanding range of mental health and wellbeing services for self-funding individuals and organisations, Wellbeing Therapies is now where you’ll find everything formerly known as ‘Resolve’.

This counselling service offers telephone and video counselling (face-to-face counselling is currently suspended due to COVID-19).

Cost: £50 for a 1-hour appointment
Phone: 0131 225 8508
Website: www.health-in-mind.org.uk
Email: counselling@health-in-mind.org.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Health_in_Mind
Facebook: www.facebook.com/healthinmindscotland

Wellspring Scotland

This service is for adults living in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Counselling is available online via Zoom. You can find out more about how this works on its Online Counselling page.

Find out more about telephone counselling page.

Cost: Cost is dependant on income and starts at £25 per session.
Phone: 0131 553 6660
Website: www.wellspring-scotland.co.uk
Email: mail@wellspring-scotland.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WellspringScotland

Whole Works

This service is for adults living in Edinburgh. Counselling is availble in-person and online.

Cost: Starting at £45 per session with concessions depending on income.
Phone: 0131 225 8092
Email: enquiries@thewholeworks.co.uk
Website: www.thewholeworks.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Whole-Works

Parents and families

Held in our Hearts

Held in Our Hearts’ counselling service is available for bereaved parents. There are three permanent counsellors who are able to offer specialist baby bereavement counselling for families.

There are in-person and online counselling sessions available.

Cost: Free
Phone: 0131 622 6263
Email: info@heldinourhearts.org.uk
Website: www.heldinourhearts.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/babylosscounsellingandsupport
Twitter: www.twitter.com/heldinourheart

Pregnancy Counselling & Care

This service is for people whose mental health has been negatively impacted by pregnancy or early parenting-related difficulty.

The long term counselling service offers 10 online sessions of counselling delivered online via Zoom. To refer yourself to this service, complete the online form.

The fast track counselling service is available online only offers 3 sessions. To refer yourself to our fast-track service email info@counsellingandcare.co.uk or complete the online form.

Cost: Donation-based
Phone: 0131 557 2060
Website: www.counsellingandcare.co.uk
Email: info@counsellingandcare.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/pccscot
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pccscotland

Relationships

Bright Lights

This service is for adults living in Edinburgh experiencing difficulties in their relationships. Couples and individual counselling is available.

Counselling sessions are available online via Zoom. If you have any questions you would like to ask Bright Lights about its services, you can email the team using the details below.

Find out how to make a referral on the Bright Light website

Cost: Starting from £40 per session. Concessions are available.
Phone: 0131 556 1527
Website: www.bright-light.org.uk
Email: askus@bright-light.org.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Bright_Light_47

Sensory impairment

Lothian Deaf Counselling Service (Health in Mind)

To support people using Health in Mind services during this time, Health in Mind is currently offering telephone and video counselling.

Health in Mind understands this isn’t suitable for everyone, and some people have opted to put their counselling on hold until face-to-face counselling is available. All new clients will also be offered video counselling until face to face counselling resumes.

If you need any further information please contact our counselling team who will be happy to answer any of your questions.

Cost: Free
Phone: 0131 225 8508
Text: 07786202875
Website: www.health-in-mind.org.uk/services/lothian_deaf_counselling_service
Email: deafcounselling@health-in-mind.org.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Health_in_Mind
Facebook: www.facebook.com/healthinmindscotland

Substance use

Crew 2000

Crew 2000 provides up to 30 free counselling sessions for people concerned about their stimulant and other drug use (such as cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy or amphetamines). Crew Counselling Service is currently offering telephone sessions and online counselling, and are accepting new referrals for counselling.

Cost: Free
Phone: 0131 220 3404
Website: crew.scot/what-we-do/counselling-services
Email: referrals@crew2000.org.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/crew_2000
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Crew2000

Simpson House counselling service

Crossreach’s Simpson House provides support to anyone in Edinburgh who has been affected by past or present drug use, whether it’s your own or someone else’s.

Counselling is available online.

Cost: This is a donation-based service. There is also a fast track service at £45 per session.
Phone: 0131 225 6028
Website: www.crossreach.org.uk/our-locations/simpson-house-counselling-recovery-service
Email: info@crossreach.org.uk / simpsonhouse@crossreach.org.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/CrossReach
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CrossReach1869

Survivors of abuse

Counselling for Survivors of Sexual Abuse (Health in Mind)

Health in Mind offers counselling for up to six months for people aged 18 years and over who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse living in the Edinburgh area.

This counselling service offers telephone and video counselling (face to face counselling is currently suspended due to COVID-19).

Cost: free
Phone: 0131 225 8508
Website: www.health-in-mind.org.uk
Email: counselling@health-in-mind.org.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Health_in_Mind
Facebook: www.facebook.com/healthinmindscotland

Still I am project (Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre)

Women, all members of the trans community and non-binary people, from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities aged 16 and over, who have had any form of unwanted sexual experience.

This service is availble in-person, over the phone and via email.

There are different types of support available:

Long term support: up to 25 sessions with a dedicated worker.
Email support: Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre understand that some people have difficulty over the phone. If you prefer email support its available at SIA@ercc.scot
Crisis appointments: If you need urgent appointment because your traumatic experience is within the last 7 days.

Cost: Free
Phone: 08088 01 03 02
Email: SIA@ercc.scot
Twitter: www.twitter.com/edinrapecrisis
Facebook: www.facebook.com/edinburghrapecrisis

Edinburgh Women’s Aid

Edinburgh Women’s Aid supports women and children who have experienced domestic abuse.

The majority of support is being provided by phone, email, webchat and text.

Cost: Free
Phone: 0131 315 8110
Website: www.edinwomensaid.co.uk/womens-support/crisis-counselling
Email: duty@edinwomensaid.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdinWomensAid
Facebook: www.facebook.com/edinwomensaid

Students

Heriot Watt University Counselling

*This service is for students of Heriot Watt University.

Heriot Watt delivers one-to-one meetings either online through Microsoft Teams, or on-campus where local restrictions allow. Support includes drop-in, assessment, mental health, and counselling sessions.

Go to the Book an Appointment tile on myHWU and select the half-hour wellbeing assessment option that suits you best. In the first instance, you will be offered a 30-minute assessment appointment, where you can find out about a range of support options and may be placed on the counselling waiting list.

Student counselling service Queen Margaret University

*This service is for Queen Margaret University students.

Queen Margaret University offers short-term counselling, normally up to six sessions, to help you with any personal problems which might be affecting your academic work or your general health and wellbeing.

Appointments are available 9.15 am – 7.00 pm throughout the year and last up to 50 minutes. Sessions are delivered via telephone, Microsoft Teams and on-campus.

Cost: Free
Phone: 0131 474 0000 (ask for Student Services when prompted)
Email: counselling@qmu.ac.uk
Website: www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/student-services/counselling-service

Young people

Talktime Scotland

TalkTime Scotland aims to provide counselling and emotional support to young people aged 12-25 with a physical disability living in Scotland. This can be in-person, online or over the phone.

TalkTime Scotland offers free professional counselling if disability and/or long-term condition is impacting your life on a day-to-day basis.

Cost: Free
Phone: 07774 210104.
Email: talktimescotland@gmail.com
Website: www.talktimescotland.co.uk/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/talktimescotland/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/talktimescot