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If your needs are beyond our expertise, Student Support and Wellbeing Services will work with you to help you access specialist support outside UCL.
Counselling services at UCL
Therapeutic support is available to students on campus through Counselling in Student Support and Wellbeing Services. The team have a wide range of experience and are experts in student mental health and psychological support.
Access full information about Counselling, including how to complete an online registration form.
Counselling outside of UCL
In addition to this, UCL works closely with a number of organisations in the local area that provide counselling. Some students may prefer to access counselling externally, or they may need support for issues that Counselling Services are not able to assist with.
Below is a list of organisations that may be able to support you in this case, many of which offer services free of charge. This list is regularly updated, but we encourage you to contact the organisation you're interested in directly for the most up-to-date information.
Please note that some organisations may have particular eligibility criteria, and that currently most do not provide face-to-face support, but over video or telephone call.
- Camden Talking Therapies
At times everyone feels stress, anxiety or unhappiness and these feelings generally subside. However, there may be times when these feelings become more difficult. If you experience these feelings and you are finding it difficult to manage, talking therapy could help. If you live in Camden or Islington and are over 18 years old, Camden Talking Therapies could help you by providing some of the following services:
- CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy)
- Self-help intervention workbooks
- Group support
- Mindfulness and other therapies
- Telephone and video sessions
To be supported by Camden Talking Therapies services, if you live within Camden or Islington you can refer yourself here. Alternatively, contact the Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.
- The Brandon Centre (Camden)
- Cost: Free
- Address: 26 Prince of Wales Road, London NW5 3LG
- Phone: +44 (0)207 267 4792
- Website: brandon-centre.org.uk
- Email: bwell@brandoncentre.org.uk
Free for 12- to 24-year-olds living within Camden and 16- to 21-year-olds in Islington. They offer services for a wide range of mental health and wellbeing support. Additionally, they do offer support for psychological, sexual and social-related issues. Referrals and self-referrals for different types of therapy including psychotherapy and CBT.
Bwell Coaching Service is also available supporting 12- to 25-year-olds to improve emotional wellbeing. Currently, there are no waiting lists and should be seen within 3 working days of receiving a referral. You can access a maximum of 4x45 minute sessions to improve your self-esteem, relationships, sleep patterns or any difficulties you may be facing.
- IESO Health (Camden)
- Cost: Free
- Phone: +44 (0)195 423 0066
- Website: uk.iesohealth.com
IESO provides free therapy services via the Internet on behalf of the NHS.
Self-referral for free online CBT therapy to people living or registered with a GP in Camden. Evening and weekend appointments are available.
- TAP (Camden)
- Cost: Free
- Address: Barnes House, 9-15 Camden Road, London NW1 9LQ
- Phone: +44 (0)207 911 0822
- Website: mindincamden.org.uk/services/tap
Free individual sessions for over-18s who are living in and referred by a GP in Camden.
Social space to meet others and make friends in a supportive environment.
- British Psychotherapy Foundation
- Cost: Reduced fee
- Address: 37 Mapesbury Road, London NW2 4HJ
- Phone: +44 (0)208 452 9823
- Website: britishpsychotherapyfoundation.org.uk
Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
Range of reduced-fee schemes for those on low incomes prepared to attend intensive psychotherapy or psychoanalysis.
- The Inner City Centre for Psychotherapy (London)
- Cost: Reduced fee
- Phone: +44 (0)20 7247 1589
- Website: icclondon.org.uk
Locations throughout London, sessions are currently taking place online.
Reduced fee daytime weekly sessions.
There is no specific time commitment in terms of therapy duration.
- Minster Centre
- Cost: Low fee
- Address: 20 Lonsdale Road, London NW6 6RD
- Phone: +44 (0)207 644 6240
Website: minstercetre.ac.uk
Low-fee, integrative, open-ended individual psychotherapy.
Sessions are provided by senior trainees who work under close supervision. All sessions are currently taking place online.
- The London Clinic of Psychoanalysis
- Cost: Low fee
- Address: 112a Shirland Road, London W9 2BT
- Phone: +44 (0)20 7563 5002
- Website: psychoanalysis.org.uk
Self-referral for psychoanalysis.
The first consultation happens over two meetings.
The following consultation sessions are five times a week for two years. Sessions are not currently face-to-face.
- Association for Group and Individual Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
- Cost: Low fee
- Address: 1 Fairbridge Road, London N19 3EW
- Phone: +44 (0)207 272 7013
- Website: agip.org.uk
Low fee at the Fairbridge Clinic – contact them directly for fees.
They expect a commitment to stay in therapy for two years.
The main consultation and assessment service is currently closed, but the Fairbridge Clinic is open for a limited number of places. Therapy will be conducted in person and assessment via Zoom.
- The Bowlby Centre (North London)
- Cost: Low fee
- Address: 1 Highbury Crescent, London, N5 1RN
- Phone: +44 (0)207 700 5070
- Website: thebowlbycentre.org.uk
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy, attachment-based therapy focussing on relationship attachment to others.
Contact the centre for low-cost therapy. The centre is partially closed and staff are working remotely, conducting consultations online.
- Think CBT
- Cost: Low fee
- Phone: +44 (0)1732 808 626
- Website: thinkcbt.com/london
BABCP-accredited CBT therapists across London.
Time-limited lower-cost CBT therapy for a range of problems including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and OCD.
Confidential service with flexible evening and weekend appointments. Some sessions may take place in person and most will be online.
- Anxiety UK
- Cost: Low fee
- Phone: +44 (0)8444 775 774 (Monday to Friday)
- Website: anxietyuk.org.uk
Therapy can be face to face, via phone or video call.
Offers CBT, hypnotherapy, and counselling.
Annual fee scales depending on your income.
- Chinese Students International Wellbeing Support Centre
- Cost: All services are free (this includes up to 3 one-to-one emotional wellbeing support sessions)
- Address: 8 Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5BY, United Kingdom
- Website: ciscic.org.uk
A not-for-profit organisation offering emotional well-being support for Chinese international students living in the UK.
CISCIC offer both one-to-one and group support sessions, as well as support over the phone and by email.
If you are experiencing a difficult time in your academic or personal life and your emotional health is preventing you from overcoming these difficulties, get in touch with CISCIC to discuss your support needs with them.