Your online therapy questions answered

Online therapy is counselling delivered via secure video call rather than in person. At Talking Counselling London, online therapy sessions take place on encrypted, GDPR-compliant platforms. You connect with your therapist from anywhere — home, work, or wherever you feel comfortable. Sessions last 50 minutes and follow the same structure and ethical standards as face-to-face therapy.

You begin with a 1-hour assessment session for £50. There is no waiting list and no GP referral needed. Book directly online or contact us and we will arrange it for you. Most clients begin regular therapy sessions within a week of their assessment.

No. You do not need a GP referral, a diagnosis, or any prior mental health history to book with us. Simply contact us or book your assessment directly online.

The assessment is a 1-hour session where you and the therapist get to know each other, explore what has brought you to therapy, discuss your goals, and decide together whether to proceed. There is no obligation to continue after the assessment. The assessment costs £50.

All new clients begin with a 1-hour assessment at £50. Ongoing sessions with our trainee counsellors start from £50 per session. Sessions with qualified counsellors are £125. There are no hidden fees and no subscription commitments.

Sessions are available Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm. Saturday, 8am to 12pm. This includes early morning and evening appointments, making it easy to fit therapy around work or other commitments.

Yes. After your assessment we will be matched to a therapist from our team who is best match for your needs, language preference, and availability. You are welcome to share any preferences — including preferred therapist gender, language, or specialism — and we will do our best to accommodate them.

Yes. A substantial body of research shows that online therapy produces outcomes equivalent to in-person therapy for most conditions including anxiety, depression, and trauma. A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research confirmed that online therapy is as effective as face-to-face sessions. Many clients find online therapy more comfortable and accessible than attending a clinic.

This varies depending on your needs, how long you have struglled your experiences and your goals. Clients benefit with continue longer-term open ended therapy, work untill you're feeling healthier. We will discuss this with you during the assessment and review it regularly throughout your work together.

Our therapists work with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and bereavement,Couples therapy, sex therapy, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, stress and burnout, cultural identity and migration, life transitions, and more. If you are unsure whether your concern is something therapy can help with, contact us and we will advise you.

Yes. Talking Counselling is a BACP member organisation. Qualified therapists hold registration with BACP, UKCP, COSRT, or BPS. All trainee therapists work under direct clinical supervision from our lead psychotherapist Anh Doan.

Trainee counsellors are completing training towards qualifications in counselling or psychotherapy. At Talking Counselling, all trainees are directly supervised by our clinical lead, a qualified psychotherapist and BACP member with many years of experience. The ethical standards and therapeutic approach are identical — the difference is in the fee.

It is completely normal to feel uncertain, especially in the early sessions. We encourage you to share any concerns with your therapist — the therapeutic relationship is central to the work. If you feel the match is not right, we can arrange a different therapist at no extra cost.

Yes. Talking Counselling offers therapy in 10 languages including Vietnamese, Mandarin, French, Arabic, Turkish, Italian, Tagalog, Yoruba, Hausa, and Japanese. Tell us your preferred language when you book and we will match you with the right therapist.

No. If you would prefer to speak in another language, we will match you with a therapist who speaks your language. You do not need English to access our services. Research shows therapy is significantly more effective when conducted in your first language.

Yes. All sessions are strictly confidential. The only exceptions — which your therapist will explain fully — are where there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or others, or a legal requirement to disclose. Your therapist follows the BACP Ethical Framework on confidentiality.