Lancashire Mind: @Therapies

Counselling is a non-directive approach led by you, the client. Our therapy service provides a non-judgemental, empathetic, and supportive environment to help you explore your experiences and find your own solutions.

It is a talking therapy where you do most of the talking while the counsellor supports and guides the process. Counselling works at your pace and offers a safe space to talk about what you need. It is focused on self-exploration, emotional understanding, and personal growth, and is often less structured.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a structured, time-limited approach that helps you target specific problems by identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours. CBT focuses on the connection between your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and actions.

It works by breaking problems into manageable parts and developing practical strategies for improvement. CBT focuses on your current difficulties rather than past issues, helping you find solutions you can use in everyday life.

CBT is a team effort, with tasks to do between sessions, called “homework,” which help you stay on track and make steady progress.

All therapy sessions take place virtually over a video-calling platform, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet. The specific platform used is based on the therapist that you see as some of our therapists have a platform that they prefer to use. We unfortunately cannot offer face-to-face sessions. 

• A virtual session with a trainee counsellor/CBT therapist costs £30
• A virtual session with a qualified counsellor costs £45
• A virtual session with a qualified CBT therapist costs £55

We are trying to keep costs as low as possible by working with local Universities and their CBT and counselling students who require placements as part of their course. The £30 charge for a session with a trainee therapist covers the cost of managing the service and providing free wellbeing assessments.

The rate for a qualified counsellor and CBT therapist are different due to the specialist training and qualifications to practice required for a CBT therapist.

You can choose whether you would like to receive support from an experienced trainee therapist or a qualified therapist. We also have a small number of free therapy places for anyone in receipt of an income or disability related benefit, please enquire about this at your Wellbeing Assessment.

Payment is made only when you have completed your personal wellbeing assessment, have been assigned to your therapist, and have arranged your first therapy session. You will be required to make a payment before each session, including your first. You will receive a booking link and to secure this booking, you will be required to pay securely by card. 

Yes – during your personal wellbeing assessment, you will choose which route of therapy you would like to take with the help of the person who is completing the assessment with you. If you are unsure of what route is best to take, you are more than welcome to go away and think about this, rather than deciding during your assessment. 

Yes. If you feel that you would benefit from more than one route, you can choose to continue your wellbeing journey by moving onto a different route. For example, some people find that wellbeing coaching compliments person-centered counselling well as a step-down service, helping you to implement strategies learnt, as well as learning more ways to improve your wellbeing. 

We can refer you into NHS talking therapies (but there may be a waitlist). We can send you some accredited therapist database links to search for a private therapist. We are not able to recommend specific services, but you may want to try these services:

• BACP
• Counselling Directory
• BABCP

All trainee therapists complete a rigorous safer recruitment process. This includes an application form, interview, enhanced DBS check, follow up of two references and a comprehensive induction. All trainee therapists complete mandatory training in GDPR, safeguarding, professional boundaries, health and safety, and equality, diversity and inclusion. They have ongoing support from our Coaching and Therapeutic Services Lead. They are required to record several sessions which are assessed by their university tutor to ensure quality delivery.  

Yes – you can change to a different therapist at any time during the process should you feel that you are not connecting with your therapist. You can do this by emailing therapies@lancashiremind.org.uk to let us know that you would like to change therapists. 

Once you start working with a therapist, you will work with them for the entirety of your therapy. However, in rare circumstances, if a therapist is unable to complete your sessions you would be allocated to the next available therapist. 

No – it is recommended that you only attend one form of therapeutic support at a time. We would suggest getting back in touch with the service once your group therapy ends. 

No – this service is not funded. Lancashire Mind are an independent mental health charity, and whilst some of our other services may have been created in collaboration with the NHS or funded through the NHS, our therapy service is not.  

No – people often get us mixed up with ‘Minds Matter’, so if you are looking for that service, you can use the following link to find out more about the NHS’ Talking Therapies service (formally known as Minds Matter’): Talking Therapies :: Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust 

This is completely dependent on each individual therapist, however none of our therapist can offer weekend sessions, only Monday to Friday. During your personal wellbeing assessment, you will be given the opportunity to discuss when your availability is. We will then do our best to match you to a therapist who can offer this preferred availability.