How to arrange counselling
We understand that starting counselling can feel like a big step, so we’ve made the process as simple and clear as possible. Click below to find out how it works.
Step 1: Get in touch
To begin, you can either:
- Complete our referral form
- Call us directly on 01491 876 670 if you’d prefer to discuss your options or need help with the form.
Please note that we’re unable to offer counseling to clients living overseas.
Step 2: Book your Initial Consultation
Once we receive your enquiry, a member of the Riverside team will contact you to arrange your Initial Consultation. This session is with an experienced counsellor and usually lasts about an hour. It can take place either online or face-to-face, depending on which option works best for you.
During the consultation, you’ll be asked to complete a Client Agreement Form, which covers our approach to confidentiality and outlines what you can expect from the counselling process.
- The Initial Consultation costs £55. This covers both registration and the consultation itself.
- If finances are a concern, we offer reduced fees through bursary funding – just ask when you get in touch.
Step 3: Discuss your needs
In the initial consultation, we’ll talk with you about some of the challenges you’re going through and how we can help. If we feel that counselling sessions with us aren’t the best fit at this time, we aim to signpost to other support that’s more suitable for your needs.
Step 4: Agree timings and get started
If you and your counsellor decide that ongoing counselling is the right path:
- You’ll be assigned a counsellor (in most cases this will be a different counsellor to the one you met in the consultation).
- Sessions are 50 minutes long and will usually take place weekly, at the same time and place each week, whether that’s online via Zoom or face-to-face at one of our locations in Henley on Thames or Wallingford.
- We offer short, medium, and long-term counselling. You and your counsellor will decide together how long to work together.