Relationship counselling
We are the lowest-cost national provider of relationship counselling
Your fees and donations pay for the support system that enables our volunteer counsellors to work with you. This includes appointments staff, initial and ongoing training for our counsellors, and their supervision. Marriage Care is a registered charity. We do not receive any Government funding and rely on clients’ generosity and fundraising efforts to maintain our service, but we will never turn you away if you cannot afford to pay or give very much.
Read more about making your contribution here
All relationships have ups and downs
Sometimes, though, things can get a bit stuck and it’s hard to find a positive solution. That’s when relationship counselling can help with support from one of our skilled relationship counsellors. It can make all the difference. Whether you are feeling things just aren’t quite right or whether you are encountering serious difficulties in your marriage or relationship, we are here to listen and to support you towards a positive improved outcome.
As one client said:
“Counselling gave us time and space to talk without arguing, and the chance to discuss how each other was feeling.”
Marriage Care has been supporting couple relationships for over 70 years. We have counsellors offering their time and expertise in person or via webcam throughout England, Wales, and Gibraltar. All of our counsellors have gone through a formal selection and training process. They receive regular supervision and are committed to ongoing professional development to ensure we maintain good practice.
We deliver relationship counselling through one or more 50-minute sessions with you and your partner, or individually if you prefer. Sessions are currently offered via webcam, or in person at a small number of venues. If you register to attend alone, telephone counselling is also available to you. There will be a regular weekly appointment made for the same day and time each week. Our sessions are recorded with your consent, for supervision, training and personal development purposes (anonymised). The number of counselling sessions you have will be agreed between you and your counsellor; usually up to twelve sessions. We are not a long-term counselling service.
What does it cost ?
Marriage Care is a registered charity. We do not receive any Government funding and rely on clients’ generosity and fundraising efforts to maintain our service but we will never turn you away if you cannot afford to pay or give very much.
We charge an initial £25 non-refundable registration fee which covers the full registration process, including an initial appointment to help us to understand your circumstances.
Following your initial appointment, if our relationship counselling service is the best option for you, we will place you on our waiting list for counselling sessions and you will be offered the opportunity to access exclusive resources which may help to ease the pressure you are under at the moment, and which will help you to prepare for your counselling. There is a small charge for accessing the resources and you will be sent details about this in your follow-up email, as well as what to do if you cannot afford to pay.
We ask all counselling clients to pay a minimum £25 fee for each session and invite those who can afford it to make an additional donation towards the full cost of £65 per session. We will never turn you away because you cannot afford to pay or give very much – simply call our Appointments Team (0800 389 3801) who will explore what contribution might be possible for you. If you are a UK taxpayer and able to Gift Aid your donations, please indicate this on the survey we send you as part of the registration process.
You are also welcome to view our relationship counselling FAQs.
How to Register
Our Relationship Counselling registration process is as follows:
- Please complete our on-line registration form, which includes making a £25 non-refundable registration payment by credit or debit card. If you are in financial difficulties and unable to afford the £25, please call our appointments team on 0800 389 3801.
- You will then receive an email with a short survey to complete. Your partner will also receive one if you register as a couple. Your survey answers help us understand more about you and the relationship difficulties you are experiencing.
- Shortly after completing the surveys, you will be offered an Initial Appointment via webcam (Zoom). This will help us understand your circumstances and to know how Marriage Care can best support your needs.
- Following your initial appointment, if our relationship counselling service is the best option for you, we will place you on our waiting list for counselling sessions.
Please Note:
For webcam (Zoom) counselling sessions: You will require access to a computer, laptop or tablet with a stable internet connection in a private environment, so you are not overheard or interrupted by children, pets, etc. Couples will need to be in the same location and using the same device.
For Telephone counselling sessions (only available for those requiring counselling on their own) you will need to use a landline and to be in a private environment, so you are not overheard or interrupted.