There are several reasons why LGBT+ people might want to access counselling that is LGBT+ informed and affirmative. You might want to work through specific experiences relating to your sexuality or gender identity and so it’s important that you feel comfortable to do so, without fear of stigma or discrimination. Or you might want to focus on other areas of your life without being subjected to inappropriate curiosity or incorrect assumptions about your sexuality or gender identity. Therefore, all our counsellors are trained around LGBT+ identities and issues.
Why see a counsellor?
Talking with someone who is trained to listen and support can help you to understand more about what you are experiencing so you can identify choices you have about how you want to live your life. Counselling can help with a whole range of issues, including:
- relationship difficulties
- gender or sexual identity issues
- self-confidence and self-esteem
- abuse
- coming out
- depression and anxiety
- sexual issues
- isolation
Our counsellors are volunteers who are either qualified or in the final stages of their training with accredited institutions. We provide ongoing professional supervision to all our counsellors and all adhere to BACP ethical standards and Code of Practice.
What do we offer?
11 weekly sessions with one of our volunteer counsellors who are either fully qualified or in their final stages of training.
How much does it cost?
Private counselling in Edinburgh and Glasgow costs around £45 per session. We can provide counselling thanks to client donations. Although we will never turn you away if you are unable to pay, we will ask you to make a donation at each session according to your ability to do so. All donations come directly into the counselling service and we are members of the Gift Aid scheme.
How to get started?
You can either fill in an online referral form or you can phone or email us to start your referral. If you are a health professional you can refer someone using the same form or by calling or emailing us.
We will then invite you to an initial appointment with our Counselling Coordinator within 8 weeks. The appointment will last an hour and you will then have the opportunity to:
- find out what counselling can offer you
- tell us what brings you to counselling at this time
- discuss together whether counselling feels right for you
- talk through any donation you may be able to make for your counselling sessions
- if we decide together that counselling is right for you at this time, we will talk about your availability for a weekly session and you will be placed on our waiting list.
Glasgow Counselling Service
The waiting list for our counselling service in Glasgow is now CLOSED to new referrals.
Edinburgh Counselling Service
Our service in Edinburgh is once again open to new referrals. You can self-refer to counselling by filling in a referral form then send it back to counselling@lgbthealth.org.uk. Please be aware that the service remains very busy and it will take time to be seen for an intake appointment and to be allocated to a counsellor. The more flexible you can be in terms of your availability the quicker we are likely to find you a slot. Once you are started, you will have 11 consecutive weekly sessions.
For more information
Edinburgh
Contact Claire Black (Counselling Coordinator):
claire@lgbthealth.org.uk 
0131 564 3970
Glasgow
Contact Louise Nind (Counselling Coordinator):
Please note that the service is temporarily closed to new referrals
louise.nind@lgbthealth.org.uk 0141 225 1767
