Relationship Counselling

Our role is to listen, to encourage you to talk about your concerns and to help you make changes and decisions about how you want to move forward. We do not judge you or take sides. We can help you to work things out in a relationship, or to make a separation less painful and more amicable. If your relationship has already ended, we can help you find ways to cope with that, and to work out how to avoid the same problems in the future. Our offices are accessible to people with disabilities, and our counsellors speak a range of languages, which should make it easier for people whose first language is not English.

Relationship Counselling is for:

• Unmarried Couples
• Married Couples
• Same Sex Couples
• People Coming Without Partners

Confidentiality

Once you have contacted us we will ask you for some basic information such as name, address and contact numbers. We will not call you or write to you without your permission and we will always be discreet in our dealings with you. Your details are held in the strictest confidence, as is anything you say to a counsellor. We will not give any information about you to anyone outside Relate unless we have reason to believe that someone's personal safety is at risk.

Initial Appointment

We will offer you a consultation with a counsellor as quickly as we can, normally within a week, depending on your availability. This session, which lasts for an hour, is designed to establish what you see as the main reason for coming for counselling and to decide whether counselling is appropriate for you. You will be given an availability form to complete which will help us offer you ongoing counselling at a time which suits you. You can often be given an ongoing counselling appointment quite quickly, especially at out Kingston office. We are available weekdays and weekday evenings as well as Saturday mornings. You will normally come at the same time each week, and will see the same counsellor for as long as both you and the counsellor feel it is helpful.

How much does it cost?

Relate is a charity which asks for payments for its services so that as many people as possible can be seen. We aim never to turn anyone away for lack of funds, and payment assistance is available for those in need. We can give you more information about charging policies when you contact us.