Talk to a counsellor
We offer counselling in a wide range of ways so we can do our best to meet your needs, including online, email and phone options. Most people choose to meet face-to-face with their counsellor, but if you’re not sure which delivery type you would prefer, take a look at the information below or give us a call. Some people have their services in a mixture of ways to suit their needs week to week.
Face to Face Counselling
If you want face to face counselling, Relate will ask you to come for a consultation with a counsellor at our Centre in Derby or one of our other venues; our admin team will discuss options with you.
This first session is to talk about your difficulties and to explore what help would be appropriate for you. The counsellor will explain what counselling involves and answer any questions you might have. If at the end of the consultation it is agreed that Relate counselling may be helpful we will ask you for details of your availability and will contact you when an appointment becomes available.
Counselling sessions are usually once a week and last approximately fifty minutes to one hour. You will see the same counsellor each week for your ongoing counselling sessions, but you may have a different counsellor for the first consultation.
If you want face to face counselling, Relate will ask you to come for a consultation with a counsellor at our Centre in Derby or one of our other venues; our admin team will discuss options with you.
This first session is to talk about your difficulties and to explore what help would be appropriate for you. The counsellor will explain what counselling involves and answer any questions you might have. If at the end of the consultation it is agreed that Relate counselling may be helpful we will ask you for details of your availability and will contact you when an appointment becomes available.
Counselling sessions are usually once a week and last approximately fifty minutes to one hour. You will see the same counsellor each week for your ongoing counselling sessions, but you may have a different counsellor for the first consultation.
Telephone Counselling
Telephone Counselling is just like having a face-to-face counselling session, except you’re talking to a counsellor over the phone. Our phone counsellors have specialist training, so if you think you may want to have any of your sessions over the phone please check that you are working with one of our specialist phone team. You can either have all your sessions on the phone or have a particular session by this method when it is more convenient for you.
If you do not live near one of our Centres or you often work away from home then phone counselling can be a convenient option that helps you to get the support you need at a time and place that suits you.
The cost of counselling may vary depending on your circumstances. We can talk to you more about our charges when you call our booking line.
Please contact us for more details. If you are looking for flexibility in how your counselling is delivered but don’t want phone counselling, ask us about webcam, email and live chat options.
Telephone Counselling is just like having a face-to-face counselling session, except you’re talking to a counsellor over the phone. Our phone counsellors have specialist training, so if you think you may want to have any of your sessions over the phone please check that you are working with one of our specialist phone team. You can either have all your sessions on the phone or have a particular session by this method when it is more convenient for you.
If you do not live near one of our Centres or you often work away from home then phone counselling can be a convenient option that helps you to get the support you need at a time and place that suits you.
The cost of counselling may vary depending on your circumstances. We can talk to you more about our charges when you call our booking line.
Please contact us for more details. If you are looking for flexibility in how your counselling is delivered but don’t want phone counselling, ask us about webcam, email and live chat options.
Free Autism Telephone Helpline Drop In Service - 0808 178 9363
If you are an adult living in Derbyshire County who is affected by an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), you can access a range of free support for yourself and your family or carer through our Living Well with Autism project. We offer a free telephone helpline drop in services where you can speak to a specially trained counsellor without having to book an appointment. Please contact us 0808 178 9363
Helpline staff are experienced counsellors with additional training in:
If you are an adult living in Derbyshire County who is affected by an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), you can access a range of free support for yourself and your family or carer through our Living Well with Autism project. We offer a free telephone helpline drop in services where you can speak to a specially trained counsellor without having to book an appointment. Please contact us 0808 178 9363
- Monday 6:30pm - 8:30pm (On Monday 10th August the Helpline will not be open.)
- Tuesday & Thursday 10am - 1pm
- Thursday 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Helpline staff are experienced counsellors with additional training in:
- Understanding Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC)
- Domestic Abuse
- Mental health issues
Webcam counselling options
We can deliver many of our services via webcam. You can either have all your sessions via webcam or have a particular session by this method when it is more convenient for you.
May be you work away for part of the year or perhaps you do not live near one of our Centres and transport is difficult for you? Webcam counselling means you can continue to get the support you need, ‘meeting face to face’ with your counsellor.
You will need to have a PC with a webcam, speakers and microphone and that can go online and access Skype.
Please contact us for more details. If you are looking for something different from face to face counselling but don’t want to use a webcam, ask us about phone, email and live chat options.
We can deliver many of our services via webcam. You can either have all your sessions via webcam or have a particular session by this method when it is more convenient for you.
May be you work away for part of the year or perhaps you do not live near one of our Centres and transport is difficult for you? Webcam counselling means you can continue to get the support you need, ‘meeting face to face’ with your counsellor.
You will need to have a PC with a webcam, speakers and microphone and that can go online and access Skype.
Please contact us for more details. If you are looking for something different from face to face counselling but don’t want to use a webcam, ask us about phone, email and live chat options.
Email counselling
Relate email counselling is a confidential service enabling you to work with a Relate counsellor online using an exchange of emails.
You email us at with your description of what you are wanting help with and your counsellor will send a detailed reply to you within 5 working days of receiving it.
You will be allocated a fully trained counsellor who will work with you for as long as you need help.
Unlike in face to face counselling, you can write your email and access the full text at any time and then refer back to it as often as you want.
To use this service you must be resident in the UK and over 18 years of age.
Please email us to find out more about our email counselling service.
Relate email counselling is a confidential service enabling you to work with a Relate counsellor online using an exchange of emails.
You email us at with your description of what you are wanting help with and your counsellor will send a detailed reply to you within 5 working days of receiving it.
You will be allocated a fully trained counsellor who will work with you for as long as you need help.
Unlike in face to face counselling, you can write your email and access the full text at any time and then refer back to it as often as you want.
To use this service you must be resident in the UK and over 18 years of age.
Please email us to find out more about our email counselling service.
