Our friendly and affordable counselling service, in partnership with Wellspring Therapy and Training, is available to anyone (18+years) living in the York area. We offer professional counselling that seeks to provide a safe and therapeutic relationship within which people feel unconditionally accepted and understood.
Who is therapy for?
The counselling service is open to all adults in the York area, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or cultural background, and to people of any faith or none.
Counselling is only one therapeutic method among many, and it may not be the right option for everyone. We will help you to think through the other support options available in the City, and can signpost you to other services that may also be helpful. We don’t expect you to know exactly what you hope to gain from counselling, or to have any specific goals in mind – although you may do. Counselling is about providing a safe space which feels right for you.
Our team of counsellors are experienced in working with people who are dealing with many different issues including:
Stress
Anxiety
Loss and change
Abuse
Abortion
Anger
Sexual Violence
Self-harm
Eating disorders
Addictions
Depression
Relationships
Faith and spirituality
What to expect
The first session of counselling is a chance for you both to get to know each other and ask any questions that you may have. The counsellor will explain to you the type of therapy they provide, the confidentiality policy, and what to do if you need to cancel a session.
There is no pressure or agenda, and your counsellor will never judge or criticise you. Counselling can be upsetting or feel heavy, so bear in mind that after your session you might need some support or a bit of space.
Counsellors can’t give you advice, but they can listen and help you find your way through. This might include giving you practical information about where else you can get support.
All sessions will take place in person at the De Grey Rooms, St Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
How many sessions and what does counselling cost?
We offer 50 minute counselling sessions that will be at the same day and time each week. To ensure we are able to meet the demands on our service, we offer up to 20 sessions of counselling. If further sessions are needed this will be reviewed.
The service we provide would normally cost a minimum of £50 per session from a private counsellor. As a charity, Wellspring seeks to provide professional, affordable counselling, but to ensure our service is sustainable we rely on clients contributing towards the cost of their sessions.
When you apply for counselling, you will be asked to indicate on your self-referral form a weekly session fee which is affordable to you: £15 £20 £25 £30 £35 or £40. If you are on income-related benefits, please indicate this to qualify for a reduced rate of £5 per session.
The more you are able to contribute, the more you will be helping us to continue to offer our services to adults and young people who cannot afford private counselling.
If you are able to contribute £50 for your weekly sessions you qualify for our Associate Counsellor Service (ACS). You will be seen as soon as possible by one of our associate counsellors. You are not jumping the queue and people on our affordable waiting list are not waiting longer, as all associate counselling slots are offered by counsellors in addition.
If you would like to donate in addition to your weekly session fee, please see our donate page for details of how to do this.
A little about us
The Belfrey has a small team of Associate Counsellors, all of whom are fully trained, and either accredited or working towards accreditation. We also provide placements for counsellors in training, who receive close supervision.
The Belfrey launched its counselling service in 2023 in partnership with Wellspring; a charity that was established in 2003, by two counsellors who had a vision to support vulnerable people in North Yorkshire with counselling. Since then, Wellspring has continued to grow in size and influence, being an ambitious charity, offering hope to people in emotional distress.
Wellspring is a Christian charity, believing that every person matters and is loved by God. Whilst it is a Christian charity its services are available to all, regardless of background and it welcomes team members from a diverse background who are sympathetic to its values.
How to apply
Please use the self-referral form below to apply, even if counselling has been recommended by someone else, such as your GP. The information you give us will help us allocate you a counsellor suited to your needs. If you are a Christian and would like to see a Christian counsellor, please specify this on your form.
Once you have submitted the completed form to us, we will put your name on our waiting list and we will contact you as soon as we have a suitable slot available. The waiting time for a first appointment can be up to 6 months. We do not currently have any evening appointments available, so we recommend seeking other support options if you do not have any daytime availability.
Please note that we are not a crisis service, so if you are in need of immediate support contact your local Mental Health Crisis Team (York: 0800 0516171) or in an emergency phone 999. We also have a pastoral directory available here.
For anymore information, email; Counselling@belfrey.org