Finding a therapist Considering what you need from a therapist There are many different approaches to therapy and counselling and there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. Selecting a therapist or counsellor is a very personal choice and you may try a few before you find the right person or service for you. Many offer a free initial meeting so you can talk about what you are looking for, find out more about them and consider whether you'll make a good team. Is this someone you can talk to? Trust? Build a rapport with? Don’t be afraid to ask about their qualifications, training and their professional experience. You may want to seek recommendations from friends, professionals who know you well and other adoptees. You may also want to consider how you feel about therapy work online or over the phone vs in person sessions. Many therapists now offer online appointments, which means you could work with a specialist who lives in a different part of the country without having to travel. However, you may prefer to meet with someone in person, which might narrow down your options, depending on where you live and available transport options. Free and low cost services Cost can be an important consideration at this point. It is not unusual for counselling sessions to be £50-£100 per hour. You may be able to access up to six sessions of free counselling over the phone with PAC UK. You could consider talking to your GP about a counselling referral. They would usually be able to refer you to a local free service who could provide up to 10 or 12 sessions. There may be a wait for this service and your GP should be able to give you an idea of how long that might be. You can also self-refer for NHS talking therapies without seeing your GP. It’s worth bearing in mind that when you access these free services, you get little choice in what sort of therapy you receive and who delivers it and it may not be 'adoptee-competent'. In most areas, organisations like MIND will provide private counselling sessions at cost, with a cheaper rate for those not in employment or on low incomes. This can often be a good balance between having some choice but keeping costs lower. If you were adopted prior to 1976 and live in Wales, you could be eligible for a funded service provided by Adoption UK's Psychology and Therapy Hub (PATH). AUK are calling for ring-fenced, permanent funding for well-evidenced therapeutic support for adoptees of all ages and this is one of the key recommendations in the Adoption Barometer. Private services If you have decided to pay for a service privately, but aren’t sure where to start, you could begin by searching through a professional body, such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). It is often a good first step to search the BACP therapist directory for individuals who may be able to assist. You can search by location and specialism, and therapists will provide a brief description of their training and experience. Adoption UK's in-house Psychology and Therapy Hub (PATH) offers assessments and tailored therapeutic services for adoptees. Some organisations such as How To Be Adopted can recommend individual counselling practitioners who specialise in adoption and some are adoptees themselves. Further Information Adoption UK's information and support line can help to guide you through the process of finding a therapist. PAC UK is knowledgeable about adoption and offers telephone counselling (usually around six sessions) with a specialist in order for you to explore issues, thoughts and feelings. MIND - How to find therapy or counselling. Alternatively, Barnardo's also offer a therapy service for anyone affected by adoption. Resources Podcasts Manage Cookie Preferences