How to Find Free Therapy in London
Directory/editorial guidance, not diagnosis or emergency care. Read the sources and check status shown in the article. No named clinician or clinical endorsement is claimed. Editorial ownership still needs to be assigned.
Start with the actual NHS service
Use the NHS Talking Therapies service finder to find your GP-area service. Many services accept self-referral. Age, GP-registration, catchment and suitability rules apply; NHS guidance generally describes ages 18+ or 16+ in some areas.
No fixed London-wide assessment or therapy wait is quoted here. Ask the service to confirm receipt of your referral and its current waiting arrangements. A national access target is not a promised individual date.
Check what a charity actually offers
Local charities may provide advice, peer groups, advocacy, counselling or other support. A registered office is not necessarily a drop-in address, and a local branch does not necessarily offer every national service. Check charges, age/geography, referral and booking for the exact service.
Listening support is different from therapy: Samaritans publishes free UK calls to 116 123, 24/7; Shout publishes free UK text support, 24/7. Responses may not be immediate.
Know the limits of this directory
The London entries include provider references that still need service-level review. They are not a complete list of verified local clinics or available appointments. Browse London references and checked free-support costs, then read the review limitations and provider sources.
Urgent help
If someone’s life is at risk or you cannot keep someone safe, call 999 or go to A&E now. In England, urgent mental health help that is not an immediate emergency is available by calling 111 and selecting the mental health option. Charity listening services are not emergency care.
Sources
Source checks: 14 October 2026. NHS talking therapies, NHS counselling, provider pages linked above and NHS urgent support. No clinical review or local appointment guarantee is claimed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I self-refer for NHS talking therapies in London?
Many anxiety and depression services accept self-referral. Check the actual service's age, GP-registration, catchment and suitability rules using the official NHS finder.
Is every charity service free counselling?
No. Charities offer different kinds of support with separate charges, eligibility and booking arrangements. Listening and peer support are not the same as counselling.