Approach Counselling
Counselling provides a safe, confidential space in which you can talk about your issues.
Counsellors are trained to listen with empathy and can support you in dealing with negative thoughts, difficult feelings, and making changes in your life.
The Approach Counselling service at Trade is an LGBTQ-affirming service. Our counsellors are specialists in supporting people who are:
- Questioning their identity
- Thinking through what they want from relationships
- Dealing with social isolation
- Adjusting to life in the UK as an LGBTQ+ person and/or a person living with HIV
- Processing traumatic experiences (including sexual violence)
- Dealing with low mood, depression, and anxiety
Key information
Here is some important information about how our counselling service works:
- You will join our short waiting list and you will be called about an available slot as soon as one becomes available.
- The first assessment session is free. However, the counselling service relies on donations to run, and we welcome any contributions. We suggest a donation of £10 per session for people in receipt of benefits/Universal Credit, with the option to contribute less in times of hardship. We are grateful to those who can contribute more, and inability to contribute is not a barrier to accessing our services.
- Please note: we will be introducing a new sliding scale of fees later in 2025. This fee is negotiated with the counselling service manager during the assessment process.
- Each session is between 50 minutes long each week or fortnight. The frequency and length of the contract are organised between the counsellor and the client.
- Sessions are confidential, and this is discussed at the assessment session.
- All counsellors are supervised members of professional counselling bodies.
If you are interested in counselling, press the self-refer button below.
All information is kept strictly confidential and in line with our privacy policy.
Who: LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
Where: In-person at the Trade office, or online
How: You can refer yourself to our counselling service using this form; we also accept professional referrals from partner organisations (use the professional option on the same form)