Our trans counselling service is free, confidential, and run by counsellors identifying under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. Although we are a service for people who identify as trans, non-binary or questioning, the reason for coming to counselling can be absolutely anything and does not have to revolve solely around your gender identity. The service exists to provide a safe space for people who may find it difficult or daunting to access counselling from other services.
Once we have received your registration form you will be invited for an initial conversation to determine whether counselling with us is the right fit for you at the moment. Following this you may be offered up to 12 sessions of weekly one to one counselling, which will usually be at the same time and day each week. Sessions will be held either online, by phone, or face to face at the St Charles Centre for Health and Wellbeing, Exmoor Street, London W10 6DZ. Waiting times to be allocated a regular slot for counselling will depend on your preferences and availability but are likely to be several months from the date we receive your registration form.
Unfortunately, we are currently only able to provide counselling to individuals based in the greater London area. Those living elsewhere in the UK are welcome to access Spectra’s Peer Groups.
If you would like to find out more about this service, please email counselling@spectra-london.org.uk for more information.
If you’re 18 or under you can access young person counselling within our UNI-T Project and you refer via the following pathway: Referral Form.
After a period of closure, we are pleased to share that Spectra’s trans counselling service is accepting new registrations again. We welcome applications from all eligible people who live or work in London.
DUE TO HIGH LEVELS OF DEMAND FOR ONLINE SESSIONS, WE ARE UNFORTUNATELY CURRENTLY ONLY ABLE TO ACCEPT NEW REGISTRATIONS FROM THOSE ABLE TO ATTEND FACE TO FACE SESSIONS AT THE ST CHARLES CENTRE FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING, EXMOOR STREET, LONDON W10 6DZ.
While waiting for counselling, you can also consider accessing Spectra’s other trans services, such as Peer Mentoring, Social Groups and Health Advocacy .
If six months waiting time is too much, you can find two documents below, comprising a list of alternative options for other free and/or low-cost counselling and psychotherapy, and a separate resource pack with alternative sources of wellbeing support such as helplines, online forums and peer-support.
Unfortunately, due to high demand and significantly longer wait times, we have made the difficult decision to close the trans counselling referral pathway until further notice.
We are working towards securing the resources that will allow us to increase capacity in order to meet the needs of all individuals who engage with Spectra’s services.
We are committed to ensuring that this service continues to deliver high-quality, peer-led support and does so in such a way that is both sustainable and robust.
You can find a list of alternative options for free and/or low-cost counselling and psychotherapy, and a separate resource pack with alternative sources of wellbeing support such as helplines, online forums and peer-support. Our trans social groups, peer mentoring scheme and advocacy continue to welcome new participants. Our LGBTQ Youth Counselling is continuing to accept new registrations for those who are 13-18 years old and based in London. More infomration can be found here.
While waiting for counselling, you can also consider accessing Spectra’s other trans services, such as Peer Mentoring, Social Groups and Health Advocacy .
You can also find two documents below, comprising a list of alternative options for other free and/or low-cost counselling and psychotherapy, and a separate resource pack with alternative sources of wellbeing support such as helplines, online forums and peer-support.
Spectra thanks you for your understanding and for bearing with us during this challenging time and we look forward to updating you soon.
Face-to-face counselling is available from our wheelchair-accessible offices in Ladbroke Grove. Online and telephone counselling is also offered. We are also offering occasional wellbeing workshops on a variety of issues for people of trans experience. For more information, please email counselling@spectra-london.org.uk or call 020 3322 6923, or click the link below to apply.