FAQs.

No. Flourish is a Community Interest Company (CIC), which is a type of social enterprise rather than a registered charity. We are not-for-profit in spirit and structure, and our asset lock means that profits cannot be distributed to private individuals, but we are regulated by Companies House and the CIC Regulator rather than the Charity Commission.

This means less administrative overhead for us, and more resource directed into delivering the service.

Flourish was founded by Amy Hutson, a qualified counsellor with years of clinical experience. Amy founded Flourish after recognising a persistent gap between what the NHS could offer and what people could realistically afford in the private market.

You can read more on our About Flourish page.

Yes. Because all sessions take place online via video call, we are available to adults aged 18 and over anywhere in the UK, England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

After your initial assessment, if you and your therapist decide to work together, your ongoing counselling is structured around up to 15 weekly sessions. Each session is 50 minutes and takes place via video call.

This is not a rigid contract. It is a framework that gives the work structure and meaning, and gives both you and your counsellor a clear arc to work within. Not every person will have exactly 15 sessions.

At the end of the programme, you and your counsellor will review together and discuss what, if anything, is the most helpful next step.

All Flourish sessions take place online via video or phone call. For video calls, you will need a device with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, and a private space where you can speak freely. For phone sessions, a private space is necessary. Sessions are typically 50 minutes and take place weekly. We do not currently offer in-person sessions.

Because all of our counsellors are fully qualified, we can work with a broader range of difficulties than many low-cost services. This includes anxiety, low mood and depression, grief and bereavement, stress and burnout, relationship difficulties, life transitions, low self-esteem, and trauma within the scope of short-term work.

If you are unsure whether Flourish is the right fit for what you are dealing with, the best thing to do is use the contact form. We will give you an honest answer.

It depends on what you mean by complex. Our qualified counsellors can work safely with a wide range of difficulties, including trauma, bereavement, and significant anxiety or depression.

However, our service is designed for short-term, online, one-to-one work. If you require specialist psychiatric care, intensive multi-disciplinary support, or crisis-level intervention, we may not be the most appropriate service. We will always be honest about this, and if we are not the right fit, we will try to point you towards something more suitable.

No. Flourish is not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger or need urgent mental health support, please contact Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7), call NHS 111, text SHOUT to 85258, or call 999 in an emergency.

You can read more on our Safeguarding and Support Boundaries page.

The therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in how helpful counselling is. The initial assessment is designed to help you both work this out before committing to weekly sessions. If after beginning sessions you feel the relationship is not working, speak to your therapist in the first instance. If you would like to change therapist, please contact us and we will do our best to help.

You can also raise any concerns through our complaints process.

No. There is no means-testing, no proof of income required, and no form to justify your choice. We ask you to choose the rate that feels honest and sustainable for your current circumstances, and we trust you to make that judgement.

We hold a small number of free places at any one time for people for whom any cost is a real barrier. Availability changes, and our pricing page shows whether any are open at the moment. If you would like to ask about one, mention it when you get in touch and we will have that conversation privately and honestly.

We do not keep a waiting list, so if they are full it is worth checking the current position. If you can manage £25 a session, our access rate gives you the same qualified counsellor.

The initial assessment fee of £20 is paid when you book your appointment, unless you have been offered a free place, which includes a free assessment. If you and your therapist decide to continue, ongoing session payments are arranged directly with your therapist before weekly sessions begin.

Yes. If your financial circumstances change during your counselling programme, please talk to us. We will always try to find a way to continue support if we can.

Browse the Flourish therapists, choose the person who feels right for you, and book a 30-minute initial assessment through our online booking system. The assessment costs £20 and takes place via video call.

The initial assessment is a conversation about your goals and whether you and your therapist are a good fit to work together. There is no obligation to continue beyond it.

You choose your therapist directly and book your initial assessment at a time that works for you. There is no waiting period and no review process before you can book. Availability depends on each individual therapist's schedule, which you can see when booking.​

Yes. You choose your therapist directly. You can browse therapist profiles and book with the person who feels right for you based on their background, approach, and availability. You are not matched by us, the choice is yours.

The initial assessment exists precisely to answer this question. After the 30-minute conversation, you and your therapist decide together whether to continue. If you would prefer to work with a different therapist, you are welcome to book an initial assessment with another member of the Flourish team. If our service is not the right fit at all, we will do our best to point you towards something more suitable.

We ask for approximately four client sessions per week. That is the core commitment. We have designed the role to be sustainable and genuinely manageable alongside an existing practice or other work.

There are no board meetings, no management committees, and no hidden obligations.

Before working with clients, we will need to verify: current professional registration (BACP, UKCP, NCPS, or equivalent), evidence of qualification, current professional indemnity insurance, confirmation of supervision arrangements, two professional references, and an enhanced DBS check.

You do not need all of these ready before you express interest. The expression of interest is a first conversation. We will walk through the requirements with you once we have spoken.

Use the expression of interest form on our Volunteer With Flourish page. Tell us a little about your background and what draws you to Flourish. We will be in touch to talk through next steps.