If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, get help now. Visit a nearby emergency service, hospital, or mental health clinic. If you are in crisis, these helplines can help:
Crisis numbers
- the United States of America:
- the United Kingdom:
- Samaritans: Tel: 116 123 (Free from any phone) | Tel: 0808 164 0123 (Welsh Language Line) | Tel: 18001 44 116 123 (Relay UK). 24 hours. The Welsh Language Line is open every day, 7pm to 11pm.
- Shout, text 85258: Text: 85258. 24 hours.
- India:
- Tele-MANAS: Tel: 14416 | Tel: 1-800 891 4416. 24 hours.
- Vandrevala Foundation Helpline: Tel: +91 9999 666 555 | WhatsApp: +91 9999 666 555. 24 hours.
- Canada:
- 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline: Tel: 9-8-8 | Text: 9-8-8. 24 hours.
- Hope for Wellness Help Line: Tel: 1-855-242-3310. 24 hours. For Indigenous people across Canada.
- South Africa:
- SADAG Suicide Crisis Helpline: Tel: 0800 567 567. 24 hours.
- Cipla Mental Health Helpline: Tel: 0800 456 789 (24 hours) | Text: 31393 | WhatsApp: 076 882 2775 (8am to 5pm). 24 hours.
- the Philippines:
- NCMH Crisis Hotline: Tel: 1553 (Nationwide) | Tel: 1800-1888-1553 (Nationwide) | Tel: 0919-057-1553 (SMART/TNT). 24 hours.
- Hopeline, suicide and emotional crisis line: Tel: 02-8804-4673 | Tel: 0917-558-4673 | Tel: 0918-873-4673. 24 hours.
- Australia:
- Lifeline 13 11 14: Tel: 13 11 14 | Text: 0477 13 11 14. 24 hours.
- Suicide Call Back Service: Tel: 1300 659 467. 24 hours. For ages 15 and over.
- Germany:
- TelefonSeelsorge, for anyone who needs to talk: Tel: 0800 1110111 | Tel: 0800 1110222 | Tel: 116 123. 24 hours.
- MuTeS, Muslim pastoral and crisis line: Tel: 030 443 509 821. 24 hours.
- Saudi Arabia:
- Psychological Consultation Centre: Tel: 920033360
- Ireland:
- Samaritans, for whatever you're going through: Tel: 116 123. 24 hours.
- Pieta 24-Hour Crisis Helpline: Tel: 1800 247 247 | Text: 51444 (Text HELP). 24 hours.
- Iran:
- France:
- 3114, the national suicide prevention number: Tel: 3114
- Spain:
- Línea 024 de atención a la conducta suicida, for people with suicidal thoughts and their families: Tel: 024 | Chat: www2.cruzroja.es. 24 hours.
- Teléfono de la Esperanza crisis line: Tel: 717 003 717 (Mobile number) | Tel: 914 59 00 55 (Landline). 24 hours.
- New Zealand:
- 1737 Need to Talk?: Tel: 1737 | Text: 1737 | Tel: 0800 1737 1737 (Call (0800 number)). 24 hours. Not a crisis team, and not a service for severe mental illness or distress. Offers brief emotional support.
- Depression Helpline: Tel: 0800 111 757 | Text: 4202. 24 hours.
- Sweden:
- Självmordslinjen, suicide helpline: Tel: 90101 | Chat: mind.se. 24 hours.
- Hjälplinjen, mental health support line: Tel: 90390 | Tel: 0202-90390 (Call (long number)). 24 hours. For people over 18.
- Switzerland:
- Die Dargebotene Hand, emotional support line: Tel: 143 | Tel: 0800 143 000 (English, 6pm to 11pm). 24 hours. Mainly for adults.
- Pro Mente Sana telephone counselling, for people with mental health problems and relatives: Tel: 0848 800 858. For adults. Weekdays 9am to noon; also Monday to Wednesday 4.30pm to 7.30pm, and Thursday and Friday 2pm to 5pm.
- Croatia:
- Telefon za psihološku pomoć (TESA), psychological counselling by phone: Tel: 01 48 28 888. Weekdays, 10am to 10pm; closed for a summer break.
- Linija pomoći Plavi telefon: Tel: 01/4833-888. Weekdays, 10am to 2pm.
- Japan:
- Anata no Ibasho chat (あなたのいばしょチャット相談), free anonymous counselling for anyone: Chat: talkme.jp. 24 hours.
- Inochi no Denwa (いのちの電話), suicide prevention helpline: Tel: 0120-783-556 (Freephone) | Tel: 0570-783-556 (Navi Dial (charged)). Freephone daily 4pm to 9pm, and 24 hours from 8am on the 10th of each month; Navi Dial daily 10am to 10pm, charged.
- Poland:
- Centrum Wsparcia, psychological support for anyone: Tel: 800 70 2222. 24 hours.
- Linia Wsparcia dla Funkcjonariuszy i Pracowników Służb Mundurowych, Ratownictwa Medycznego i ich Rodzin, for uniformed services and their families: Tel: 800 70 2430. 24 hours.
- Pakistan:
- Sehat Tahaffuz 1166, the national health helpline (with the Humraaz mental health service): Tel: 1166
- Taskeen Helpline: Tel: +92 316 827 5336. Appointment-based: a coordinator takes the call and books a session with a psychologist. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 11pm.
- Nigeria:
- She Writes Woman, toll-free and answered at any hour: Tel: 0800 800 2000
- SURPIN, Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative: Toll-free: +234-8000787746 | Tel: +234-908-021-7555 | Tel: +234-903-440-0009 | Tel: +234-814-224-1007
- Sri Lanka:
- Malaysia:
- MIASA_YSD-1800 Crisis Helpline: Tel: 1800 180 066 | WhatsApp: 03-9765 6088. 24 hours.
- Talian HEAL 15555, mental health crisis line: Tel: 15555. Every day, including public holidays.
- Bangladesh:
- Kaan Pete Roi, 3 PM to 3 AM every day: Tel: +880 9612-119911
- Lebanon:
- National Lifeline 1564: Tel: 1564. 24 hours.
- Vietnam:
- Đường dây nóng Ngày mai, free psychological support by phone: Tel: 096.306.1414. Wednesday to Sunday, 1pm to 8:30pm.
- Hy Vọng Sống (HOPE), suicide prevention helpline: Tel: 086 50 444 00. Every day, 12 noon to midnight.
- Botswana:
- BOFWA 24 Hour Youth Helpline: Tel: 16658. 24 hours.
- Cyprus:
- Cyprus Samaritans, emotional support for distress or loneliness: Tel: 80007773. Adults only; every day, 4pm to midnight.
- Portugal:
- Linha Nacional de Prevenção do Suicídio 1411, for suicidal thoughts and self-harm: Tel: 1411. 24 hours. Under-18s need a parent's or guardian's consent.
- SNS 24 psychological counselling: Tel: 808242424 (then option 4). 24 hours. Not meant for suicide risk: the line passes such a call to the emergency medical service at once.
- Egypt:
- The national psychological support hotline: Tel: 16328
- Oman:
- Uganda:
- Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, 0800 211 306: Tel: 0800 211 306, toll free.
- Namibia:
- LifeLine/ChildLine Namibia 106 Gender-Based Violence HelpLine: Tel: 106 | Text: 081 398 5510. 8am to 8pm.
- Tanzania:
- Singapore:
- national mindline 1771, mental health helpline: Tel: 1771 | WhatsApp: +6566691771 (WhatsApp chat). 24 hours.
- Samaritans of Singapore 24-hour Hotline 1767 and CareText, emotional support for people in distress: Tel: 1767 | WhatsApp: 9151 1767 (WhatsApp (CareText)). 24 hours.
- Not a local line: helplines and suicide hotlines worldwide
How to find the right counsellor
This page lists counsellors near you with appointments open. Filter the list, then read the profiles.
Look for the exact title the person is registered under. Read what they say they work with, in their own words. Check the languages they work in, and whether they see people in a room, online, or both.
Before you contact a counsellor
Counselling is talking therapy for the difficulties life puts in front of people: a loss, a break-up, work that has become unbearable, a decision that will not settle, a long stretch of feeling low. A counsellor listens closely, helps you set out what is happening, and works with you on what you can do about it.
Counselling suits someone who wants to work on a particular problem, and it suits someone who needs a place to think out loud. It is not the whole answer on its own where there is a serious mental illness, or where someone is in danger. A counsellor should say so, and help you find the right care.
The first session is a conversation about what brought you and what you want from it. Most counsellors then meet you weekly, at the same time, for as long as the work needs. You should feel heard by the third or fourth session. If you do not, say so, or find another counsellor.
Every profile on this page lists the credentials that practitioner has given us. Where the title is regulated, the register that holds it is public, and that is where a registration is checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is counselling?
Counselling is structured, confidential conversation about something you are carrying. The person you talk to is trained to hold what you bring.
People come after a bereavement, or in the middle of trouble at home or at work. Some come while making a decision they cannot make alone. Some come when a long stretch has become too much.
The work covers how you are managing now, and what would help. A counsellor listens closely and asks the questions you have been avoiding. The aim is to help you find your own way through, not to hand you an answer.
Counselling is its own discipline, not psychotherapy under another name. A counsellor works with how you are managing now. Where a diagnosis is part of what you are carrying, the counsellor will say so and tell you who to see.
Read the exact title on the profile and find the body that holds it: some counsellors are on a state register, others belong to a professional body. That listing is where the scope of the title is set out.
What happens in counselling?
The first session is mostly questions. You say what brought you. The counsellor asks what has already been tried, and what you want to be different. Together you agree what the work will cover and how often you will meet.
In that first session you both decide whether to carry on. A counsellor who thinks that what you are bringing sits outside their training should say so then. They should point you to the right person.
After that the shape depends on the method. Some are structured, with tasks between sessions. Others follow whatever you bring that week.
How long it runs depends on what you came with. Ask in the first session.
How do I choose a counsellor?
Ask the person these questions.
- What approach does the person use?
- Is what you are bringing inside what they are trained to do?
- How will you both know whether it is working?
We have written at more length on how to find the right therapist.
Many counsellors offer a short first call at no charge. Use it to ask those questions and to hear how the person answers them.
Judge the fit early. If after the first few sessions you do not feel heard, say so, or see someone else. Changing counsellor is ordinary and not a setback.
Can I see a counsellor online?
Many counsellors work online as well as in a room, and the profile says which. You need a private place to talk and a connection that holds. If you are in crisis, being seen in person is usually safer. Crisis may also be a question for a doctor rather than for counselling.
What does it cost, and can it cost less?
The fee is on the practitioner's own profile. Ask directly whether a reduced fee is available; many counsellors keep a few places at a lower rate.
There are other routes to a lower fee. A community or non-profit service. A university or training clinic where supervised trainees see clients. A workplace scheme, if your employer runs one.
We have written on how to find affordable therapy.
Group counselling usually costs less. It is a different kind of work, not a cheaper version of the same one. For some difficulties it is the better fit.
Related pages
Real choice. Authentic, independent, clinician-led care.
TherapyRoute is a clinician-led directory that champions independent practitioners who answer to you and their professional ethics. We don't take commissions, sell your data, or assign therapists by algorithm. You browse, compare, and choose.
Vincenzo (Enzo) Sinisi, Clinical Psychologist (HPCSA), Psychoanalyst (IPA/SAPA), Group Analyst (IGA)
TherapyRoute is not for emergencies and does not provide medical advice. All of our content is informational and cannot replace professional healthcare. In an emergency, contact a local emergency service. For immediate support, consider a local helpline.
