About Our Counselling Service

Please Note: Support for Adults Only At this time

At this time, our counselling service is for adults aged 18 and over.

Sessions are delivered by both qualified counsellors and student counsellors on placement. Our approach is neuroaffirming, trauma-informed, and grounded in lived experience.

Many of our clients come to us when traditional therapy has not felt right, or when they need support that genuinely understands ADHD, autism, masking, burnout, emotional overwhelm, and the everyday impact of neurodivergence.

Our aim is to provide a safe, consistent, and accessible space where you can explore your experiences at a pace that feels right for you.

Who Our Service Is Suitable For

Our counselling service is designed to support individuals experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

This might include anxiety, low mood, overwhelm, burnout, relationship challenges, or difficulties linked to neurodivergence.

We gently encourage you to consider whether this level of support feels right for you at this time.

Important to Know Before Applying

We believe in being clear and transparent about what we can and cannot offer.

Unmasked is a low-cost counselling service. While we offer meaningful, relational support, we are not a crisis service and are not equipped to support individuals in immediate or high-risk situations.

If you are currently:

experiencing thoughts of harming yourself
feeling unsafe
or needing urgent or intensive support

we kindly ask that you seek support through your GP, NHS services, or local crisis support.

This is not about turning anyone away, it is about making sure you receive the right level of support, at the right time.

How Our Counselling Works

Weekly Sessions
Counselling is most effective when sessions are attended consistently. We work on a weekly basis to support therapeutic progress and build a safe, trusting relationship.

Session Length
All sessions are 50 minutes.

Commitment and Flexibility
We usually recommend weekly sessions, and many clients find around 12 weeks helpful. However, we recognise that one size does not fit all.

Clients are welcome to:

Begin with a shorter initial agreement, for example 3 to 6 sessions
Review the work at any stage
Discuss ending whenever it feels right

This approach supports both client autonomy and the training requirements of our student counsellors, who benefit from consistent weekly work.

Who You Might Work With

Qualified counsellors
Specialising in neurodivergent mental health, trauma, burnout, relationships, and emotional regulation.

Student counsellors
In the final years of training, carefully selected and supported through regular clinical supervision.

Many clients find working with a student counsellor to be a supportive and accessible way to begin counselling.

Low-Cost Fees

Qualified counsellors: £40 to £60 per session
Student counsellors: £20 to £35 (sliding scale)

What We Support People With

We support a wide range of experiences. You do not need to be neurodivergent to access our service.

Some of the areas we commonly work with include:

ADHD and autism (diagnosed or self-identified)
Burnout, shutdown, and overwhelm
Emotional regulation and rejection sensitivity
Trauma and masking
Anxiety, low self-esteem, and identity
Parenting as a neurodivergent adult
Relationship and communication difficulties
Work-related stress and Access to Work challenges
Grief, loss, and life transitions

Even if your experience is not listed here, you are welcome.uding support groups, where appropriate.

What to Expect Before Your First Session

To keep things simple and reduce delays, we now ask you to complete everything in one place.

When you complete our referral form, you will be asked to:

Provide some initial information about what support you’re looking for
Complete a short assessment
Read and agree to our counselling contract

This helps us understand your needs and ensure we are the right service for you before matching you with a counsellor.

Cozy corner with yellow armchairs, colorful throws, and a small table.

Ready to begin?

Complete the referral form

We’ve made our process simpler so you can get started without multiple steps or follow-up forms.

When you complete the referral form, you’ll be asked to share some information about what support you’re looking for, complete a short assessment, and confirm that you have read and understood our counselling agreement.

Click here to complete the referral form

If you would prefer a Word version of this form, you’re welcome to email us and we can send this to you.

What happens next

Your information will be reviewed by our team
We will consider whether our service is the right fit for your needs
If suitable, you will be matched with a counsellor
Your counsellor will contact you directly with their availability

If we are not the right fit, we will support you with signposting to other services where appropriate.

How Our Counselling Service Works

Please reach us at info@unmaskednn.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Q: Who provides the counselling?

A: Counselling is delivered by qualified counsellors or by student counsellors who are completing an accredited Diploma or Degree. All are insured, DBS checked, members of the BACP or NCPS, and supported through regular qualified supervision.

Q: Who Our Counselling Is For

A:Our counselling may be particularly helpful if you:
• Are ADHD and/or autistic (diagnosed or self-identified)
• Experience masking, burnout, or emotional dysregulation
• Feel misunderstood in traditional therapy spaces
• Are navigating trauma alongside neurodivergence
• Want a counsellor who understands neurodivergence without you having to educate them

Q: Where will my sessions take place? Are they face-to-face or online?

A: We offer both face-to-face and online counselling. If you request a qualified counsellor and choose face-to-face sessions, these will take place in the counsellor’s own private practice or therapy room, as this is where they are based for in-person work.

All student counsellor face-to-face sessions are held at the Unmasked Neurodiversity Network CIC Hub, where we provide a safe, consistent and supportive environment for their placement work. Online sessions are available for both qualified and student counsellors, depending on your preference and their availability.

Q: How long will I need to wait before starting counselling?

A: We aim to offer appointments as soon as possible. Low-cost sessions with student counsellors usually have the shortest wait time. Qualified counsellor availability varies depending on their current caseloads. Once your assessment forms are returned, we will let you know the earliest appointment options. We will then ask your allocated counsellor to contact you directly to arrange your first session. This is usually done by email and may not come from an Unmasked email address, as we are a growing team.

We kindly ask for some flexibility around the days and times offered, as availability depends on each counsellor’s schedule.

Q: What is the difference between working with a qualified counsellor and a student counsellor?

A: Qualified counsellors are fully trained professionals with extensive experience.
Student counsellors are in advanced stages of an accredited counselling Diploma or Degree, fully insured, DBS checked and supported by qualified supervision and their training providers.
Both offer safe, ethical and supportive counselling; the main differences are experience level and cost.

Q: Is counselling confidential?

A: Yes. Everything you share is confidential unless we become concerned about risk of harm or there is a legal requirement to share information. This is explained in full in our counselling contract.

Q: What happens if my counsellor feels I need a different type of support?

A: Sometimes counselling may not be the most suitable option. In these cases, we will talk with you openly and sensitively, and provide signposting or alternative support options. Your wellbeing and safety are always our priority.

Q: Can I switch counsellors if it doesn’t feel like the right fit?

A: Yes. We encourage open communication. If you feel the match isn’t right, please let us know and we will explore other options with you.

Q: Are there any issues you do not work with?

A: Yes. There are some situations where short-term or low-cost counselling may not be suitable, such as complex risk, significant substance misuse, acute crisis or needs requiring specialist intervention. If this applies, we will let you know and support you with appropriate signposting.

Q: How long does counselling last?

A: This varies for each person. Some clients work with us short-term (3 to 6 sessions), while others continue longer-term. We review progress regularly and we work together to decide what feels right for you.

Q: Do I have to be neurodivergent to use your counselling service?

A: No. Our counselling service is open to all adults. You do not need a diagnosis or to identify as neurodivergent to access low-cost or qualified counselling.

Q: How can I access counselling?

A: Simply complete our self-referral form using the links above. We will then send you the assessment forms and next steps. Once these are returned, a counselling coordinator will review your information and let you know whether we are the right service for your needs.