MENTAL HEALTH
Private counselling in London
Basuto Medical Centre provides private counselling in London from its practice at 29 Basuto Road, Fulham, SW6 4BJ.
Counselling is delivered by an accredited therapist within the same practice as our GPs, so psychological and medical support can be coordinated when that helps.
SUPPORT
In-house
Confidential counsellor
JOINED-UP
GP + therapy
One practice
Exceptional private GP care, with continuity since 1990
At a glance
Key details before you book
Confidential
One-to-one with an accredited, DBS-checked therapist – no referral or registration needed.
Support
Anxiety, depression, phobias, trauma, grief, chronic pain, addiction and ADHD-related difficulties.
Approaches
EMDR, CBT, DBT, psychodynamic and person-centred, tailored to you.
GP assessment
Available in the same practice – a 30-minute consultation is £160.
Fees
Confirmed when you book.
Location
29 Basuto Road, SW6 4BJ – 3 minutes from Parsons Green.
Who it helps
What private counselling can help with
Counselling at Basuto supports anxiety, depression, phobias, trauma, grief, chronic pain, addictive disorders and ADHD-related difficulties. You do not need a diagnosis, or the right words for what is happening, to book – many people simply notice that something is no longer manageable the way it was.
- Anxiety, panic, phobias and persistent worry.
- Depression, low mood and loss of motivation.
- Trauma and post-traumatic stress, including difficult past experiences.
- Grief, loss and major life changes.
- Chronic pain with an emotional weight attached to it.
- Addictive disorders – alcohol, recreational and prescription drugs, and patterns that feel hard to control.
- ADHD-related difficulties, overwhelm and coping strategies.
- Stress, burnout and work-related strain.
Some of what brings people to counselling shows up physically first: poor sleep, low energy, appetite changes, difficulty concentrating, irritability, social withdrawal. If any of that sounds familiar, a first session is a reasonable, low-pressure place to start making sense of it.
Joined-up care
Counselling and GP care in the same practice
At Basuto, counselling sits inside the GP practice, which means emotional and physical health can be considered together.
In practice that means: if physical symptoms also need attention, a GP appointment or blood tests can be arranged without starting again elsewhere.
If hormones may be part of the picture, our, women’s health and men’s health care sit within the same practice. If counselling suggests that ADHD assessment or psychiatric input may be helpful, your GP can arrange your referral.
We believe mental health care works best when it stays connected to the rest of your health. You can start with the counsellor or with a GP, whichever feels more natural. With your consent, the two can work together when that would benefit you.
First session
What happens at your first counselling session
The first session is a calm, structured conversation about what has been happening, how long it has been affecting you, what feels hardest, and what you would like support to help with. Nothing is forced, and the aim is not to label you quickly. It is to understand things clearly enough to choose the right next step together.
That might be ongoing counselling, EMDR for trauma, counselling alongside GP follow-up for physical symptoms, or a discussion about onward referral. It may also be a practical plan for sleep, work, stress or recovery.
There is no obligation to continue after the first session. Some people need only a few sessions, while others benefit from longer support. This is reviewed with you openly.
How we work
Therapy approaches: EMDR, CBT and more
Counselling at Basuto can draw on several evidence-based approaches, including EMDR, CBT, DBT, psychodynamic therapy and person-centred therapy. These are shaped around you, rather than used as a fixed formula.
EMDR is offered to an advanced level and can be helpful for trauma-related difficulties, including post-traumatic stress, anxiety, phobias, chronic pain, grief and addiction-related urge work. CBT can offer practical tools for patterns of thought and behaviour. DBT can help with intense emotions. Psychodynamic and person-centred work give space for the wider story behind what you are experiencing.
Your counsellor will talk through what they suggest, why it may help, and how you will review progress together.
Your counsellor
An accredited therapist within the practice
Counselling at Basuto is provided by a qualified, accredited therapist who works alongside our GPs, specialising in anxiety, depression, trauma and addictive disorders.
- MSc Psychology and Counselling.
- BACP registered.
- FDAP accredited (Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals).
- NCAC accredited.
- EMDR Advanced Practitioner.
- Enhanced DBS checked, with professional indemnity insurance.
Pricing
Counselling fees
Counselling session fees and session length are confirmed when you book.
If you would like to start with a doctor instead – to talk through symptoms, rule out physical contributors, or discuss medication questions – a standard 30-minute GP consultation is available. There is no registration fee, no catchment area, and booking does not affect your NHS GP registration.
GP consultation
£160
30-minute GP consultation, including any prescription and referral letters.
Private space
Confidential, in a practice that feels like a house
Counselling sessions are confidential. What you discuss stays between you and your therapist, within the standard professional limits that exist to keep you and others safet
Nothing is shared with your GP, or anyone else, without your consent.
Common Questions
Counselling FAQs
How much does private counselling cost?
Session fees are confirmed when you book. If you would rather start with a doctor, a 30-minute GP consultation is £160 and can cover both the emotional and physical side of what is happening.
What can counselling help with?
Anxiety, depression, phobias, trauma, grief, chronic pain, addictive disorders and ADHD-related difficulties, as well as stress and burnout. You do not need a diagnosis to book – a first session can help make sense of what is happening.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can book counselling directly, without a referral, without registering with the practice, and without any effect on your NHS GP registration.
Is counselling confidential?
Yes. Sessions are confidential within the standard professional limits, which your therapist explains clearly at the first session. Nothing is shared with your GP or anyone else without your consent.
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy used mainly for trauma. At Basuto it is practised to an advanced level for post-traumatic stress, anxiety, phobias, chronic pain, grief and addiction urge-reduction work.
Can you help with alcohol or drug addiction?
Yes. Addictive disorders are a core specialism, covering alcohol, recreational and prescription drug use, with therapy accredited through the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals. Care is confidential and free of judgement.
Can you help with ADHD?
Counselling can help with ADHD-related difficulties such as overwhelm and coping strategies. Formal ADHD assessment is a specialist service; where that question arises, your GP can discuss and prepare an onward referral.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies. Some concerns respond to a short course of sessions; deeper or longer-standing difficulties may need longer work. Progress is reviewed openly with you, and there is no obligation to continue beyond the first session.
Can counselling be combined with GP care?
Yes, and this is a strength of the practice. Blood tests, physical symptom review, medication questions and onward referrals can all be arranged with a GP in the same building, with your consent.
Find us
Visit Basuto Medical Centre in Parsons Green
Basuto Medical Centre is at 29 Basuto Road, London SW6 4BJ – three minutes’ walk from Parsons Green and five minutes from Parsons Green station on the District line. Patients visit from Fulham, Parsons Green, Chelsea, Putney, Hammersmith, Battersea and wider London.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm.
Booking
Book a counselling appointment
If things have felt unmanageable for a while, a first session is a reasonable place to start. Book online, or call and the practice team will help you choose between counselling and a GP appointment first.
Medically reviewed by Dr Nora Al-Saraf, MB BS MRCGP, GMC 6149057 · 23 July 2026