Professional

Counselling

(The Wellness Centre)

At St Mungo's, everything we do flows from our vision to Be Love. The Wellness Centre is one of the ways we live that out. For the past 16 years, it has offered free or low-cost professional counselling to people from all walks of life across our community.

How we're funded

The Wellness Centre is funded by St Mungo's Church. That funding allows us to offer counselling on a donation basis, with a suggested donation from £20 per hourly session. We encourage clients to give where they can, and bursaries are available on request, so cost need never be a barrier.

How we work

The Wellness Centre is an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), and all our counselling is delivered in line with BACP's Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.

All our counsellors are professionally qualified, with a minimum of a Diploma in Counselling. Each practitioner is also an individual member of a professional body such as BACP or COSCA, so is also personally bound by that body's ethical standards as well.

This is a professional, confidential service and the church's theological beliefs do not in any way direct or determine the professional counselling we provide.

Who we see

We offer counselling to children and young people from age 6, individual adults, couples and families.

People come to us with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, bereavement and relationship difficulties. Many are referred by local GP practices, social services and CAMHS. Between August 2024 and June 2025, we delivered 2,452 professional counselling appointments.

Our position on conversion therapy

The Wellness Centre does not offer or practise conversion therapy in any form, and never has. Therapy that seeks to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity is unethical and potentially harmful, and it has no place in our service, or our community. BACP is a signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy in the UK, and we fully support it.

When a historic concern from a member of the local community about our service was recently raised with BACP, it reviewed the concern and found no evidence to support it. BACP is satisfied that we operate in accordance with its Ethical Framework and continue to meet the requirements of organisational membership.

Everyone is welcome

We accept self-referrals, as well as referrals from GPs and other professionals. Our counselling is open to everyone, including members of the LGBTQ+ community and people of all faiths and none. Our commitment is simple: to offer every person compassionate, confidential, ethical and professional counselling.

Get in touch

To refer yourself for counselling, please complete the referral form below. If you have any questions about the service, we'd love to hear from you at lifeandsoul@stmungos.org.

CHILDREN’S COUNSELLING (known as BeMe)

 BeMe is our counselling service for children and young people, aged 6 - 16.

Counselling is a skilled way of helping children and young people with personal and developmental issues and difficulties.  Through play therapy, talking or working with art and other creative materials, counselling gives individuals an opportunity to explore and discover ways to live in a more satisfying and resourceful way.  It offers the young person the opportunity to increase self-awareness and develop personal resources and understanding of their own problems as well as cultivating strategies to cope with change.

BeMe counsellors are trained to national standards of counselling training and hold a minimum qualification of a Diploma in Counselling alongside a Certificate in working therapeutically with children and young people.

Please note: Our current wait time for a BeMe appointment is approximately 6 months. Additionally, there is a longer wait for after school/evenings appointments. 

By completing this form you are letting us know that you wish to be added to our waiting list.

Request BeMe Counselling (Parent/Guardian)

ADULT COUNSELLING

We live in turbulent times, on the edge of uncertainty, and in these difficult times many of our relationships are being shattered by persistent stress.  At Life & Soul we have a vision to strengthen families, empower individuals and help people become more resourceful in order to weather the storms of life.  Our hope is that through counselling you will be helped to live a resilient life.

The Wellness Centre is an organisational member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy).

Once you submit your referral, a member of our team will contact you within 2–3 weeks to confirm that we’ve received it and that you’ve been added to our waiting list. Current wait times are approximately 3 months before an appointment becomes available. Please do not submit multiple forms. If you need to make any changes, contact us at 0131 451 5226.

Request Adult Counselling

COUPLES COUNSELLING

Relationships can be difficult.  Whether you are in a new relationship or a longer-term relationship and no matter how big or small your issues are, our counsellors provide a supportive and confidential space to help you find a way through any struggles you may be facing.

All our couples’ counsellors are trained to national standards of counselling training and hold a minimum qualification of a Diploma in Counselling alongside a Certificate in Couples’ Counselling.

Request Couples Counselling

Other services that may be helpful are detailed below:

Edinburgh Crisis Centre

Wanting face-to-face support, but don't want an immediate assessment? Edinburgh Crisis Centre may be able to help. Contact their 24-hour free helpline: 0808 801 0414 or email crisis@edinburghcrisiscentre.org.uk or text 07974 42907

Samaritans

If you just want to speak to someone over the phone and are feeling suicidal or need emotional support, you can contact Samaritans on their 24-hour helpline. Calls are charged at local rates. Contact: 08457 909090

Breathing Space

If you are feeling depressed or are experiencing low mood you contact a Breathing Space Worker on their free helpline at 0800 838587.  Breathing Space Workers are available Monday - Thursday 6.00 pm - 2.00 am and Friday 6.00 pm - Monday 6.00 am

Urgent Medical Health Assessment

In the first instance contact your GP.  If you do not have a GP or they are not available, you can contact the Mental Health Assessment Service on their 24-hour phone line at 0131 537 6000.

This is an emergency assessment service based at The Royal Edinburgh Hospital and the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh.

SHOUT

A free 24/7 Text messaging service for people struggling to cope with mental health issues.  This de-escalation service is provided by trained volunteers.  Text 'Shout' 85258. 

Childline

Childline helps anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, our trained counsellors are available to support you.

Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night.

https://www.childline.org.uk/

Youngminds

Youngminds provide young people with the tools to look after their mental health. We empower adults to be the best support they can be to the young people in their lives.

Safeguarding