Waiting List & Availability

PF Waiting List and Your Availability

Most people will have to wait around 4-6 weeks until their Initial Appointment, and then a further 4 - 8 weeks until they can begin regular counselling.  The wait depends on the availability and flexibility of the client, as well as the availability of a suitable counsellor.

In May, around 10% of our initial assessment appointments were not attended, or were cancelled at the last minute. These wasted appointments mean longer waiting times for everyone. Please remember your appointment, and let us know in good time if you have to withdraw. Missed appointments may mean you will have to make a new request for counselling, as detailed in our Fair Access Policy.

Keep Your Availability Up-to-date

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If you have completed a Counselling Request Form, please update us if your availability for appointments changes.

Initial appointments will be offered in order of submission of the Request Form, and according to your declared availability. Appointments for regular counselling are offered according to the availability that you give at the Initial session.

It is really important that you let us know if your availability changes, as our Fair Access Policy means that we may not be able to offer you further appointments if you cannot make the one offered to you. You can email us, or use the Availability Update Form to notify us of changes at any time.

Other Agencies

There are many other counselling agencies around Edinburgh.  Unfortunately most also have waiting lists, but each has different eligibility criteria and ways of working. You can find links to them on our Useful Links page.

Low-Cost Counselling Service at Physis Scotland is open for applications. Starting at just £25 a session with a sliding scale dependent on income, it offers in-person and remote sessions.

Hope Park Counselling Centre is currently taking self-referrals.  They offer counselling to individuals over the age of sixteen living in the Edinburgh area.