Free and low cost services
The CASSEL Centre offers two primary counselling and psychotherapy services:
- a free service to people on basic benefits and benefit-level incomes;
- a low-cost service based on a sliding scale according to individual or family income.
Free service
We provide free preventative therapeutic services to people in need, who live in Lewisham Borough, and who are not in a financial position to fund the type of service that they receive.
Low-cost services
Unless you are on basic benefits it is unlikely that you will be offered a free counselling or psychotherapy service at the CASSEL Centre. Fees are based on a sliding scale of £1.50 per £1,000 gross income per annum, per session. For example, the fee for a gross annual income of £20,000 is £30 per session.
Although the sliding scale is a good general guide, we aim to include people, and to provide an affordable service in line with fees charged locally. Adjustments to the fee may be negotiable with your counsellor or psychotherapist and in practice our maximum fee for a specialist or very experienced therapist rarely exceeds £60 per session.
Once you and your counsellor/psychotherapist have agreed a fee and a regular appointment time, you will be required to pay the fee if you miss or cancel sessions.