Low cost psychosexual and relationship therapy can be really hard to find, especially if you don’t live in a big city. And with NHS waiting times getting longer and longer, how can you get the support you need, when you need it, at a cost you can afford?

Our Associate Therapists are all in their final year of specialist training as Psychosexual and Relationship Therapists. Before they qualify a therapist in training has to gain experience working in an established therapy practice like Your Time To Talk.

But why would you want to work with a therapist in training rather than someone who’s qualified and more experienced?

1. Fresh Perspectives
Therapists in training inject vitality, fresh ideas and diverse perspectives into therapy practices. They have access to the latest research and up-to-date evidence-based practices. And their unique backgrounds and life experiences bring fresh insights and enhance the services already provided by the practice.

2. Lower costs
An essential part of therapy training is gaining experience – usually 150 hours – working in a therapy practice. This is known as a clinical placement and enables practices like Your Time To Talk to offer much lower cost therapy, starting at just £30 a session.

3. Smaller caseload
A therapist in training has a small caseload so their clients get a high level of reflection and consideration between sessions. And they generally have better availability because they don’t have a full caseload, like most established therapists.

4. Greater supervision
A therapist in training has to have much more clinical supervision than qualified therapists – one hour of supervision for every six client sessions. Their work is closely reviewed and guided by experienced and knowledgeable supervisors, who are experts in psychosexual and relationship therapy. This supervised support not only enhances the trainee therapist’s professional development but also assures clients that their therapeutic journey is in capable hands.

5. Advocates for diversity and inclusion
Today’s therapy training has a far greater focus on diversity and inclusion than ever before, including gender, sexuality, relationships, race, religion, culture, disability and neurodiversity. This fosters an environment of inclusivity and cultural competence, enriches the therapeutic experience for clients, and promotes greater understanding and appreciation of how people’s relationships and sexual experiences are impacted by the intersections of their identity.

And last but not least, trainee therapists are the future of the profession. We believe that nurturing and supporting emerging Psychosexual and Relationship Therapists will ensure a steady flow of skilled professionals equipped to meet the evolving needs of people in today’s world.

Our Associate Therapists (our therapists in training) come from a wide variety of backgrounds and expertise, including counselling and psychotherapy, medical practice, coaching and teaching, mindfulness, and conflict mediation. The one thing they all have in common is a passion for supporting people in self-exploration, building healthy and happy relationships, and improving their sexual wellbeing.

To discover more about our therapists who offer low-cost therapy, take a look at Our Team page.