Both Relational and Person-Centred therapies are rooted in a belief in your innate potential for growth. However, they differ significantly in focus. Person-Centred Counselling focuses primarily on your internal world, aiming to help you achieve self-acceptance by ensuring the counsellor offers core conditions like empathy and acceptance.

Relational Psychotherapeutic Counselling goes a step further by focusing on the active relationship between you and your counsellor, and how your current and past relationships have shaped you.

The key benefit of choosing a relational approach is the opportunity for “Relational Repair.” We use the authentic, here-and-now connection with your counsellor as a safe space to explore and challenge unhelpful relational patterns. By experiencing a safe, genuine, and consistent connection in the therapy room, you gain deeper insight and can develop healthier ways of connecting with yourself and others in your everyday life. The relationship itself becomes the primary tool for change.

Relational counselling is effective for a wide range of emotional, psychological, and relational issues. While we have individual specialisms, the Relational approach is well-suited for any concern that is rooted in how you connect with yourself and others. This commonly includes:

• Relationship difficulties (with partners, family, friends, or colleagues)
• Anxiety, stress, and depression
• Grief and bereavement
• Low self-esteem or difficulties with identity
• Trauma and past relational wounds
• Feeling ‘stuck,’ disconnected, or unfulfilled

In short, if a relationship—with yourself or another person—is causing you distress, our approach can help you understand and change that dynamic.

We understand that safety is paramount. All members of the Indigo Thinking collective are either fully registered and accredited by the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or are Advanced Trainees working under rigorous UKCP requirements.

• UKCP is one of the leading professional bodies for psychotherapists in the UK and holds an accredited register with the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care.
• Our Advanced Trainees are in the final stages of their extensive training and work under enhanced clinical supervision to ensure the highest standards of practice and ethical conduct.

You can verify the professional status of each counsellor by following the link to their individual UKCP profile on their bio page.

The terms “Psychotherapist” and “Counsellor” are often used interchangeably, and our members are trained as Relational Psychotherapeutic Counsellors.

• Counselling is typically focused on specific, immediate issues and may be shorter-term.
• Psychotherapy generally involves longer and deeper exploration, focusing on underlying personality patterns, chronic difficulties, and past-related issues.

At Indigo Thinking, our members are trained to a high standard to engage in this deeper, long-term work, ensuring that we can support you regardless of the depth or complexity of your issues.

Choosing the Indigo Thinking collective offers you several benefits that a sole practitioner often can’t provide:

• Higher Standards and Accountability: As a collective, our counsellors are committed to peer support, shared learning, and mutual guidance. This structured environment ensures a consistently high ethical and clinical standard across the practice.
• Best Fit: We offer a diverse group of practitioners with varied specialisms (e.g., Men’s Issues, Trauma, Bereavement) across different locations. If your needs change, or if a counsellor isn’t accepting new clients, you have a curated, vetted group to choose from.
• Student Discount Rates: Our advanced trainees offer high-quality therapy under supervision at a lower fee, making professional support more accessible.

Individual sessions are typically held once per week at the same time and day. This consistent weekly commitment is important, particularly in Relational Psychotherapeutic Counselling, as it builds the stability and trust required for deeper therapeutic work to take place. Sessions last 50 minutes.

The duration of therapy is highly individual and depends entirely on your goals and the complexity of the issues you bring.

• Short-term therapy (6-12 sessions) can be effective for addressing specific, immediate problems or crises.
• Long-term or open-ended therapy is recommended for exploring deeply rooted patterns, relational issues, or chronic emotional difficulties.

We will discuss your desired timeline during the first session, and you are free to review and collaboratively adjust this with your counsellor at any time.

Indigo Thinking is a collective with members working across various locations. We offer flexibility to suit your needs:

• Face-to-Face: Sessions are available in specific locations across the UK, including Northallerton, Hebden Bridge, Bridlington, and Saltburn-by-the-Sea.
• Online/Remote: All our members offer secure video or telephone sessions, allowing you to access therapy from the comfort of your own home, regardless of your location.

Please check the individual counsellor’s profile page to see the specific locations and session formats they offer.

The first session is primarily an assessment and relational fit meeting, where you determine if you can work effectively with your counsellor. You are in control of the conversation, but typically you can expect to:

• Discuss what brings you to therapy at this time and what you hope to achieve.
• Establish the Therapeutic Contract, which covers key logistics, fees, and the limits of confidentiality.
• Review your history and background. The counsellor may ask questions about your relationships, family, and past experiences to help understand your current situation.

Above all, the goal is for you to leave feeling safe and clear about the therapeutic process moving forward. There is no commitment to continue if it doesn’t feel right.

No. As Relational Psychotherapeutic Counsellors, our primary goal is not to give advice but to help you uncover your own wisdom and solutions.

We are here to:

• Provide a safe, non-judgmental space for you to explore your thoughts and feelings.
• Help you identify patterns and blind spots that may be holding you back.
• Shine a light on the relational dynamics that are affecting you.

We trust that you are the expert on your own life. Our role is to collaborate with you to gain insight, enabling you to make conscious, empowered choices for yourself.

Yes, confidentiality is a cornerstone of our ethical practice, as governed by the UKCP Code of Ethics.

What you discuss in your sessions is kept confidential. The only exceptions to this are rare and are legally or ethically required, such as:

• If your counsellor believes there is a risk of serious harm to yourself or others.
• If they are legally required to disclose information (e.g., related to an act of terrorism or drug trafficking).

Your counsellor will clearly explain these confidentiality boundaries in full detail during your first session.

Yes, we offer a free initial telephone consultation with your chosen counsellor. This brief call (typically 15-20 minutes) is an opportunity to discuss your needs and for the counsellor to explain their approach and fees before you commit to a first paid session. You can request this via the contact form on our website.