How to find couples or family therapy in London
Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026
Читать на русскомDefine the participants and goal
Couples therapy works with a relationship between two people; family therapy may involve parents, children and other relatives. Explain who would attend, their ages and the broad concern at first contact. The practitioner needs training for that format rather than only individual counselling experience.
Instead of asking the therapist to decide who is right, discuss what needs to change: communication, recurring conflict, parenting arrangements or decisions about the relationship's future.
Finding a London service
The UKCP directory ↗ includes couple and family areas, language and in-person filters. Check registration and the profile. Relate ↗, part of Family Action, offers specialist relationship support; services depend on location and needs.
Ask about Russian-language work, attending together and scheduling. A child's participation requires separate arrangements for consent, safety and format.
Cost and confidentiality
Ask for the whole-session price for all participants, duration, cancellation and fees for additional individual contact. Relate explains its fee arrangements ↗, including some income-related charges and specific support programmes. Free therapy for every couple is not guaranteed.
Before starting, establish how records are kept, who receives information and how private disclosures to the therapist are handled. Agree between-session communication and when goals will be reviewed.
When another route is needed
Tell the service confidentially about threats, coercive control or abuse before a joint meeting. Safety and assessment of suitability for couples work take priority over arranging a shared appointment. Call 999 for immediate danger.
If one participant has depression or anxiety, separately consider NHS Talking Therapies ↗. Certain couples interventions may be offered for clinical needs, but this is not a universal family-dispute service. Use the first meeting to agree the task and approach; a large prepaid course is not essential.