Therapy shouldn't be a luxury.
I founded Headstrong in 2019. It has since grown into one of Britain's largest low-cost counselling organisations — more than 200,000 sessions delivered across the UK.
The Story
It started with a service about to close.
In the autumn of 2018, not long after finishing my doctorate in counselling psychology, I learned that the organisation where I had volunteered as an honorary counsellor for years was about to close its counselling service. Dozens of clients were about to lose support they had relied on for months — sometimes years — and dozens of trainees were about to lose their placements.
So I made the Chief Executive a proposal: I would take over the service's entire clinical delivery — recruiting trainees, providing supervision, managing assessments — and run it from the same premises outside working hours, paying a small rent for the evening rooms. He accepted. In February 2019, Headstrong Counselling was born.
A year later, COVID-19 changed everything. Young and agile, Headstrong moved to remote therapy within twenty-four hours while many services paused. Going online reduced barriers, reached clients far beyond London, and turned a local evening service into a national organisation.
What began with a handful of trainees and a small number of legacy clients has since delivered more than 200,000 counselling sessions and supported over 1,500 trainee counsellors on placement — from Level 4 students through to doctoral trainees.
“Good-quality psychotherapy should be accessible to everyone — regardless of income, background, racial identity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation.”
The vision behind Headstrong
Autumn 2018
A local charity's long-term, low-cost counselling service faces closure from budget cuts — dozens of clients and trainee counsellors are about to lose their service and placements.
February 2019
I propose taking over the service's clinical delivery, running it from the same premises outside working hours. Headstrong Counselling is born as an independent organisation.
2020 — The pandemic
When COVID-19 hits, Headstrong transitions to remote therapy within twenty-four hours — clients keep their support while many services pause. The move online takes Headstrong national.
2024 — Headstrong Academy
An online educational platform offering counselling and supervision diplomas, workshops, CPD, lectures and peer support — from a first cohort of six students to a learning community of over 300.
More than a counselling service
Low-cost sessions
Counselling priced for real life — because good-quality psychotherapy should be accessible to everyone, regardless of income or background.
UK-wide reach
What began in a few evening rooms in London is now a national service, delivering therapy online and in person across the United Kingdom.
Investing in practitioners
Accessible therapy only exists if we invest in the people delivering it: excellent supervision, thoughtful training, and a genuine commitment to representation and inclusion.
Sustainable by design
Community mental health services shouldn't have to rely solely on grants — Headstrong was built to be a sustainable organisation in its own right.
The People
A community, not just a service
Behind every session is a team of counsellors, supervisors and trainees who believe support should reach everyone — and who show up for each other too.
200,000+
counselling sessions delivered
1,500+
trainee counsellors supported
300+
Headstrong Academy students
24 hours
to go fully remote in 2020