When to use the counselling service

The counselling service is appropriate for people who are suffering from a range of mental and emotional difficulties, such as:

• anxiety
• depression
• a change in family circumstances that causes distress
• bereavement
• challenging life situations that are affecting your mental health
• other psychological issues. 

Below are examples of where a counsellor may be able to help: 

Example one

Abebe lost his mother during the pandemic and feels he may be struggling with depression. He thinks about his mother most days and goes over and over in his mind what he could have done differently. Abebe isn’t sleeping well and is becoming short-tempered. He is concerned that his work will be affected if he doesn’t get help. 

Example two

Suzanne is part of a hospice team providing palliative care. She is increasingly concerned about her lack of resilience. Suzanne is also worried about her children at home and the impact of her divorce on them. As a result, she has lately started experiencing panic attacks and wonders if she might be experiencing some depression. 

Remember, everyone is different and can experience mental and emotional difficulties in different ways. We have supported many people through counselling and you can read some of their stories here. If you feel that you would benefit from counselling, please complete the form below.

Who is eligible?

You will be able to access our counselling service if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You are or ever have been on the register of the General Pharmaceutical Council (formerly Royal Pharmaceutical Society of GB) as a pharmacist
• You are the spouse/civil partner/widow/er of a current or former pharmacist
• You are a trainee pharmacist in Great Britain
• You are a student on an MPharm degree course in Great Britain
• and you live in Great Britain.

Trainee pharmacists, MPharm students and pharmacists earning under £37,000 (gross) will be able to access eight counselling sessions fully funded by the charity. If additional sessions are needed following this, individuals will be given the option to self-fund. For pharmacists or spouse/civil partner/widow/er of a current or former pharmacist who earn less than £37,000 gross, proof of income (i.e latest payslip/P60) is required, or you will be classed as self-funding your counselling

MPharm students are encouraged to also register with their university counselling service. We understand that there may be long waiting times at some universities, so urge students to register as soon as possible to ensure counselling may continue where it is needed.

Those earning over £37,000 will still benefit from reduced wait times (typically under two weeks) and from the expertise our counselling provider has developed in working with pharmacists. Pharmacists earning at this level would be expected to self-fund, with payments made directly to our counselling partner. Sessions are charged at a rate of £50 a session for those with a household income under £60,000 and £65 for those with a household income over £60,000. We understand that under the current cost-of-living crisis, this still may not be possible, so please do not let that stop you from contacting us via email at counselling@pharmacistsupport.org – we will always consider individual circumstances.  

What is the application process?

Accessing counselling through Pharmacist Support is easy. All you need to do is:

1. Complete the form below, remembering to provide the correct contact details and answer all the questions clearly
2. Send any supporting documents to counselling@pharmacistsupport.org
3. We will check your eligibility and notify you of the outcome within five working days of receipt
4. If supporting materials are missing or we need further information in order to assess your application, we will contact you
5. If eligible, you will receive a code and details for our provider which will allow you to access the counselling service
6. Your code will be valid for 30 days after issue for you to contact the counselling centre and begin counselling.

Is there anything else I need to know?

• For further questions about the counselling process, please contact the counselling centre directly (we’ll supply contact details along with your code)
• You will be working within an agreed number of sessions and your counsellor will regularly review your progress with you
• Please be reassured that the counselling sessions will be completely confidential between yourself and the counsellor
• As part of the referral form we ask you to complete our equal opportunities form. This is to help us build a picture of and better understand the make up of our service use, as it is important that our services reflect the diverse needs of our pharmacy family and are accessible to all. Please be reassured that any information provided will remain anonymous and will not be linked to you personally.

Counselling language options

The counselling service is also available in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. You will need someone to assist you with the application and booking in English. 

ھم اُردو اورپنجابی میں مشاورت کرتے ہیں. آپ اگر انگریزی میں بات نہیں کرسکتے تو کسی  پرو فشنل، دوست یا رشتدار کی مد د سے ہمیں کال کریں. ہم آپ کی مشاورت کیلے کوالیفائڈ کونسلر موہیا کرںگے جو آپکی زبان میں آپکی زہنی تکلیفوں، پریشانیوں اُور مشکلات سمجھنے اور اُنکوسُلجھانے میں آپکی مد د کرینگے

How can I support other people who need counselling support?

The power of paying it forward can change lives. We encourage anyone who has received counselling support from us and is in a position to do so to pay it forward and help others on a lower salary to access this service. Any donation amount is welcome and will make a huge difference to people in our pharmacy family needing emotional or psychological support.

Make a donation

Emergency mental health support

Please note that this is not an emergency service. If you require urgent assistance, we recommend you contact the Samaritans, your GP or visit your local A&E department.