Your counselling assessment at Strive
A 30-minute conversation to help you decide what support feels right.
Your first step with Strive is a 30-minute online assessment with a qualified counsellor. It is a conversation about what has brought you here, what support might help and whether Strive is a suitable place to begin. It costs £25. It is not a test, a diagnosis or a commitment to ongoing counselling.
What you can expect
You can speak in your own words, at your own pace. You may know exactly what you want to explore, or simply feel that things have become difficult. Your assessor will listen, ask some questions and leave room for yours. We do not expect you to have everything worked out before you book.
We may ask about how you have been feeling recently, what has brought you to counselling now, what support you already have, and any past experience of therapy. We may also ask about sleep, health or medication where relevant, what helps you cope, and what days and times could work for weekly sessions. You can tell us about any preferences for your counsellor, including their approach or identity.
A gentle check on wellbeing and safety
Your assessor will ask questions about your current wellbeing and safety. Strive also uses a short questionnaire called CORE-10 to help us understand how things are for you at this point. You can ask why we are asking something, or say if a question is hard to answer. We ask so that we can consider the right level of support, not to judge you.
How matching works
After the assessment, we consider what you have shared, your preferences and the skills a counsellor would need to support you. We may suggest Strive Core, with a supervised placement counsellor at £25 per 50-minute session, or Strive Pro, with a qualified counsellor at £50. You can express a preference for Pro. In some circumstances, a different or more specialist service may be a better fit, and we will tell you if that is our view.
If you want to continue and a suitable match is available, we introduce your counsellor and give you the practical information for booking your first session. They receive appropriate information from your assessment to help them welcome you. You remain free to share your story with them in your own way, and you do not have to decide everything during the assessment.
What you need to bring
Find a quiet, private space and use a phone, tablet or computer with a stable internet connection. Earphones can help if others are nearby. You do not need paperwork or prepared answers. Bring any questions you have about cost, confidentiality, how sessions are booked or whether online counselling will suit your life.
What the assessment helps with
What the assessment is not
The assessment is not a therapy session, and it doesn’t lock you into ongoing counselling. There’s no expectation that you continue unless it feels right for you.
Assessment cost and next steps
The assessment costs £25 and is paid when you book. If you continue through your twelfth counselling session, that fee is credited back at your twelfth session. There is no pressure to continue afterwards. Our fees page explains cancellation and payment terms in full.
If you feel ready, you can book your assessment below. If not, you’re welcome to take more time.
Many people come to their assessment feeling unsure or nervous. You don’t need to have the right words or a clear plan. Starting with a conversation is enough.
What is covered in a clinical counselling assessment?
– A chance for you to talk about what you’re finding difficult and why now feels significant
– A review of your current wellbeing and any previous counselling or therapy experience
– A gentle discussion about your safety, coping and what helps you feel supported
– Your preferences for a counsellor (availability, style, identity) so we can match you well
– A short wellbeing questionnaire (CORE-10), used gently to help us understand how things are for you now
– Information about counselling at Strive (Core or Pro) and what comes next
Is the assessment a counselling session?
No. It is a focused first conversation about your needs, suitability and possible next steps. Ongoing counselling begins after you decide to proceed and a suitable match is made.
Do I need a GP referral or diagnosis?
No. You can book directly. The assessment helps us consider what support is appropriate whether or not you have a diagnosis.
How long does it take and what does it cost?
– The assessment lasts approximately 30 minutes and takes place online.
– Our fee is £25, which is credited to your 12th counselling session if you go ahead.
– If you cancel with less than 48 hours’ notice the standard cancellation policy applies.
What will I need?
You don’t need to prepare answers. These are simply examples to give you a sense of what the conversation may include.
– A private, quiet space where you can speak freely.
– A device (laptop, tablet or smartphone) with a stable internet connection and preferably earphones for privacy.
– Nothing else to prepare. You do not need to bring papers, answers or decide everything ahead of time.
– Most importantly: come as you are. We will work at your pace.
What will my assessor ask me?
As well as getting to know you a little, your assessor will have some standard questions to ask, which may include:
– How are you currently feeling, and how have you felt over the past few weeks?
– Do you have any support in place to help you?
– Have you had counselling or psychotherapy before? What was your experience like?
– How are your sleeping habits and appetite currently?
– Are you taking any medication or supported by medical services at present?
– What has brought you to counselling at this time, and what do you hope for as an outcome?
– What days and times would you be available for weekly sessions with a counsellor?
What if Strive cannot meet my needs?
We will explain that clearly and discuss other support that may be more suitable. Strive cannot provide emergency or crisis care.
What happens after assessment?
After your counselling assessment, we take a little time to reflect on everything you have shared and make sure we understand what you need from therapy. This is not a long process. It is simply a careful, thoughtful step to ensure you are matched with the counsellor who feels right for you. We look at your preferences, the themes you talked about, and the level of support that suits you, then identify a therapist in either Strive Core or Strive Pro who can meet those needs.
Once your match is confirmed, we will send you a welcome email with the name of your counsellor, what to expect in your first session, and the practical details you need. Your counsellor will also receive information from your assessment so they can prepare to meet you with understanding from the outset. You will never need to repeat your story in full unless you want to, and your counsellor will already have a sense of how to help you settle in.
Most people are offered their first session very quickly. The time between assessment and therapy is usually short, and we aim to keep everything clear and grounded so you know exactly where you are in the process. It is a simple transition from being heard for the first time to beginning a therapeutic relationship that supports your wellbeing, your pace and your goals.
You don’t need to decide everything now. You can always read more about how counselling at Strive works before booking.