Relate Avis 

My partner and I sought out Relate for couples counselling, hoping to gain deeper insights into our relationship dynamics in a time of crisis. Unfortunately, our experience was disappointing and left us questioning the effectiveness of their approach.

The therapist felt robotic and disengaged, making little effort to explore underlying issues or facilitate meaningful dialogue. Despite having individual 1:1 sessions before our joint ones, there was no apparent continuity or relevance between what we discussed individually and what was covered together. The questions during the 1:1 sessions were mechanical and seemed to serve no real purpose, as nothing carried over into the joint sessions.

Both of us have experienced quality psychotherapy in the past, and this was not it. A good therapist probes, challenges, and guides you to new insights — but here, it felt like the therapist was simply “on the clock,” asking routine, surface-level questions without genuine curiosity or depth.

Adding to the frustration, the customer service was also poor. Our sessions ended abruptly, and we were left with a sense of unresolved confusion. Unfortunately, this experience did not meet our expectations or needs, and we cannot recommend Relate based on what we encountered.

Martina Bador is an abuser and a twisted individual! AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!

Waiting times are to long! Very disorganised and blames the clients for their disorganisation. I’ve just previously been on the phone regarding appointment that they have mixed up. I was told I had an appointment on the 11th and will receive a text message with the time and date To discover they haven’t updated anything or updated my phone number. I’ve been blamed for this and told I have to go back on the waiting list and pay upfront. Also let me add they charge you £55 and if you go with a private company you’ll have a session for £75 That you will not be penalised for if they do anything wrong.
Or be on a stupidly long waiting list with random appointments! A very disorganised company which is not helpful for clients especially clients that are struggling in relationships or with mental health, that need structure and time to organise themselves to the appointments it’s very unfair and unrealistic on the clients.
I received a random phone call a day before the appointment asking if one of us can get there and we tried but unfortunately we was very busy so we missed the appointment. Fancy having appointment and a therapy session which is a very delicate situation just randomly thrown at you.
And then the second appointment gets messed up because the person doesn’t take the details correctly, and I’m to be blamed and punished by being stuck back on the waiting list.
The receptionist asked me if I wanted to speak to the manager and I was put on hold and I was on hold for sure, And I thought to myself do I really want to share my problems with the company that simply does not care? And I’m paying? Very bizarre behaviour!

Fantastic therapist. So helpful in just one session.

Purchased items /workbooks from relate website and never recieved links to download or recipts to acknowledge payment . Five days on and numourous people contacted and each one has passed me on to the next saying they carnt help .. £15 for two booklets and never recieved

Not to go into it too personally but I'd advise anyone to think twice before trying them as couples counselling. I'm not sure what they base their structure on but it causes more mental damage than any good, beyond being a waste of money. The Leicester service is mentally dangerous if you are already in a "sensitive" place and these are the last people I would turn to for help.

The counsellor made assumptions, argued with me, was not sympathetic to my autism, and didn't provide the service we needed.

She should have been professional and understanding.

Great website

On behalf of my son, I booked an appointment for a one-off 50 minute counselling session for specific relationship issues through the Richmond Branch. It was not possible to choose your counsellor and there was no information about the counsellors on the website. We were allocated Edward P. The consultation lasted 10 minutes, as the counsellor was upsetting my son and making him feel worse. My son had to put the phone down. I complained the following day, and spoke to the receptionist, who told me it would be referred to a manager who would be in contact with me. Despite following up with numerous other calls I have still received no contact from them. I completed an online complaint form online, which I believe goes through to the main office, but am still waiting for someone to contact me. This is over a week ago now. I cannot believe the lack of concern over this, and that the company is not investigating this further. I want to protect other vulnerable people from using this service. From the reviews, it seems that some people received good counselling, but the problem is that you are allocated counsellors randomly, and you cannot check their profile or qualifications online before booking, as you can with most other counselling services . It is a 50 - 50 gamble.

Absolute waste didn't help one bit told both me and my partner we need to find out own feet
Did not offer any help what's so ever
Please avoid at all cost £85 for a waste

Was really good advice until I wanted to speak to someone.
Then asked for 45 pounds.
What I can't afford so not really very helpful for people who can't afford to pay for some help.

Not at all happy with the service. three appointments and no guidance or help. they are out to rip you off with extortionate fees. we were charged £90 for each session based on your income. Don't pay but negotiate with them, they offered £60 straight away for future meetings so don't pay the initial suggested fee.
God help you if you do not cancel within 48 hours and you are a few hours out. they are not open at weekends. they make automatic appointments and even if you do not confirm they assume you are going and they will charge you.

they are out to make money and do not offer emotional support in a timely fashion!

do not go there!

Speed of delivery of materials.
File could be easier to edit or print .

Was having various sessions at a considerable cost, only to be suddenly not contacted by them again. We agreed on an appointment on Oct 8th which never came to fruition & I was never given a reason for this.

I was then emailed to provide feedback, suggesting I’d been finished from the service. I never requested this. I emailed looking for answers and never got a reply. Shockingly poor for a situation which is very serious to me. I feel very let down by Relate & won’t recommend to anyone. Go elsewhere.

No sorry not yet

Good materials, thank you.

We did the relationship audit as my husband would not have seen a therapist in person. It has made us both think and talk. Baby steps but we both feel more positive.

Provided useful guide/advice in a timely efficient way

awful attitude towards me and considering im 14 and struggled to ask for help anyway, it was such an awful experience, if this helped you i’m very glad it did but honestly this is the worst thing ever and made me feel worse than i did already, do NOT recommend to anyone.

Due to my relationship literally hitting rock bottom and us having a 1 year old son together we desperately wanted to make it work. So much so that whilst on a family holiday we booked and paid for a session. Due to the emails there was a mix up with times. We rang the minute we noticed and got told it was tough they wouldnt give us a free session...even though we had paid the money for the session so it would not be free. It would be what we had paid for. Anyway basically totally said we'd lost the money and that was that. Which caused more arguments in our already fragile relationship and completely ruined the rest of our holiday. Wish I'd read these reviews first, but we were just so desperate for help. Disgusting. Avoid at all costs!