Relate Avis 

The woman who made the registration appointment call seemed untrained. Pleasant enough and tried to be helpful but cut across what I was saying, didn't ask any questions apart from our income and couldn't navigate the Relate website. Train your staff.

Instead of immediately signing up for face to face support we have bought the relationship audit for £10. Having worked through this together at home there are some issues we feel able to resolve on our own. This has been far more cost effective for us.

Really disappointed in the service received by Relate - and the prices they charge. The booking process is very misleading and the counsellor was really unexperienced. Much better online counselling services available. Do not recommend.

Just reading some of your articles, has made me see a little sense in why I feel the way I do and why I feel I don’t exist

Becca was very knowledgeable and fair, friendly and understanding. Made me feel at ease and put mine at rest.

Due to concerns regarding one of our twin daughters, we sought counseling sessions through Relate. However, we encountered significant issues during this process. The daughter we had concerns about had to wait an extended period for an available counselor, while the other daughter, for whom we had no concerns, was promptly assigned a counselor who, it turned out, took a nearly month-long holiday right after their initial session.

Upon the conclusion of the first twin's free counseling sessions, we received an unexpected outcome session that recommended the creation of an additional room for arts and crafts. Subsequently, we received an invoice for an additional 10 sessions, even though we had not requested them. Relate stated that they assumed we wanted more sessions, which led to confusion and frustration.

The second twin, who genuinely needed help, began to refuse to attend the sessions as she did not perceive any value in them. Concerned about the qualifications of the counselors and, more critically, whether they had undergone enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, I attempted to obtain clarification from Relate. However, my inquiries have met with evasive responses, culminating in an email asserting that their legal advisor deems it unnecessary to provide such information.

My own legal advisor has provided a contrary opinion, suggesting that I may need to resort to legal action if the required information is not disclosed. I find it disconcerting that Relate, as a charity providing a service, seems to lack transparency regarding their counselors' qualifications and security clearances. It is even more troubling that they have introduced a new competencies framework in October, which implies past issues with the quality of their counselors.

Considering the challenges we have encountered, I strongly caution against seeking services from Relate, particularly in cases involving children, as their safeguarding practices appear to be questionable. I have initiated a formal complaint and hope that it will be addressed through the newly established process.

A fixed set of meetings that the counsellor seemed to be counting down each time we spoke "we've just got two more sessions left..." with no real plan or tools to help. The takeaway I got was to break up with my husband, which is not why we were there - we love each other and are a great team but wanted to improve our communication and were seeking assistance. A massive waste of money, and just very disheartening experience overall.

Couples Relationship audit is a good read. Very useful. I am sharing it with my partner .... let's hope it helps!

The guidance And questionnaire that I ordered online was downloadable BUT cannot be typed into to answer the questions and make note. This is a very poor product.

I think the booklet was not worth the money at all. I bought it and realised the questions online were much better. Very disappointed.

We hit a crossroads in our relationship and relate was the go to for information. We downloaded the questionnaire and haven’t looked back.
Simple and helpful as long as you engage and be honest.
Just do it!!

Did a quiz and it was terrible, felt very condescending.

Been awaiting a refund from Nottingham for months now - Nottingham relate (Gerald) are ignoring my emails (not just Gerald as it is a general admin box) despite being assured that this would have been processed in September, surprisingly Nottingham relate have gone silent.

My daughter had 2-3 sessions, last time being May time I think. Her school adjusted her time table to accommodate, and whilst I accept illness can’t be helped, the money I spent on those sessions was a waste as the counselling stalled and no momentum, difficulty with scheduling the appointments, and money was taken for an appointment that was cancelled by relate.

I am considering requesting a refund for the whole thing, not just the money they have been holding for months. My teen is sicker for this, has broken trust with her and the counselling process, and now I can’t even afford to send her privately elsewhere as have been waiting for my money for literally months.
Extremely damaging

The counsellor didn't listen and was very aggressive. My partner and I both felt uncomfortable talking to her. When we complained it was ignored. We've since gone to Tavistock and recommend.

I am someone who has a master degree in psychology and tried to join Relate team as a volunteer to help our society, I was given an interview time on Zoom with the director of operations & services development ( Mr Gerald Baxter ) But he did not attend the interview without bothering himself to inform me, at least 5 mins before the due time.
however, as I am passionate to help the society I accept his ignorance and have asked for another interview,
surprisingly enough he did not attend the second interview and did not bother to cancel it or letting me know about his absence.
I think they have a very silly behaviour and I don't recommend them at all.

After being referred for counselling in May, had to wait until September to actually be able to attend a session as the funding from the council had apparently not been released. Nobody bothered to contact me at all when it had been and it was just by chance that when i called they were now able to offer a funded session. Second time attending and for some reason the staff are very upset that I've parked outside in one of their parking spaces. There is no way to access the building easily if travelling on foot as it is in an industrial unit off of the main roundabout. I was told to park opposite the building where there are several signs warning that you will be clamped. Find this behaviour unprofessional and unwelcoming. At no point was i told there is nowhere to park before attending and I don't see why the staff didn't want to park where they were instructing me to park, seems like it's fine for me to have my car clamped whilst attending my appointment but not ok for them. Maybe try letting people know in advance that there is no parking if you are travelling by car. Did not find this behaviour professional or welcoming at all.

Don't waste time and money they were useless. Woman didn't help at all

The article I read left me feeling better, thank you, Relate. I really appreciate how the article I read was able to show me how to look at situations in a different perspective. Taking *criticism* as *feedback* are words that will stick with me from now on. That may just be the advice I really needed right now. I'm really looking forward to checking out more articles. I think it's so great that a list of services offered and other options are listed at the end of the article. I know a few people who would gain insight from this and it will definitely be recommended to them.

Was told in my assessment in Hull that I wouldn't be able to be offered therapy because of awaiting the result of an ADHD assessment. I then got a result for that and chased Relate Hull with two phone calls to find out if they could offer me therapy. Apparently the therapist had been on holiday and I waited 10 days to then be called back. The excuse this time was that they were "fully booked" and so "fully booked" the therapist couldn't even ring me. When I called them they told me they don't even deal with ADHD there, which was totally the opposite to what I was told on the phone previously. I don't mind that they were too busy to offer me therapy, I mind that they misled me and made me feel even worse at a time of trouble. Might I mention the receptionist was rude and obnoxious and would have preferred me to just have listen to the voicemail instead of calling back, in which she twice interrupted me to defend their corner. Don't waste your time, I feel like I really do need therapy after having my hopes up for so long. The only thing this company can relate to is how not to handle people who need help. Total shambles of an institution. Might I mention too I tried to take my life before I came to Relate, and they dealt with me about as delicately as a toddler with a toy. They were about as mature as one as well when I tried to have a conversation with them.

My partner and I reached out to Relate for couples counseling. We worked with the amazing Adriana from the Bristol Avon Relate branch. Throughout we felt very well looked after and listened to. Adriana was perceptive and kind, but also not afraid to challenge us where we needed it. It proved to be extremely important and impactful for the both of us and helped us hugely. Sessions were well-organised and meaningful, and we also felt they were great value for money. Thank you Adriana, and Relate!