In early 2019, we surveyed more than 5,000 members of the public to find out how they perceive counselling and psychotherapy. We wanted to know if there were any barriers that might stop them getting therapy, if they’d had counselling in the past and what their perception was of mental health.

The Public Perceptions Survey, which was conducted by YouGov, uncovered some incredible statistics that show the power of counselling and its ability to change lives:

  • nine out of ten respondents believe that counselling should be freely available to everyone who needs it
  • one third (33%) have had counselling or psychotherapy in the past, and 76% of those would recommend it to friends and family
  • 80% of parents would encourage their child to seek therapy if needed

Our promotion of this work has reached millions of people so far. You can download our infographic that captures some powerful highlights from the survey, showing how much the public believes in counselling and its ability to change lives.