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Respect for All
Counselling Services
​​​​From April 2026, our counselling services are funded by NHS Greater Manchester and are available to Greater Manchester residents who are:
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Autistic people - diagnosed or on a formal diagnosis pathway
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Autistic people with co-occurring conditions
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Families and carers of autistic people​
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The counselling service includes:
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One-to-one counselling for people aged 16 and over
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Family counselling
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Executive Functioning Coaching​​​​​​
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Parent / Carer counselling
Our counsellors all either identify as neurodiverse or have significant lived experience of autism and/or learning disabilities.
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Please see below for more detailed information on each service.
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​Who can refer:
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We accept self-referrals and referrals from health professionals.
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If you are a GP or Talking Therapies practitioner and you have worked with us in the past to help evidence the need for our services (e.g. providing us with clinical rationale letters for spot purchase / individual funding request (IFR) processes), please note this is no longer required. Referrals should now be made directly via this website. Please ensure your referral includes specific reasons for why your service cannot meet the person's needs.
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How our referrals work
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We have a range of services
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After submitting a referral, you will be contacted within three weeks to arrange an assessment.
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Following your assessment, we will discuss the most suitable service options with you. You may access more than one service, and we will recommend a pathway tailored to your needs.
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You will be asked to complete an online pre-service survey once your service pathway is agreed.
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Free NHS spaces per year are limited by funding.
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Current wait time for assessments: less than 1 month
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Wait time to begin online services after assessment: approximately 3–4 months
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Most of our services are delivered online. In some cases, face-to-face counselling may be available; however, please note that waiting times may be up to 6 months and you may be required to travel to your counsellor​​
To make a referral, click the link below. Please fully complete the referral form with as much details as possible as incomplete referral forms cannot be processed.​
Please note - we do not accept referrals via email.
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1 to 1 Counselling Service (ages 16+)
Our 1 to 1 Counselling Service offers you up to
12 x 50 minute counselling sessions.
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We are flexible and adaptable in our approach to counselling as we are led by you, the client. You might like your sessions to take place weekly or more spread out. We aim to pair you with a counsellor that matches your availability, personality and support needs.​
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Counselling is not a 'quick fix'. Counselling requires commitment, self reflection and being open to change. Your counsellor will guide and support you to understand yourself better in the context of your life experiences. They will help you figure out and work towards the goals you set for yourself during your journey with us.
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To get the most from counselling, it is helpful to be in a place where you feel able to engage in self-reflection and explore your experiences. You might feel worried about change, but being open to the possibility of change is what's most important. If you are currently dealing with multiple urgent challenges, it may be helpful to address these first so you are in the best place to fully focus on your counselling journey. As we offer a shorter-term service, this helps ensure you are able to make the most of your sessions and work towards your goals within the available timeframe.
Information for professionals wanting to refer clients requiring ongoing long-term support or those with learning disabilities without autism:
Our charity has historically supported people with complex needs who require long-term support, as well as people with learning disabilities who are not autistic. However, we do not currently have formal funding in place for this work.
If you are referring someone who may require long-term support, or someone with a learning disability, please be aware that we may need to work with you to explore options for securing funding, for example through the individual’s social care plan.
Please email us or complete a referral form, and we will be in touch to discuss this further.
Executive Functioning Coaching (ages 16+)
Our 1 to 1 Executive Functioning Coaching Service offers up to 8 × 50-minute sessions.
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Why Executive Function Coaching?
Research shows that neurodivergent people are more likely to experience differences in one or more areas of executive functioning. These differences are a natural part of how our brains are wired—and how we move through the world.
Through coaching, we don’t ask you to change who you are. Instead, we work alongside you to adapt how you do things—developing strategies that fit your unique strengths, preferences, and needs.
What Are Executive Functions?
Executive functions are the mental skills that help us plan, start, manage, and adapt our actions. These include:
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Time management
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Emotional regulation
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Planning and organisation
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Task initiation
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Flexibility and adaptability
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These skills support everyday life—at home, in education, at work, and in relationships—as well as helping us move towards longer-term goals.
Our Approach
Our approach is grounded in the latest neuroscience and psychological research.
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Our coaches have specialist training in executive functioning coaching
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They bring lived experience of neurodivergence, offering genuine understanding as well as professional expertise
This combination of knowledge and empathy underpins our commitment to supporting autistic and neurodivergent people to experience meaningful, lasting change.
How Coaching Helps
Building new habits takes time—research suggests it can take around 60 repetitions for a behaviour to become more automatic. With practice, the brain adapts by strengthening new neural pathways.
Our coaching sessions focus on helping you:
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Develop awareness of your executive functioning profile
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Identify and understand barriers
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Take practical, compassionate steps towards change​​
Our Aim
Executive Functioning Coaching is designed to make everyday life feel more manageable and empowering—so you can thrive both personally and professionally.
Family Counselling Service
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Our Family Counselling Service offers up to 12 x 50 minute counselling sessions.
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The family service includes:
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Work with children under 16 alongside their parents or carers
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Support for young people under 25 with complex needs who live at home, alongside their parents or carers
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Support for parents and carers
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Support for neurotypical siblings within the context of their neurodivergent sibling(s)
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Couples counselling (within the context of autism)
From our experience and the feedback we receive, counselling for under-16s - or under 25s with complex needs still living at home - is most effective when the entire family is involved. A counsellor will work with parents / carers, alongside their children, to explore how autism and co-occurring conditions interact with family dynamics and individual experiences.
We work flexibly with families and might see the family all together or separately depending on the needs and situation. Our counsellors may use a variety of different counselling and coaching approaches to meet your needs.
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Please note, we require that parents / carers participate in the process and we do not offer one-to-one counselling for under-16s in isolation. When making a referral, please ensure that you / the family are aware of the way we work and are committed to engaging in the work alongside the children or young people.
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We can also work with neurotypical siblings, as their experiences in the family dynamic are equally as important.
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Please also take a look at our Group Services page as we have lived experience online autism groups for parents and carers which are psychoeducational and peer supportive in nature and run throughout the year. ​
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Parent / Carer Counselling Service
Our Parent / Carer Counselling Service offers up to 12 x 50 minute counselling sessions.
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You might want support as you are feeling overwhelmed at home, just need a space to offload with others who understand, or are struggling with the behavioural, emotional, social and/or sensory differences in your autistic and/or learning disabled child.
An increased awareness of how a child or young person's daily life can be impacted by autism and/or learning disabilities can be a powerful tool in helping you to further create a supportive environment.
Our autism groups for parents and carers, where you can meet other people in similar situations, might also be a great option! Please see our group services page for more information.