Services
Learning to be with difficult thoughts and feelings differently
Qualified therapists offering mindfulness-based therapy and MBCT — online across the UK and in-person across England. A different relationship with your mind, at your own pace.
NCPS Organisational Member
Professionally registered therapists
Free 15-minute consultation
★ ★ ★ ★ ★“I had thought mindfulness was about emptying my mind. It turned out to be about something quite different — and far more useful.”
Mindfulness/MBCT client
5,000+
People supported
90+
Qualified therapists
5 ★
Website testimonials
20+
Counties across England
Please note: MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy) is a structured clinical psychotherapy approach covered by our NCPS Organisational Membership when delivered by a qualified practitioner. Standalone mindfulness practice as a wellness activity is not covered by NCPS registration. We offer mindfulness in a clinical therapeutic context only.
What it involves
What is mindfulness therapy — and what is MBCT?
Most of us spend a significant amount of time in our heads — replaying things that have happened, worrying about things that might happen, caught in cycles of thought that feel compulsive and exhausting. Mindfulness, in a therapeutic context, is an approach that works with this. Not by trying to stop the thoughts, but by changing the relationship you have with them.
At its core, mindfulness is about paying attention to what is happening right now — in your body, your thoughts, your feelings — on purpose, and without immediately judging or reacting to it. In therapy, this is not simply taught as a relaxation technique. It becomes a way of developing greater awareness of the patterns that keep you stuck, and more flexibility in how you respond to them.
No prior experience of meditation is needed. Your therapist will guide you through mindfulness practice from the beginning, at your own pace.
MBCT — Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy is:
a specific, structured approach developed by Segal, Williams and Teasdale. It combines mindfulness practice with elements of cognitive therapy, and was originally developed to help people who had experienced repeated episodes of depression reduce the risk of relapse.
Research has consistently shown it to be effective for this purpose, and it is now used for anxiety, stress, and a range of other concerns.
What mindfulness therapy is not:
- about clearing your mind. Mindfulness does not aim to produce a blank or empty mental state. Thoughts will still arise — the practice is about noticing them differently.
- a quick fix. The benefits of mindfulness practice tend to develop with regular practice over time. Sessions offer structure and support for that process.
- a spiritual practice. Mindfulness in a clinical context is secular and evidence-based. No beliefs are required or assumed.
- only for anxiety. While mindfulness is well established for anxiety and stress, it can also support depression, burnout, chronic pain, relationship difficulties, and many other concerns.
How it works
What happens in mindfulness therapy sessions
If you have tried mindfulness apps or books and found them difficult to stick with, or helpful only to a point, working with a therapist provides something different: guidance, reflection, and the chance to explore what comes up for you personally.
Guided practice within sessions
Sessions include guided mindfulness practices — which might involve breathing exercises, body scans, sitting meditation, or mindful movement, depending on what feels most useful for you. These are not performed in silence while the therapist watches. Your therapist guides you through the practice, and you then reflect together on what you noticed, what felt difficult, and what that might reveal about your patterns of thought and feeling.
This reflective conversation is as important as the practice itself. Mindfulness therapy is not just about learning to sit still — it is about developing greater awareness of how your mind works, and using that awareness to respond to difficult experiences more flexibly.
Practice between sessions
A significant part of how mindfulness therapy works is through regular practice between sessions. Your therapist will support you to develop a realistic practice that fits your life — this does not mean meditating for an hour every day. Even short, consistent practice can make a meaningful difference to how you relate to your thoughts and feelings over time.
MBCT as a structured programme
MBCT is traditionally delivered as an eight-week programme, with sessions typically lasting around 90 minutes. In one-to-one work, the structure is often adapted to suit the individual — your therapist will discuss what format is most appropriate for your situation. The programme introduces a sequence of mindfulness practices and cognitive exercises, building systematically on each session.
A note on confidentiality: Sessions are confidential. There are limited circumstances in which this may need to change — for example, if there is a serious risk of harm to you or others, or where we have a legal obligation to disclose. Your therapist will explain these limits clearly before you begin your work together.
What it can help with
The concerns mindfulness therapy can support
Mindfulness-based approaches have a strong evidence base for a number of mental health concerns. These are possibilities, not promises — what the research shows, and what individual experience varies on.
Recurring depression
MBCT was developed specifically to help people who have experienced repeated episodes of depression explore a different relationship with the thought patterns that can trigger relapse.
Anxiety
Anxiety that feels disproportionate, panic attacks, or a persistent sense of being on edge that doesn’t ease.
Stress and burnout
Mindfulness-based stress reduction has a well-established evidence base for chronic stress. In a therapeutic context, it can also help you explore what is driving that stress and how you might respond to it differently.
Low self-compassion and self-criticism
For people whose inner experience is dominated by a harsh internal critic, mindfulness can help develop a more curious and compassionate relationship with yourself over time.
Rumination and overthinking
Persistent, repetitive thinking — going over past events, worrying about what might happen — is one of the patterns mindfulness most directly addresses, through developing awareness rather than suppression.
Chronic pain and health concerns
Mindfulness has been studied as a support for those living with chronic pain and long-term health conditions — helping people develop a different relationship with physical sensation and the distress it can bring.
What Our Clients Say
Real experiences
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I had tried mindfulness apps before and found them hard to stick with. Having sessions with an actual therapist made it completely different — I understood what I was doing and why, and that made it something I could actually practise.
Client who came to us for anxiety and mindfulness support
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
MBCT helped me see the difference between having a low mood and the thoughts that then pile on top of it. Just that distinction — and being able to notice it — made a real difference to how quickly those periods passed.
Client who came to us for recurring low mood
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I was sceptical that something as simple as paying attention to my breath could make any difference. It took a few weeks, but there was a shift — a bit more space between what happened and how I reacted. That felt significant.
Client who came to us for stress and overthinking
Client experiences are unique. Results vary between individuals.
Getting Started
What happens when you get in touch
You do not need to know whether you want mindfulness specifically, or have any prior experience with meditation. The free consultation is a good place to explore whether this approach might suit your situation.
1
Book a free 15-minute consultation
A brief, relaxed conversation with a member of our team. Tell us what you have been finding difficult and what you are hoping support might offer. We will explore whether mindfulness therapy, MBCT, or another approach seems most suitable — and answer any questions you have. No prior knowledge of mindfulness is needed and no pressure to proceed.
2
We match you to a therapist
Based on what you share in the consultation, we match you with the most suitable therapist from our team of 90+ qualified practitioners across England. We will look for someone whose experience, approach and availability genuinely fit what you are looking for.
3
Your sessions begin
Sessions are available online via Zoom or telephone, UK-wide, or face-to-face in some locations. The first session introduces the therapeutic approach and gives you and your therapist a chance to discuss what might be most useful. Practice is built gradually — nothing is introduced before you are ready.
Most clients hear back from us the same working day, and typically begin sessions within a week of the free consultation — depending on your preferences and therapist availability.
Standards you can trust
How we match you with the right therapist experienced in mindfulness-based approaches
Choosing a therapist is a personal decision, and we take time to get the match right.
A careful match, not a long list
Therapist availability changes from week to week, so rather than asking you to choose from a directory, we take time during your free 15-minute consultation to understand what you are looking for — and then match you with a therapist suited to your needs.
During the consultation, we will ask about:
- What you would like the work to focus on, and any specific concerns you would like support with
- Whether you would prefer face-to-face counselling, online sessions, or a combination of the two
- Any preferences around therapy approach (counselling, CBT, EMDR, hypnotherapy, mindfulness, ACT, compassion focused therapy and others)
- Day and time availability that works around your life
- Any specialisms that matter to you — for example LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy, neurodiversity-affirming support, or particular life experiences
- Practical preferences — for example therapist gender, age range, or shared lived experience where that matters to you
All therapists we work with are qualified and registered with appropriate UK professional bodies, and we will confirm the most suitable options with you before any sessions begin.
Professional standards across our team
Hope Therapy & Counselling Services has been operating since 2014, and we hold Organisational Membership with the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). We work in line with the NCPS Code of Ethics and BACP Good Practice, and our wider clinical standards include:
- Qualified, professionally registered therapists across the team — registrations vary per therapist and are confirmed before matching
- Ongoing clinical supervision in line with professional body requirements
- Continuing professional development to maintain and develop practice
- Clear confidentiality standards, with limits explained before sessions begin
- Client-centred, non-judgemental and inclusive practice across all areas of identity and experience
- Founder-led clinical oversight from Ian Stockbridge — MBACP (Senior Accredited) – who continues to lead the practice and oversee its standards
Whether you choose face-to-face counselling near you or online therapy from anywhere in the UK, you can expect to be matched with a therapist who is appropriately qualified and suited to the support you are looking for.
Transparent Pricing
Session fees for mindfulness therapy
No hidden costs. Your fee is confirmed during your free consultation.
Mindfulness Therapy & MBCT
From £65
per session
- Individual one-to-one sessions
- Online UK-wide or face-to-face
- Mindfulness or structured MBCT programme
- Weekly sessions, flexible scheduling
- No minimum commitment
Full details on our fees page. Reduced rate options may be available — just ask during your free consultation.
London clients: Location-adjusted rates may apply. Please ask during your free consultation and we will confirm the exact fee before you commit to anything.
A printable overview of our mindfulness therapy and MBCT service — useful to keep or share.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between mindfulness and MBCT?
Mindfulness is a broad approach — a way of paying attention to the present moment, on purpose and without judgement, that can be woven into many forms of therapy. MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy) is a specific, structured clinical programme that combines mindfulness practice with cognitive therapy techniques. MBCT was originally developed to help prevent depression from recurring and is also used for anxiety, stress, and other concerns. Your therapist will discuss which approach is most appropriate for your situation.
What does mindfulness actually involve in therapy sessions?
In a therapy session, mindfulness is not about clearing your mind or achieving any particular state. It involves guided practice — body scans, breathing exercises, sitting meditation, and sometimes movement — alongside reflection on what you noticed and what that might mean for how you relate to your thoughts and feelings day to day. Sessions also involve discussion: exploring the patterns you have noticed, what felt difficult, and what might be useful to practise between sessions. You do not need any prior experience of meditation.
Is mindfulness therapy available online?
Yes. All our therapists offer sessions online via Zoom or telephone, UK-wide. Mindfulness and MBCT work well online — many people find it easier to practise from the comfort and familiarity of home. Face-to-face sessions are also available in some locations across England.
Is mindfulness therapy confidential?
Yes. Sessions are confidential and conducted to the same professional and ethical standards as all our counselling and therapy. There are limited circumstances in which this may need to change — for example, if there is a serious risk of harm to you or others, or where there is a legal obligation to disclose. Your therapist will explain these limits clearly before you begin working together.
Do I need to have meditated before?
No. Mindfulness therapy sessions are designed to teach mindfulness practice from the beginning — you do not need any prior experience with meditation or mindfulness. Your therapist will guide you through everything at your own pace. Many people who come to mindfulness therapy have tried meditation on their own and found it difficult; working with a therapist provides the structure and support that makes a significant difference.
How much does mindfulness therapy cost?
Mindfulness therapy sessions start from £65 per session. All fees are discussed clearly during your free 15-minute consultation before you commit to anything.
Still have questions? The free consultation is the easiest way to ask them — no pressure to book sessions.
Explore Further
You might also find these helpful
Conditions mindfulness can support
Approaches that work well alongside mindfulness
From our Blog
Articles on mindfulness, MBCT and how they can support mental health.
Meet Our Founder
Built by someone who saw the need from the inside
★
SCoPEd Band C
MBACP & SNCPS Senior Accredited
“Having worked for more than 25 years in senior management, I saw the same thing repeatedly — people struggling with mental health and relationship challenges, and so often struggling to access the right support when it was needed. It was out of this recognition of human need that Hope was born.”
Ian Stockbridge founded Hope Therapy after 25+ years leading large commercial teams – watching colleagues carry stress, anxiety, and personal difficulty with nowhere to turn. He retrained rigorously, now holding Senior Accredited status with both the BACP and NCPS, alongside SCoPEd Band C — the highest independent competence verification in the UK counselling profession.
He remains a practising therapist, clinical supervisor, published author of PMDD Uncovered, and co-presenter of The Talk Room Podcast. Hope Therapy was built on the things he saw were most broken – and designed, from the ground up, to do better.
MBACP (Senior Accredited)
SNCPS (Acc)
SCoPEd Band C
BSc (Hons) CBT
PGCert Supervision L7
Quality Award 2024 — 95%+
You do not have to keep getting swept along by it
A free, no-obligation 15-minute conversation. No pressure, no script — just a chance to be heard, ask questions, and see whether we feel like the right fit.
Get in Touch
Start your enquiry
Not sure whether mindfulness therapy is the right starting point? Send us a message and a member of our team will get back to you. All enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“From the very first phone call, I felt heard. They didn’t rush me — they helped me work out what I needed.”
Hope Therapy enquiry feedback
NCPS Organisational Member
Est 2014
90+ Qualified Therapists
National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies
Individual registrations vary per therapist. Last reviewed: May 2026.