The Relationships Service (Formerly Relate London North West, Hertfordshire, Mid Thames & Buckinghamshire) - Hemel Hempstead

Dani O.

Terrible value for money and a complete lack of organization. Can only write now that some time has passed. At our initial consultation, we were identified as an urgent case, had to chase them 6wks for a confirmed counsellor. They couldn’t give us her name and she didn’t contact us. In the end accepted a different counsellor Asha who didn’t speak during our sessions, just listened to us. For £85 an hour I was hoping for some tips and coping strategies. Instead, she just kept telling us she thought the way we were communicating was good. Gave it a few weeks to improve but to no avail. Nobody is managing the quality of care and clearly there is nobody responsible for ensuring client admin is dealt with. Instead they take large amounts of money and then leave you with a faceless email system and a phone line with over stretched staff who take ages to answer queries. I would have emailed this review anonymously but it’s impossible to find any contact info aside from a single phone no

Myrjem M.

I have called the office to arrange for an appointment. It was shocking! Very unhelpful, didn’t feel like my matter was important and the lady I spoke with was very patronising. She would not let me finish my sentence and interrupt me constantly. She kept on repeating what she had already said and I already had answered that this was not an option for me. I didn’t feel that she cared or was even willing to understand what I was saying. Maybe she was more concentrating what was happening in the background as she was talking to a colleague while I was on the phone.
I don’t think a Mediation Center who is there to help people should provide a service like that. I won’t use this centre at all and would not recommend it.

Uxbridge R.

Excellent Counsellor, wise and patient. I was fortunate to be assigned Asha who was a very skilled listener and also willing to take feedback. Initial session was a bit of a wait before lockdown as their services are in great demand. Remember this is a charity, to some patience is required. Aside from this, everything else was well managed.

On to the actual counselling service and why I have rated 5stars. Asha helped me through a very difficult time in my marriage as a one to one counsellor. She listened attentively, played back and gave me good tools to work with to move forward emotionally. At the start of our nearly 8 week journey, it was a very dark place and little hope or optimism. Then lockdown started, and she seamlessly switched to Zoom sessions, which actually were fantastic. I was able to find a quiet spot at home or in the car, then have my sessions via Video chat. The professionalism and organisation to adapt to these changing circumstances was great. I was equally happy with the changes Asha was able to make to our schedule moving from weekly to fornightly sessions when things were improving.

It was very easy to open up to Asha and work transparently with her.

My advise to anyone seeking counselling is to ensure you have rapport and two way dialogue with them. It will not work if you don't feel totally comfortable to open up. Asha adjusted her style to suit my engagement and comms style early on which made the sessions successful.

Only constructive feedback is billing admin could do with a bit more cohesion between head office and the local branch. My sessions were covered by another charity and they didn't seem to always align.

I am very grateful to Relate and Asha for their support during a difficult few months, but I'm very pleased to say my wife and I are moving in the right direction now and I've much better equipped for the future.

Thank you!

Katherine S.

Would highly recommend the services of relate. My counsellor Shaheen was patient, caring and understanding. Though some sessions were difficult, this was to be expected. Like any form of therapy/counselling I think you get you what you put in and in my case a willingness to put the work in ensured a positive and productive experience.

Emma P.

I wish I had read the reviews about this place before using them. A complete waste of time and money. Very unprofessional, patronising and slow. They closed my case when I complained about a poor service and school boy errors in information they sent me. I shall now be taking this up with Relate Head office and their CEO as they shouldn’t be allowed to operate like this. Terrible, given such serious matters are at hand and the money paid.

Danielle J.

No times available nearby (closest being down the road about 2 minutes away). Asks us to drive 30-40 minutes from our home to another centre, despite one of our biggest problems being our extremely stressful schedule with kids and studies and work.

C. J.

Just a bunch of money hungry mercenaries they didn't care about the outcome .£45 for a letter to be sent to my ex asking if she would consider mediation what a scam

Iwona O.

very poor and unprofessional experience. I felt that the mediator was not fair, I have not received outcome report, nor anybody replied or investigated my complaint. Total waste of time and money