Referrals

Please read the following information carefully before making a referral.

Please ensure you complete the form in full.

Clearly detail what your availability and contact details as this can impact the length of time it takes to be contacted and seen here. Should anything change once you have made the referral, you can update us by email or telephone at: admin@mayacentre.org.uk / 020 7281 8970.

Returning clients will generally have longer waiting times than those who are new to our service, due to funding restrictions.

To continue please click the below button to proceed to the online referral form.

Our main referral line is now open. Make a referral.

Referrals are open for our Irish Women’s Service. This service is open to women with Irish parents and grandparents as well as Irish women. Access the referral webpage or call 0207 281 8970 to leave a message.

We offer free counselling for women living in Islington, with some spaces for women from North London Boroughs of Hackney, Haringey and Camden depending on the criteria.

Please read the following and then click on the appropriate link to access therapy here when the line(s) are open.

Main Referrals

Women attending our services must be:

over 18
in receipt of benefits-level income (except for Accept referrals, see below)
not currently attending another psychotherapy or counselling service

We prioritise inclusion and diversity across all our services and we welcome women:

with historical experience of domestic or sexual abuse, childhood sexual abuse or harmful practices
from minoritised communities who have experiences of racism, discrimination or social exclusion
from refugee backgrounds with experience of trafficking or other human rights abuses
from migrant backgrounds where English is not your first language
who are LGBTQ+

Irish Women’s Service Referrals

We offer a number of session for any women who fit the following criteria:

over 18
in receipt of benefits-level income (except for ACCEPT referrals, see below)
not currently attending another psychotherapy or counselling service
was born within the 32 counties of Ireland (inclusive of Northern Ireland);
and/or have at least one Irish parent or grandparent
resident of any London borough

Please click here for full details.

Accept Referrals

We also offer 12 weeks of counselling for any women who are registered with an Islington GP and who fit under these criteria:

survivors of childhood sexual abuse or domestic violence
refugees or asylum-seekers
coping with bereavement

To make a referral for this programme, please visit the Accept website and request The Maya Centre on the Accept referral form.

Referral Criteria

Whilst we assess on a case-by-case basis, it may be that The Maya Centre is not the right place for you at this time.

In order to avoid long waiting times and disappointment, please consider the following when making a referral.

We may decide to turn down or postpone a referral where a woman:

has a current complex mental health diagnosis, substance abuse issue or severe eating disorder
is seeking counselling in order to support a court case or is court-mandated for therapy
is currently living with a perpetrator of domestic or sexual abuse
has not fully completed the referral form

An assessment is not a guarantee of counselling, but we will always work with you to find the right service, whether at the Maya Centre or another organisation.

What to expect in your counselling session

Counselling sessions last for 50 minutes and are usually in person – there is some scope for telephone and online sessions however these are limited to those who cannot attend in person for specific reasons.

Sessions are offered free of charge, so we ask that you come on time, commit to every session and attend all the sessions offered. We have a small waiting area where you can relax before your session, enjoying our light, plant-filled space.

It is normal to feel a bit nervous about counselling if you have never tried it before and it can be a challenging process at times that can be quite emotional. At the start of your session, your counsellor will greet you, make you feel comfortable, and may ask you some questions about what has brought you here and how you are feeling today.

She cannot help you with practical issues such as housing or immigration, but she may be able to direct you to other services alongside your counselling for help with these issues. She will listen to you in confidence, will not judge you or tell you what to do and trust that with time and support, you may work out what you need to feel better.

If you have issues with mobility and/or accessibility please let us know. Thank you.

The Maya Centre Team

Referrals

Referrals are open for our Irish Women’s Service. This service is open to women with Irish parents and grandparents as well as Irish women. Access the referral webpage or call 0207 281 8970 to leave a message.

We offer free counselling for women living in Islington, with some spaces for women from North London Boroughs of Hackney, Haringey and Camden depending on the criteria.

The Maya Centre is a community-based charity set up in 1984 to provide specialist counselling and holistic support to low-income and minoritised women.