A good counselling leaflet does one job: it tells a specific person what you help with, what working with you is like and how to take a low-pressure first step. Use A5 or DL for a single message and a tri-fold A4 (folding to DL) when you need room for fees and process; set body text at 12pt minimum, supply print files in CMYK at 300dpi with 3mm bleed, and use 150 to 170gsm silk.
If you want the broader principles of printed promotion first (one clear job, whitespace, one considered image), we covered those in our flyer guide. This post goes deeper on the leaflet itself: the panels, the copy and the specs. Read our therapy flyer design guide →
What is the difference between a flyer and a counselling leaflet?
In everyday use the words overlap, but printers and designers tend to mean different things. A flyer is usually a single flat sheet, often A5 or DL, printed on one or both sides, with one message. A leaflet is usually folded, giving you panels, and it is built to be kept and read at home. For a counselling practice that distinction matters: the flyer gets attention on a noticeboard, the leaflet answers the questions someone has before they feel ready to get in touch.
Many practices need both. A simple A5 flyer for noticeboards and a folded leaflet for the rack in a surgery, the reception desk at a community centre, or to hand to a referrer who asks what you do.
Which leaflet size should a therapist use?
These are the UK formats we use most for therapy and counselling leaflets. All sizes are finished (trimmed) sizes; add 3mm bleed on every edge when you set up the file.
| Format | Finished size | With 3mm bleed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A6 flat | 105 x 148 mm | 111 x 154 mm | Handout cards, reception desks, a short reminder of how to book |
| A5 flat | 148 x 210 mm | 154 x 216 mm | Noticeboards and single-message leaflets; the most versatile size |
| DL flat | 99 x 210 mm | 105 x 216 mm | Leaflet racks, slipping into letters, compliments-slip style handouts |
| A4 tri-fold (to DL) | 297 x 210 mm flat, 99 x 210 mm folded | 303 x 216 mm | Full practice leaflet: who you help, approach, fees, how to start |
| A4 folded to A5 | 297 x 210 mm flat, 148 x 210 mm folded | 303 x 216 mm | Group practices, workshop programmes, four pages of content |
A practical note on tri-folds: the inside flap that folds in is usually made 2 to 3mm narrower than the other two panels (often around 97mm rather than 99mm) so it tucks in without buckling. Most online printers provide a template with this built in. Use it rather than dividing 297mm by three.
We keep every size above, plus business cards, posters and roller banners, in one free reference page with bleed and safe-zone measurements. See the UK print design sizes cheat sheet →
What should a counselling leaflet include?
Here is the panel-by-panel structure we use for a tri-fold DL counselling leaflet. It adapts easily to an A5 two-sider: the front panel becomes side one, and the inside panels condense into side two.
Front panel: who it is for, in plain words
Your practice name and logo, a single headline that names the person or the problem, and nothing else competing for attention. The headline does the work. Compare “Counselling Services” with “Counselling for adults in Bedford who feel stuck, anxious or overwhelmed”. The second one lets the right reader recognise themselves in under two seconds.
Inside panel one: what you help with
A short list of the issues you work with, phrased the way clients describe them rather than in clinical shorthand. “Feeling on edge most of the time” reads differently from “Generalised anxiety disorder”. Keep it to five or six items. A list of twenty tells the reader you are not specific about anything.
Inside panel two: what working with you is like
This is the panel most leaflets skip, and it is the one that lowers the barrier most. Explain your approach in one or two sentences, then describe the practical reality: how long sessions last, whether you work online, in person or both, and what happens in the first session. People who have never had therapy often do not know what to expect, and not knowing is a reason to put the leaflet down.
Inside panel three: about you
A real photograph if you are comfortable with one, your name, your qualifications and your professional body membership (for example, “Registered Member MBACP” or “HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist”). Use the exact wording and logos your professional body allows; BACP, UKCP and the HCPC all have guidance on how membership and registration can be described.
Back panel: fees and how to start
State your fees, or at least a starting point, and whether you offer a free introductory call. Then one clear way to get in touch: a website address that is easy to type, a QR code that goes to a booking or contact page, and a phone number with an honest note about when you answer it.
Flap panel: signposting and small print
A short, calm line making clear that you are not an emergency service, with accurate crisis signposting (Samaritans on 116 123, free and available 24 hours a day; NHS 111 for urgent mental health support; 999 in an emergency). Add your address if you see clients in person and, if relevant, accessibility information about the building.
Counselling leaflet copy examples
Copy is where most leaflets go wrong. These are the kinds of lines we write for clients, adapted for illustration. None of them promise outcomes, and none of them lean on fear.
| Section | Weaker version | Stronger version |
|---|---|---|
| Headline | Professional Counselling Services | A calm, confidential space to talk things through |
| Who it is for | I work with a wide range of issues | I work with adults dealing with anxiety, low mood, bereavement and work stress |
| Approach | I use an integrative, client-centred, humanistic model | We go at your pace. I draw on a few approaches and we find what suits you |
| First step | Contact me today, spaces are limited! | Book a free 15-minute call to see if we are a good fit. No obligation |
| Practicalities | Sessions available | 50-minute sessions, online or in person in Kempston. Daytime and early evening |
Notice what the stronger column avoids: scarcity (“spaces are limited”), urgency (“today”), and jargon the reader has to decode. It also avoids anything that implies a guaranteed result, which matters both ethically and under the ASA's rules on health claims.
How do you make a therapy leaflet accessible?
Your leaflet may be read by someone who is tired, distressed, has a visual impairment, has dyslexia, or is reading in a second language. Designing for them makes the leaflet better for everyone.
- —Body text at 12pt minimum, ideally 14pt for anything aimed at older adults or people with sight loss. RNIB's clear print guidance recommends 12 to 14 point as a minimum.
- —Headings clearly larger than body text, roughly 18 to 24pt on a DL or A5 leaflet.
- —A clear, open sans-serif or a sturdy serif for body copy. Google Fonts such as Lato, Source Sans 3, Atkinson Hyperlegible or Lora all print well at small sizes.
- —Strong contrast. Aim for at least 4.5:1 between text and background, the same WCAG ratio we use on websites. Dark charcoal such as #2B2B2B on off-white such as #FAF7F2 is calmer than pure black on white and still passes comfortably.
- —Left-aligned text, not justified, so word spacing stays even.
- —No text set over photographs, and no light grey body copy.
- —Uncoated or silk paper rather than high gloss, which reflects light and is harder to read under surgery strip lighting.
If you work with people with learning disabilities, young people, or communities with lower literacy, consider an easy read version. Easy read uses short sentences, one idea per sentence, larger text (usually 14pt or more) and a supporting image beside each point. It is a specific format with its own conventions, so it is worth getting it checked by someone who knows it, or by people who use it.
Choosing fonts that hold up both on screen and in print is easier with a shortlist. Browse our font pairings for therapists →
What print specs do you need for a leaflet?
These are the settings almost every UK printer will expect. If you are designing the leaflet yourself in Canva, Affinity or InDesign, check them before you export.
| Spec | What to use | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Bleed | 3mm on every edge | Background colour or images run past the trim so you never get a white sliver |
| Safe zone | Keep text 4 to 5mm inside the trim | Cutting moves slightly; text too close to the edge can be clipped |
| Colour mode | CMYK | Printers print in CMYK; RGB brand colours can shift, especially bright greens and blues |
| Resolution | 300dpi at final size | Lower resolution images look soft or pixelated in print |
| File format | PDF (PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 if offered), fonts embedded | Prevents font substitution and layout shifts |
| Paper, flat leaflets | 150 to 170gsm silk or 300gsm for a sturdier card feel | Heavier stock feels more considered and survives racks |
| Paper, folded leaflets | 130 to 170gsm silk; ask for creasing above 170gsm | Heavier paper cracks along the fold if it is not scored |
| Finish | Silk or uncoated | Easier to read than gloss; uncoated can be written on |
One common trap: brand colours that look soft and calm on screen can print muddy or dull. If colour matters to your brand, ask the printer for a hard-copy proof, or order a small run first. Your brand style guide should list CMYK values alongside the hex codes for exactly this reason.
How much does counselling leaflet printing cost in the UK?
Prices vary by printer, paper and turnaround, so treat these as rough guides from our experience at the time of writing (October 2026), not quotes.
- —250 to 500 A5 flat leaflets, double-sided on 150 to 170gsm silk, from a mainstream online printer: typically a few tens of pounds.
- —250 to 500 A4 tri-fold leaflets: usually somewhat more, because of folding, often still under £100 for standard stock.
- —Local independent printers often cost a little more but will usually check your file properly and give you a physical proof, which is worth a lot on a first run.
- —Design is the bigger variable. A designer working from your existing brand will be quicker, and cheaper, than one starting from nothing.
Do not over-order. Your fees, availability or address will change, and 2,000 leaflets with an out-of-date price on them are a sunk cost. A run of 250 to 500 is plenty for most solo practitioners, and the unit price difference rarely justifies more.
The best counselling leaflets I've seen don't try to explain therapy. They explain what the first ten minutes with you will be like, and that's what gets someone to pick up the phone.
Adam Watters, Founder, Psyche Creative
A pre-print checklist
- —Does the front panel say who it is for in one line?
- —Are your fees, session length and format (online, in person) clear?
- —Are your qualifications and memberships worded as your professional body allows?
- —Does the QR code scan from 20 to 30cm away, and does it land on a mobile-friendly page?
- —Is there accurate crisis signposting and a clear statement that you are not an emergency service?
- —Is body text 12pt or larger with at least 4.5:1 contrast?
- —Has someone who is not you proofread it, out loud?
- —Is the file CMYK, 300dpi, with 3mm bleed and fonts embedded?
Once the leaflets arrive, where you put them matters as much as how they look. Read our guide to where to put therapy leaflets →
We design counselling leaflets, flyers and full print sets from your brand, and supply print-ready files with the right bleed and colour settings. See our Graphic Design service →
Frequently asked questions
What size should a counselling leaflet be?
A5 (148 x 210 mm) is the most versatile size for a single-message leaflet, and DL (99 x 210 mm) fits standard leaflet racks. If you need room for fees, approach and an about section, an A4 sheet tri-folded to DL works well.
What font size should I use on a therapy leaflet?
Use at least 12pt for body text, and 14pt if your clients include older adults or people with sight loss. Headings should be clearly larger, roughly 18 to 24pt on an A5 or DL leaflet.
Should I put my fees on my counselling leaflet?
Usually yes. Not knowing the cost is a common reason people do not get in touch, so a clear fee or starting price, plus any concessions or a free introductory call, removes a barrier.
What paper weight is best for leaflets?
For flat leaflets, 150 to 170gsm silk is a good balance of quality and cost. For folded leaflets use 130 to 170gsm, and ask for creasing if you go heavier so the fold does not crack.
Do I need bleed on a leaflet design?
Yes. Add 3mm bleed on every edge and keep text at least 4 to 5mm inside the trim line, so nothing important is lost when the sheets are cut.
Adam works with UK therapy practices, EMDR trainers and mental health organisations on websites, social media and digital campaigns. He started Psyche Creative to give clinicians a marketing partner who understands the sector — and won't compromise on professional standards to get results.
