As the Happiful brand turns 20, we reflect on the journey so far

Many of you will know us through our magazine, with its trademark colourful covers and thought-provoking articles. Some of you will also be aware of our network of online directories - five websites where you can connect with counsellors, coaches, hypnotherapists, nutrition professionals and holistic therapists.

It all started with one website: Counselling Directory. As we celebrate its 20th anniversary and the start of the Happiful brand as we know it today, we find ourselves reflecting on what inspired those first steps.

How it started

Our story started when two sisters were going through a tough time with their mental health, in the early 2000s. Back then, there were limited options in getting professional help, and the sisters decided a change was needed.

In 2005, they launched a new website, Counselling Directory. Here, members of the public could search for a counsellor near them, quickly and easily. All counsellors listed on the site were encouraged to share as much detail as possible on their profiles, so those in need could get a clearer picture of who they were and how they could help.

How it’s going

The directory went from strength to strength, and in the years that followed, more directories joined the family: Hypnotherapy Directory, Life Coach Directory, Nutritionist Resource and finally, Therapy Directory. 

In 2017 we launched Happiful magazine; our lifestyle magazine, dedicated to mental health and wellbeing. This tied everything together and just a couple of years later we rebranded, putting our directories and magazine under the same roof: Happiful. 

Today, we’re proud to have facilitated 11.5 million connections between members of the public and wellness professionals, all in the name of our core mission: to help create a happier, healthier and more sustainable society. We now have over 30,000 qualified professionals listed with us supporting this mission, all vetted by our team to ensure they are qualified to help.

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For a more detailed look at our impact over the last two decades, check out our impact report. 

Where we’re headed

To mark 20 years of Counselling Directory – and the first step in building the Happiful brand we know today – the team spent a day giving back to the local community by volunteering at Just4Kids charity shop, a meaningful gesture that reflects the direction we're headed.

As we move forward, we’ll be bringing this idea of community into focus, considering how we can continue to give back, how we can support easier, better connections and how we can work closely with organisations to fulfil our mission, together.

Thank you for already being a valued member of our community, and we hope you’ll join us on our ongoing journey.