Counselling

What is counselling?
The BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy) definition of counselling is:
“Counselling takes place when a counsellor sees a client in a private and confidential setting to explore a difficulty the client is having, distress they may be experiencing or perhaps their dissatisfaction with life, or loss, or of a sense of direction and purpose”.

It is always at the request of the client as no one can properly be ‘sent’ for counselling.
By listening attentively and patiently the counsellor can begin to perceive the difficulties from the client’s point of view and can help them to see things more clearly, possibly from a different perspective.
Counselling is a way of enabling choice or change or of reducing confusion. 

It does not involve giving advice or directing a client to take a particular course of action.
 
Counsellors do not judge or exploit their clients in any way.

Accessing the Counselling service
You refer yourself to the service by telephone or in person.  There is a large demand for the service and we operate waiting lists.  Once on the waiting list you will be contacted as soon as one of the counsellors can take on someone else.  It is important that you leave a suitable means of contacting you.
The premises are fully accessible and loop systems are installed.  If you need help with travel arrangements let us know.

Counsellors qualifications.
All our counsellors are professionally qualified and adhere to BACP ethical guidelines.  They work in a person-centred way, which means they are non-judgemental and non-directive. 
Some of the counsellors are completing a diploma in counselling, many are volunteering with WHiST.  All have enhanced CRB checks and insurances in place.

What will happen in the sessions
In the counselling sessions you can explore various aspects of your life and feelings, talking about them freely and openly in a way that is rarely possible with friends or family.
Bottled up feelings such as anger, anxiety, grief , shame, guilt and embarrassment can become very intense and counselling offers an opportunity to explore them, with the possibility of making them easier to understand.
The counsellor will encourage the expression of feelings and may help you to look at options open to you and help you to decide the best for you.   

After a session
After coming for counselling, you may find that talking has brought back further difficult memories or powerful feelings.  This is natural as you start to explore and work through what has happened.
You may find it useful to allow yourself some private space or to ask for support/understanding from others around the times that you come for counselling.
It is important that you choose what works for you.

Number of sessions.
This is different for everyone and will be assessed on an individual needs basis.  Some people benefit from short term counselling whilst others find they need counselling longer term.
Every six– eight weeks your counsellor will review this with you.
This gives you the opportunity to reflect where you are within your counselling process.

Length of sessions
Each counselling session lasts for one hour maximum.
It is important that you keep to the time you are allocated as other sessions are planned around this time.

Confidentiality
Counselling is private and confidential.  However the counsellor you see receives regular clinical supervision and will discuss her work at this time, this will be done anonymously, protecting your individual identity.
There are exceptions to keeping confidentiality. These include issues around child protection.
Confidentiality is in line with BACP ethical guidelines.

Cancelling a session?
It is helpful if you could let us know in advance if you wish to cancel your appointment or if you need to rearrange and we ask that you do this as soon as possible.  You can do this by telephoning us at anytime and if we are not available to talk, you can leave a message on the answer machine.

Fees
WHiST does not charge for services. We operate on a voluntary donation basis.

Extra support
Counselling is a private one to one therapy.  If you need an interpreter or someone to sign we will help to arrange this.  If you are accompanied for other reasons, women can wait in the coffee bar. Whist is a women only safe environment and we ask that you respect this.

Child Care
If you need childcare in order to attend  your counselling session we have a crèche service.  Places need to be booked in advance and the crèche workers will explain this to you as well as what to expect from the crèche
Funded through Big Lottery Fund  Reaching Communities.