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Counselling and Carers Counselling Service

General Counselling Service

We have one of the largest independent counselling services in the area. You can apply directly to us, and do not have to be referred by your doctor. An initial meeting with our Counselling Manager who will help you to decide if counselling is appropriate for you.

What is counselling?

Counselling takes place when a counsellor meets a client in a private and confidential setting to explore difficult issues or distressing feelings that a client is experiencing. The counsellor will not tell you what to do but will help you make your own decisions about your own life.

Is it just a chat?

No. Clients are encouraged to talk openly about their feelings, as expressing bottled-up emotion can often help to reduce the pain caused by it. However, your counsellor will also have the skills to enable you to explore the opportunities you may have to move forward in your life.

How long will it take?

This depends on you, the counsellor and the problem. In a few cases one visit will be all that is necessary, short term counselling for a specific problem may take a few weekly sessions, while deep-rooted problems will need longer. This may be one session a week for several months.

Who is it for?

Our counselling service is available to residents of York and the surrounding area. Counselling sessions take place at our York office.

Counselling may help people who are experiencing issues such as: relationship breakdown, abuse, eating disorders, phobias, people who are recovering from mental ill-health or have major decisions to make. It can also help those who are living with or caring for someone with a problem.

You don't have to have a specific `problem' to benefit from counselling. It can also be useful for anyone experiencing dissatisfaction with life or a loss of direction or purpose, or feeling anxious, panicky or depressed.

How much does it cost?

York and District Mind is a non-profit making charity, funded by York and North Yorkshire PCT, City of York Council via grants and service contracts and by contributions received from clients. However this does not cover all of our costs. York and District Mind are committed to providing quality counselling regardless of a client's ability to pay. However we do ask all clients who use the General Counselling Service to make a contribution to help ensure the continuation of the service for everyone.

The amount each counselling client will pay would be agreed between the Counselling Manager and client at Assessment and would form part of the clients signed Counselling Agreement. If you wish to think about how much you can pay prior to the assessment the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) have a budgeting tool on their website www.adviceguide.org.uk/d_budget_sheet.pdf which is really good in helping you to decide.

Please note: This does not include the Carers Counselling Service

Contact us if you would like more information about the counselling service at York and District Mind: Tel (01904) 647349, email: counselling@yorkmind.org.uk

Useful Websites
British Association for Counselling

www.counselling-directory.org.uk

Further information

It is important to individuals who meet with a counsellor to know that they will be given the time they need. This is why we continue to offer, as far as possible, a non-time-limited service. This enables clients to reach a sustainable level of development and healing, rather than giving them a short term, 'sticking plaster' service.
For some people a couple of sessions with a counsellor is sufficient, for others a number of months may be needed. Each review session allows clients to decide for themselves whether continuing with their counsellor is beneficial. It also enables the counsellors to share their own experience of how much progress and development seems to be taking place with the client. We continue to monitor the usefulness of the counselling we offer to each and every individual. This is done by counsellors regularly reviewing progress with clients and from discussion with the organisation's Counselling Manager as well as their own external supervisor.
Our counsellors come from a variety of backgrounds. Having good links with local counselling training providers, in particular York St John University, York and District Mind offers a supportive and safe environment in which less experienced counsellors in training can work alongside more experienced counsellors during their placement with us.
As demand on the counselling service continues to grow, funding is increasingly being sought so that we can continue to expand the service according to need, and meet the costs involved in providing a safe, confidential, supported and supervised team of counsellors.

Carers Counselling Service

This is a service specifically developed for people who care for others with mental health problems and offer emotional support and counselling.
As part of the Carers Grant the counselling you access is classed as a ‘carers break'. Caring for someone experiencing mental health problems can be emotionally demanding, no matter how much you love and care for them. Sometimes when caring for others it may feel like you are neglecting your own emotional needs. This counselling is space for you to talk about the issues that you feel are important in order to help you cope. There is a time limit with this service and is currently set at 12 weeks.

Contact us if you would like more information about the counselling service at Mind@Our Celebration:

Tel (01904) 466690, email: ccs@yorkmind.org.uk