Counselling

Counselling is a professional relationship between a counsellor and a client, and provides you with a space to talk about your situation and your experiences.

Counselling support allows people to navigate their way through the maze of emotional turmoil that is experienced through a serious illness or following the death of someone close.  It is also a way of enabling choice or change.  It doesn't involve giving advice or directing a client to take a particular course of action.

Our counselling service is available to patients, carers or family members who are affected by a life limiting condition and individuals who are bereaved within the last 2 1/2 years following the death of a family member who had a life-limiting condition.

What services are available?

• One to one councellling - providing support for each individual
• Family counselling - providing support for a family or couples

Who Can Make a Referral

• You can refer yourself
• Your GP or other health care professional

What happens in the first session?

In the first session there is an assessment of your situation to explore if counselling is appropriate for you.  Once you have had an assessment you will be allocated a counsellor.  Sessions will be planned on a weekly basis as far as possible.  Sessions will last for 50-60 minutes.

Confidentiality

You can be assured that nothing you talk about in our counselling sessions will be shared with anyone without your permission - the only exception to this is if we have serious cause to be concerned for your safefy of others.

What do I need to do if I can't attend one of the sesssions?

If you are unable to attend a session, please ring the Hospice as soon as possible as we have a 24-hour answerphone.  Following that, we will contact you to offer you another appointment.

Who is the Team?

Our team is made up of Counsellors and Bereavement Support Volunteers.  The counsellors are qualified and experienced practitioners who are accredited or members of the professional body, The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

The Bereavement Service Volunteers follow a comprehensive training programme, which includes learning about bereavement and the effect that loss can have on our lives.  An experienced supervisor regularly supervises their work.

Most people do not require specialist interventions when someone has died, but some do.  Some may experience mild to moderate psychological distress and in these cases, we will allocate a Bereavement Support Worker.

CONTACT
If you would like to find out more please contact our Adult Counselling Service on 01789 266852 or email enquiries@theshakespearehospice.org.uk. 

To access a referral form click here