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Welcome to (updated 1Feb08 by Stephen Hansard, Therapist & Support Group Leader) |
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 Contents |
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1.
Introduction Life can be good: exciting, fun, interesting, fulfilling, whatever makes us truly happy. It can also get tough, sometimes very tough, which can damage our mental health, leaving us incapable of living at our best. Some people can pick themselves up by their own boot laces. Many of us find support from friends, family or colleagues very helpful. But sometimes we might get further by using professional support from somebody more neutral, who is trained in helping people find better ways of managing their lives, and can offer a professional relationship dedicated to helping us. As a famous actress said recently, "If something is stopping you from being the best person you possibly can, then [bleep] well get it sorted out!" (She also said therapy was the best thing she'd ever done in her life, but I'll leave that open to debate.) |
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2.
What do people use
counselling for? Here's how some people describe what they've got of their counselling:
People use counselling to:
Issues can be either personal, academic or work-related, and either long-standing or short-term crises. These range from clearly defined practical problems to vague but deep feelings of dissatisfaction with life. Some people seem to think that getting help is being a failure, or doubt if anyone could make a difference, or are ashamed to admit their problems. It is admirable to want to sort out personal difficulties on our own. But what if that doesn't work? Either we stand still, perhaps even slip backwards, or we find the courage and determination to try specialised support. Therapy offers a safe space for each of us, away from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives and the mixed messages coming from many people, to explore our lives more openly; to be reassured that mental health struggles are not uncommon and that relief is possible; to discover inner strengths that we didn't know we have. This is a success when we gain the courage and insight to change for the better whatever is unhelpful in the way we have been living our lives, whether this be in our external behaviour (e.g. the way we relate to other people) or in our internal feelings and thoughts that shape how we see our world (e.g. how we respond to "stressful situations"). In simple terms, people use counselling to live more, |
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3. What happens in counselling? Mental health therapy starts from the simple yet powerful fact that it can be good to talk, especially to somebody who doesn't judge you or tell you what to do but responds usefully. If you come to me as a client, I will listen very closely and encourage openness in an attempt to understand how you see your life, to get a feel for what it’s like to walk in your shoes. I will reflect back things that seem to be important to you, about yourself and what's happening in your life. I will offer summaries to help clarify; and shine a light on grey areas. I may well challenge you to consider alternative ways of looking at things. I will encourage you partly by identifying ways in which you have already coped successfully. The therapy process aims to give hope in guiding you towards finding a path that suits you, coupled with identifying obstacles and your resources that will help you to remove them. Therapist and client work together. My role is to lead you from behind as far as the process is concerned, but you will choose the content and decide what to do, which will not always be easy. Therapy can be hard work on both sides; change carries risk; there are no guarantees. But the potential reward of a more fulfilling life is surely well worth it. Most therapy is one-to-one. Clients attend one, two or several sessions, with further work as appropriate. Sometimes it becomes evident in therapy that the therapist is not the best person to help the client, in which case we might suggest an alternative. For example, I might refer a client to Glenis for relaxation sessions (because Glenis currently has more experience in this field than I do) or if the client wants a female therapist; and we might refer a client with headaches to their GP to investigate possible direct physical causes; we also refer clients to agencies for specialist guidance such as with unwanted pregnancies or finance. Counselling is confidential. No-one outside the counselling team, including academic or organisational staff, is told about individual's counselling - unless you request it. In rare extreme cases the counsellor may feel that it is necessary to break confidentiality (if somebody appears to be at major risk of harm or if the law demands), but this would still be discussed with you first. The counselling team has an external mentor (known as a supervisor but distinctly separate from management supervision) to ensure that we are working appropriately and in the best interest of the client, and this mentoring supervision is also bound by confidentiality. |
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4.
Support Groups and advice outside counselling sessions Stephen runs Support Groups to help students/staff deal with specific personal issues, such as assertiveness ("being me"), stress, anger, smoking and other problem addictive behaviour. Tutors seek advice from us about possible counselling for their students, or about what types of support might be best in individual circumstances. All staff, as well as students, may also want to know how they can best support a friend or colleague in mental distress. |
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5.
Meet the therapists
Glenis and I are both qualified counsellors, committed to a professional caring service, with regular training to develop our skills and personal therapeutic strengths. We have regular professional mentoring (known as supervision although distinctly separate from line-management) with an external therapist. This helps us check that we are providing each of our clients with the best possible support we can, and to maximise the benefits of the service to TLC staff and students. Glenis also works in the library (LRC) on the Tamworth site. Stephen also works on the Helpdesk at the Lichfield Centre. Glenis and Stephen are both members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), and adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice. |
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6. FAQ's
What makes counselling distinct from other types of support?
What makes counselling distinct from other types of support? Why not just rely on friends and family? Who can benefit from counselling? Do I have to be desperate to use therapy? How long will it take? How will I know if it's helping? How can I find out more before deciding
whether to try counselling? Will anyone know that I am attending counselling? Can I attend counselling at Lichfield if I usually work or study at
Tamworth (or vice-versa)? Does my issue have to be college-related? Can I get advice from you about
counselling / support for somebody else? |
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7.
Useful links Note: You are also welcome without having to become a client to ask Glenis or myself for advice and information. "What is counselling?" bacp The Samaritans' listening service, phone 08457 90 90 90. Mind
mind Mindout campaign for positive attitudes towards people with mental health problems, with simple but thought-provoking facts and experiences mindout ChildLine
childline Bullying Online
bullying Guides to dealing with common problems rhul |
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8.
Contact us - to make an enquiry or book an appointment
(As at
February 2007) A) Tick an available space on the appointment sheet on the
counselling room door, or B) Leave a message on the confidential counselling phone line or C) Contact Glenis or Stephen in person or by phone, or D) Email Note: A 24 hour listening service is provided by the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90. |
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eXtra tlc
Glenis McAuley
and I, Stephen Hansard, provide up to 12 hours of counselling each week
in term-time, split between the Tamworth and Lichfield sites (
Feb07).