The idea
Without being properly addressed, mental health problems can leave people disadvantaged throughout their life. More people than ever need help and NHS services are overloaded and unable to cope with the increase in demand. Those who can't afford to pay for private therapy end up struggling on alone.
We offer free client counselling & art/play therapy in Blacon and Lache, working in venues such as schools and community centres that are local and easy for clients to get to. We're family focused and recognise that parental trauma and adversity can have a profound affect on children. As a result, we sometimes work with more than one member of a family to affect change. We use a person centred approach, recognising that every client's needs and challenges are different. Therapy isn't time limited and our focus is on helping clients achieve real long-term healing rather than just temporary symptom reduction. We've been described as a priceless resource by clients and referrers.
What we'll deliver
- 350 counselling sessions for clients from low income families
Why it's a great idea
There's an inextricable link between poverty and poor mental health and those in this situation are often the least likely to be able to access help. Our service works to address this in Blacon and Lache and help one or more family members address mental health issues. We know that positive changes in one person's mental health can have significant benefits for the rest of their family, amplifying the impact of our service by 3-4x. Feedback from clients suggests counselling has led to specific changes in their lives including:- building more positive family/peer relationships, leaving difficult and abusive relationships, accessing education when they've previously not been able to, seeking diagnoses for additional needs, making successful transitions from primary to high school, applying for work, feeling more able to take on other responsibilities in the workplace and feeling more able to cope with other challenges in their life.
Steps to get it done
- Contact referrers to remind them of criteria and how to make referrals into our counselling service
- Print off leaflets to promote service & distribute via local community groups and food banks in Blacon and Lache
- Deliver counselling sessions
