Most of us will experience emotional distress at some time in our lives. For some it will be a short-lived experience, for others something which continues to overshadow their life.

Causes may include:

• Fractured relationships
• Bereavements and other losses
• Physical, psychological, sexual abuse
• Life-changing events, such as becoming physically or mentally unwell
• Financial stress

How can counselling help?

Counselling is a non-judgmental, confidential relationship, valuing each person as a unique individual. Counsellors do not give advice; they help their clients to find the answers that are right for them. Counselling can provide an opportunity to explore emotional problems, together with a chance to look at how difficulties from the past continue to impact on the present and can also be the means for personal growth and development.

Lifecraft members can access free, long-term, one-to-one counselling, for up to two years that is available Monday to Friday 11am – 5pm. Counselling provided at Lifecraft is confidential within certain limits. The limits of confidentiality primarily concern whether there is a risk of serious harm to the person him/herself or to another person(s); information regarding terrorist activity or money laundering relating to drug trafficking.  These conditions will be fully explained at assessment and during the initial counselling session.

We have a team of ten to twelve counsellors all of whom are either fully qualified or in the final stages of their professional training. They have all had further in-house training to equip them with a good understanding of many of the mental health issues that face our members. Although our counsellors are trained in a variety of theoretical models, the overall ethos of the service is client centred with the focus being on the therapeutic value of the relationship between client and counsellor.

Lifecraft Counselling Service is BACP Accredited and we are an organisational member of The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). The counselling team work in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions and adhere to our own comprehensive procedures and guidelines. Professional supervision is provided to counsellors to ensure they maintain a high standard of professional and ethical practice.

“It’s a confidential service; an opportunity to express my feelings, fears, problems, worries”

“I don’t know where I’d be had I not had the opportunity for counselling”

“A chance to get things off my chest without imposing on friends and family”

“Regenerates my batteries and makes me take things into consideration that I normally don’t do”

If you feel you might benefit from the opportunity to talk to a counsellor, or would like to know more about the service we offer, please contact the Counselling Service Manager, by phone on 01223 566957, or email.