Counselling and Emotional Support
COUNSELING & EMOTIONAL SUPPORT We all experience times in our lives when things seem to get on top of us. At such times, it can help to talk to someone about our feelings and how we are affected. As a carer, even with friends and relatives offering support, we may feel that nobody really understands What is Counselling? what we are going through. Counselling is an opportunity for you to express your experiences in a safe, supportive and confidential setting, to someone who is trained to listen and empathise with your situation. It can offer a way of helping you to explore your options and possible resolutions. Counselling is not the same as being offered advice or being told what to do. Your counsellor will not offer any easy solutions. However, by talking over your feelings, you can gain a clearer understanding of what is happening in your life. You don t need to be depressed to see a counsellor. There are lots of occasions when we would benefit from talking to someone impartial. People come to counselling for a variety of different reasons. Because we use volunteer counsellors, we cannot offer you counselling if you have a mental illness, or, if after assessment, we feel your situation needs further referral for more specialised support. Page 2
COUNSELING & EMOTIONAL SUPPORT Who is the Counsellor? Trafford Carers Centre works in partnership with trainee counsellors from local further education colleges. The counsellors will be in diploma level training or above and their work will be professionally supervised. How do I Make an Appointment? We generally arrange for a caseworker to come out and see you and they will fill in a booking form for you. Our administrator will then contact you as soon as possible to make an initial appointment. At busy times we may need to operate a waiting list but we will keep you informed and you can contact us at any point to find out where you are on the waiting list. Sometimes our waiting list can be up to six months long. At your initial meeting, the counsellor will explain about confidentiality and how the sessions will work. Counselling sessions will typically last for 50 minutes and will be at the Carers Centre or at other community locations. The Centre will normally offer about five sessions with a counsellor. It is unusual to see a counsellor for longer than this period, however further sessions could be offered if the counsellor feels it would be beneficial. Page 3
COUNSELING & EMOTIONAL SUPPORT We will try to find a location which is convenient for you and the counsellor. If you are unable to attend an appointment please ring us on 0161 848 2400 so that we can give your slot to another carer who may need it. If you do not attend for two consecutive meetings we will ring you to discuss whether you actually want or are ready for counselling at this time. If you require counselling from someone who is bi-lingual or of a particular culture, please ring us and we will try to find an appropriate service. At times, we do have counsellors with additional language skills. OTHER SERVICES Al-Anon Family Groups Helpline: 0207 403 0888 Email: enquiries@al-anonuk.org.uk These groups provide understanding and support to anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else s drinking. They have two groups which meet in the Trafford area, Friday 8pm at the Sale United Reform church, M33 3BU and Tuesday 8pm at the Quaker meeting house, sale, M33 6WX. Page 4
OTHER SERVICES African and Caribbean Mental Health Services Tel: 0161 226 9562 Email: admin@acmhs-blackmentalhealth.org.uk Voluntary charitable organisation providing support, casework, advocacy, counselling, befriending, drop-in activities to African/Caribbean people with mental health problems. Alzheimer's Society Support Groups Contact: Anne Grout Address: Dunham House, Cross Street, Sale M33 7HH Tel: 0161 962 4769 Email: anne.grout@alzheimers.org.uk Call the society to get information relating to support groups in your area. There are also user-led online forums where you can let off steam and share your experiences and feelings with other people who care for someone with dementia. Cruse Bereavement Care Helpline: 0844 477 9400 Email: helpline@cruse.org.uk Provide counselling on a one-to-one basis to adults and children who have recently been bereaved. Page 5
OTHER SERVICES CALL - Cancer Aid & Listening Line Tel: 0161 205 8446 Helpline: 0845 123 23 29 Website: www.canceraid.co.uk Offers care and support for people living with cancer, their carers and families in and around Greater Manchester. The original telephone helpline service has grown to include home visits as well as working closely with Macmillan nurses, district nurses and social services. Support is geared to meet individual needs. Child Death Helpline Tel: 0800 282986 From mobile: 08088006019 Website: www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk A telephone support service offering emotional support for parents and others affected by the death of a child, from pre-birth to adult, whether recent or long ago. Interpretation service available. Monday, Thursday, Friday 10.00am-1.00pm; Tuesday and Wednesday 1.00pm-4.00pm; every evening 7.00pm-10.00pm - 365 days a year. Page 6
OTHER SERVICES The Counselling & Family Centre (Formally Family Contact Line) Tel: 0161 941 7754 (counselling) Website: www.counsellingandfamilycentre.co.uk Based in Altrincham, but open to everyone. The service offers confidential emotional support through a face-to-face counselling service. They work with children and young people from the age of 6 years and adult individuals and couples. They can provide counselling in peoples homes and provide the service in Urdu, Punjabi, Farsi, Mandarin, Spanish and French. Prices vary please contact them for further details. They also have a stroke support group for carers and a support group for women in abusive relationships. Self Help Services Tel: 0161 226 3871 Email: info@selfhelpservices.org.uk Website: www.selfhelpservices.org.uk Offer a range of user-led support groups through Greater Manchester, dealing with issues such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders & self-esteem. Call or see the website for details of groups and meeting times. Page 7
OTHER SERVICES Manchester Rape Crisis Tel: 0161 273 4500 Email: mrcrasacs@btconnect.com A service for women and girls who have experienced rape or sexual abuse. Offers emergency and ongoing support including legal and health issues, and one-to-one counselling. No Panic Tel: 0800 138 8889 Email: ceo@nopanic.org.uk Website: www.nopanic.org.uk Offer practical help to those who suffer from phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, general anxiety, panic attacks and those who wish to come off tranquillisers, together with help for their carers. They run a helpline and a one-to-one telephone counselling/group therapy. Monday to Sunday 10.00am-10.00pm Page 8
OTHER SERVICES The Samaritans Helpline: 08457 90 90 90 Local: 0161 236 8000 The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support to people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. You do not need to feel suicidal to get support from the Samaritans. Macmillan Wellbeing Centre Tel: Diane Finch - 0161 746 2080 Email: diane.finch@trafford.nhs.uk Help patients, family members or carers, aged 18 plus, resident in Trafford or registered with a Trafford GP. The service offer psychological and practical support including: information, therapeutic groups, counselling and complementary therapies. Version 1: October 2012 Copyright Page 9
OTHER SERVICES Trafford Rape Crisis (TRC) Tel: 0800 783 4608 Website: www.traffordrapecrisis.com A service that supports any women in Trafford who have experienced Rape, Sexual abuse or any other form of unwanted sex, no matter when or where it took place. Support is available via a landline or mobile, email or text messaging. They have a dedicated call back service for Black and Asian women on 0800 434 6484. Trafford Victim Support Helpline: 0845 3030900 Local: 0161 912 3238 Email: trafford@victimsupport.org.uk Website: www.victimsupport.org.uk Free confidential advice and counselling for people who have been a victim of crime. They offer home visits, office visits, or can meet in public places if preferred. Should you need to go to court as a result of your situation, they can offer you support during and after this. Page 9
ADVERTISE OTHER SERVICES WITH US GP Counselling You also may be able to access a free counselling service through your GP. Please contact your GP for further details Private Counselling Private counselling can also be accessed through counsellors advertised in your local yellow pages. Diversity Counselling Service Contact: Nasreen Mansoor Tel: 0161 434 7800 A free and confidential counselling service to individuals of Black and Minority Ethnic heritage aged 18+ who have been a witness or victim of crime at some stage in their lives. Counselling Directory Website: www.counselling-directory.org.uk The purpose of the site is to provide the UK with a huge counselling support network, enabling those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs. Page 10
Carers Helpline: 0161 848 2400 Fax: 0161 848 2408 E-mail: info@traffordcarerscentre.org.uk www.traffordcarerscentre.org.uk @TraffordCarers Facebook.com/TraffordCarers Trafford Carers Centre 13 Warwick Road Old Trafford Manchester M16 0QX Registered Charity No: 1102075 Company Limited by Guarantee: 4695523