Counselling

Support Line provides a personal and confidential counselling referral service through a network of independent short-term solution focused counselling practitioners. They provide the interpersonal skills, knowledge and problem solving capabilities to deal with specific issues and traumas.

Appointments can be organised at the most convenient and appropriate times and locations to ensure that there are no issues of privacy or embarrassment with those concerned and that there is minimum disruption to working schedules. This service can be an important support to HR strategies and results have shown to be positive for both staff and management in a wide variety of organisations.

Who are the counsellors?

The Service is provided by a team of professionally trained and widely experienced counsellors, who are accustomed to helping people from many different backgrounds and cultures and with a wide range of personal and work issues. They have been recruited specifically on the basis of their suitability for work of this nature and their professional training.

What to expect?

The first session with the counsellor will be an assessment where you can talk over the reasons for seeking counselling and together with your counsellor decide on the most appropriate way forward. We work within a brief therapy model and usually find that most people are helped within the sessions allocated to them by their organisation. Should further support be recommended this will be discussed with your counsellor.

The aims of short-term counselling typically are to:

• Clarify what the problem is and how it is affecting you
• Help you to find out the most appropriate way of managing your problem
• Help you to identify sources of stress and how to deal with them effectively
• Help you to cope with major life changes and traumatic events
• Look at what is possible for you to achieve
• Encourage you to identify other sources of support
• Encourage you to build self-confidence and self-esteem

The Counselling session

Each one-hour session is normally offered once a week but may be spread over a longer period where appropriate. We aim to offer you a location that is near where you live or work. We have over 50 counselling venues throughout Kent and so you will usually not have to travel very far for your appointments.

How confidential is the service?

Confidentiality is of paramount importance. All counsellors abide by the British Association for Counselling Code of Ethics and Practice, which specifies a rigorous code on confidentiality. Support Line operates a self-referral system so it is therefore up to you whether or not anyone knows that you are coming for counselling.

This only occurs where we reserve the right to break confidentiality. These are only where there appears to be a serious or imminent risk to your own or another person's safety, or if we are made aware of serious illegal activities. Even in these circumstances, your counsellor would normally speak to you first before contacting anyone else. Please ask if you have any questions about confidentiality.

Further Information ...

For further information on counselling and accreditation visit the website of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy:

http://www.bacp.co.uk (opens in new window)