General Counselling and Services

Community Counselling

Going through life can be likened to riding a bicycle. Most of the time, even though we might have the occasional wobble, we manage to keep moving along. Sometimes we lose our balance, and come off. Even then, perhaps with the help of family, friends, colleagues we can get going again. However, everyone - at some time in their lives - may experience more serious difficulties. This is when professional support is a useful option. For every kind of problem there are trained people at hand to offer support. Counselling is a way of exploring and addressing some kinds of emotional or psychological issues.

Counselling offers an opportunity:

	to talk (and be heard) in confidence
	to look at options
	to work out what you want, what you need, to find out "what next" and to put things in perspective

It is expensive to provide counselling. We are a charity and receive no statutory support, yet we have the same bills to pay as every business does. So, we ask that every client makes a contribution towards their counselling. Because we generate some revenue from our employee contracts, for people with an income we ask that they contribute Ł20 per session for individuals, and Ł30 per session for couples. For people on benefits we ask for a contribution of Ł7 per session for individuals, Ł14 for couples.

Financial difficulties should not deter you from seeking help. Regardless of how much you contribute the same level of service will be provided.

Each counselling session lasts 50 minutes, and your counsellor may offer you a specific number of sessions to begin with. We try to arrange for you to come on the same day of the week and at the same time for each session - it is easier to remember, that way. For some people (someone on shift work, for example) we make other arrangements. If you have to cancel an appointment, if you give us enough notice, we may be able to reschedule your appointment. If we cannot, you will have to miss the session. If you give us less than 24 hours notice, you will have to make the same contribution as if you had attended. You or your counsellor might feel that there are other agencies better placed to work with you. If that is the case, we will help you to find the appropriate support.

Sometimes the problems that people experience can be connected with physical illness. A visit to the GP might be helpful, and NHSDirect is a reliable source of health information, including information about psychological, mental and emotional disorders

The Dover Counselling Centre is an Organisational member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy, works according to its Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy and is bound by its Professional Conduct procedures.