Counselling
Our counselling service can help you explore difficulties that you may be experiencing in a safe and confidential environment.
Counselling is protected time for you and your counsellor to work together on areas of your life that are causing you concern or are feeling out of balance. Our experienced team of counsellors can offer you a number of sessions depending on your needs which will be discussed and reviewed between you and your counsellor.
What is counselling for?
Counselling:
Is a way of exploring and understanding your experiences
Is designed to empower you to take control in your own life
Is focused on emotions
Is challenging
Is likely to bring up difficult thoughts and feelings
Does require a commitment from you to work with uncomfortable experiences and trust in the process
Does require you to be open and honest, and take action to change
Is effective to varying degrees with different people
There are many reasons why someone may choose to engage in the counselling process, some of the common reasons that people access counselling are: anxiety and depression, confidence and self-esteem, issues relating to sexuality/gender, loss and bereavement, relationships, trauma and abuse and work-based issues.
What is counselling not for?
Counselling:
Is not advice
Is not always easy
Is not a quick fix
Does not view you as ‘broken’
Is not designed to ‘fix’ you
Is not something that is done ‘to’ you
Sometimes, it is not the right time for a person to engage in counselling.
Situations that may prevent effective therapy include:
• Significant and pronounced mental health issues that require specialist input from other professionals such as a psychologist or psychiatrist
• Experiencing mental health issues that aren’t medicated, and therefore inhibit your ability to engage with the process
• If you are currently in crisis
• If you are currently dependent on illegal drugs or alcohol and require specialist support for this
• You have other commitments that mean you are unable to commit to counselling
What can I talk about in counselling?
Anything! Counselling sessions are for you to talk about anything you wish to talk about. However, there are some things that may impact what you decide to explore, such as:
• How many sessions you have and whether that is enough time for you to work through your concerns
• Whether it is the right time for you to access counselling
• Whether you are stable and supported enough for the counselling process to be safe for you
All of these aspects will be discussed as part of the assessment process and will help us to understand whether counselling is suitable for you at this time.
What if counselling is not suitable for me?
If counselling isn’t the best option for you right now, it doesn’t mean that you cannot be helped, or that you are not worthy of help. It may simply mean that there is so much going on for you, that adding counselling to the mix may be more overwhelming and potentially dangerous than helpful.
You can re-refer to us at any time in the future.
How many counselling sessions can I access?
We can offer up to 12 funded sessions for those who meet certain criteria or for those who are unemployed and on a means-tested benefit. For non-funded clients, i.e. those who are paying for counselling, sessions are open-ended but are reviewed regularly.
How much does counselling cost?
We provide a complimentary initial consultation where the counselling process will be thoroughly explained to you.
Our counselling sessions are offered at a rate of £40 per session as a standard fee. Payments can be made conveniently by cash and contactless/card payment across the county.
Additionally, recognising that financial constraints may hinder some individuals from accessing the support they need, there are further concessions available for lower-cost counselling and a grant application for free/subsidised counselling if you are in receipt of certain benefits. This will be discussed during your initial assessment, however, these concessions are specifically applicable to our standard weekday sessions.
For those seeking counselling services during evenings or weekends, we offer dedicated sessions at a fixed rate of £40, without concessions. This ensures availability at times that accommodate different schedules while maintaining a consistent and accessible pricing structure.
What if I need to cancel a counselling session?
You can cancel with no charge up to 24 hours before your counselling session. If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice you will be charged.
When and where are evening/weekend counselling sessions available?
Our evening and weekend counselling services are available at limited times and locations. Please discuss your requirements at your initial assessment.
Is counselling face-to-face or online?
Our counselling is primarily delivered face-to-face at our county-wide locations. Our evening and weekend counselling services can be delivered online, and this will be discussed and agreed during your initial assessment.
I don’t live in Northamptonshire – can I still get counselling from you?
Our priority is to support those living in Northamptonshire. Subsidised and funded counselling is for Northamptonshire residents only. You can still access our counselling service if you live outside the county, but it will be at the full chargeable rate of £40 per session. You may prefer to contact your local Mind to access their services.
How do I get counselling?
We accept referrals from anyone, including GP’s, Mental Health Professionals, and individuals who wish to refer themselves.
You can refer yourself by emailing enquiries@northamptonshiremind.org.uk or by calling or visiting one of our community hubs.
I still have questions?
You can reach out to our team via our contact page. There is also a comprehensive guide around Counselling and Talking Therapies available on the Mind website.