What is Counselling? Counselling is a way of exploring problems and our ability to manage them. It aims to offer a safe place to talk about
LGBT EXCELLENCE CENTRE
LGBT EXCELLENCE CENTRE
difficul es and distress. Some mes the cause of our dis-‐ tress is clear from the start, some mes it is not.
Counselling can help overcome
It is o en easier to
Counselling
problems and
talk in confidence to improve feelings
Service
someone who is not involved in our everyday lives. Counsellors are trained to listen respec ully and carefully, without judging. Counselling helps us to clarify thoughts and feelings, to come to terms with experiences or find ways of resolving problems and making changes. Counsellors have a variety of skills, and will work in the way that best suits individual needs.
OUR WORK Support for refugees and asylum seekers • Bullying in schools and youth work • Counselling Discrimina on in employment •Family acceptance • Gender reassignment guidance and support • Hate crime • Housing and homelessness • LGBT Heritage in Wales • Older LGBT people advocacy • Support for LGBT prisoners • Tailored training packages covering sexual orienta on and gender iden ty • Conferences and Events • Networking ac vi es • Se ng up LGBT networks and groups • Rainbow Mark Accredita on • Employee assistance programme •Bespoke consultancy services
Phone: 0800 023 2201 www.lgbtec.org.uk E-mail: helpline@lgbtec.org
Tel: 0800 023 2201
Our Counsellors are professionally trained and experienced. We comply with BACP/IACP standards and our counsellors receive regular supervision from a
What can counselling help you
qualified prac
with?
oner. Our trainee counsellors operate under the close supervision of
experienced supervisors. Why LGBT-Specific counselling? While qualified counsellors can support people with most issues, we strongly believe that it is very important for counsellors to have a good understanding of sexual orienta on and gender iden ty ma ers. This allows people to discuss their issues openly and with confidence, without having to worry about their sexual orienta on or gender iden ty or feeling that they need to explain themselves. Our service is set up to provide LGBT people, their families and friends, or anyone who would like to explore issues around sexual orienta on and gender iden ty, the chance to do so in a knowledgeable and relaxed environment. How much does it cost? The service is means-tested to ensure a reasonable cost. Counselling may be free to under 18s and those on low income but this will be discussed at assessment.
How does it work? Counselling sessions last about 50 minutes and take place in a private and relaxed se ng. The first session is an opportunity to meet your counsellor and discuss how counselling could help with your difficul es. Research suggests that the most important ingredient for success is that you and your counsellor form a good rela onship with each other. If you do not feel comfortable with your counsellor, whatever the reason, it may be be er for you to see someone else.
Sexual Orienta on and Gender Iden ty issues General Unhappiness Loneliness Anxiety, Stress Family Problems Bullying Bereavement Rela onship Issues Self-Harm Pressures at work, Poor Mo va on Drug or Alcohol related issues Life transi ons Physical Injury
If you feel that counselling is a way forward, the counsellor will offer you further appointments. What about confiden ality? Confiden ality is required by professional codes of conduct. Counsellors will respect confiden al informa on except where disclosure is required by law, or is necessary to protect someone’s personal safety or is in the public interest. Your records will be stored safely and cannot be looked at by anyone outside the service
To make an appointment, please contact us on : 0800 023 2201