How to Access Counselling and Psychological Services
Reasons for thinking about this might be because you would like space to talk over concerns or feelings related to having congenital heart disease or because of other life issues. This is a brief guide to the main ways you can find a counsellor or contact psychology services.Some Definitions
Counselling provides a regular time and space for people to talk about their troubles and explore difficult feelings, in a confidential setting. A counsellor should respect your viewpoint, while helping you to deal with specific problems, cope with crises, improve your relationships, or develop better ways of managing what life throws at you.
Psychologists aim to reduce distress and to enhance and promote psychological well-being. They work with people with mental or physical health problems - which might include anxiety and depression and adjustment to physical illness.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a short-term talking treatment that has a practical approach to problem-solving. It aims to change patterns of thinking or behaviour that are behind people's difficulties, and so change the way they feel.
For more information about counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and other psychological therapies please see the links at the end.
Ways in to Finding Counselling and Psychological Support
If you attend a GUCH Clinic ask your Specialist Nurse if there are any psychological or emotional support services based at the Hospital you attend. This varies across the country and between hospitals and there may not be a general service. There is more likely to be specific psychology services that might help with things like needle phobia or palliative care services.
Your G.P is another route to access counselling or to refer you to a psychologist or to ask for a mental health assessment from a psychiatrist (for severe mental health difficulties or crisis).
Quite often counselling accessed through G.P services will be time limited, commonly 6-8 weeks. There might be a waiting list.
G.P's can also refer into psychology services for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or help with particular difficulties such as dealing with phobias, panic attacks, depression etc. Again there is likely to be a waiting list.
Check out local voluntary/charitable organisations that provide counselling. Your local Council usually lists local agencies that provide counselling on their website, alternatively, telephone them or ask at the local library.
Common types of services found are Young People's Counselling Services, Drug and Alcohol Counselling, Bereavement Counselling, relationship counselling and palliative care through Hospices. Some Local MIND Associations might provide counselling for general emotional/mental health issues.
Some of these services may be free and others ask for a donation towards counselling, but this is usually on a sliding scale dependent upon income. The counselling could be time limited and there might be a waiting list.
Private counselling and therapy. If you are able to pay there are many counsellors and psychotherapists that work privately. Costs are usually from £25 upwards an hour. It is important to check out that the counsellor/therapist is properly qualified. Underneath is a list of the umbrella organisations that you can contact to find a counsellor/therapist in your area.
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
Umbrella organisation for counselling in the UK + details of local practitioners
0870 443 5252 www.bacp.co.uk
British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies
Can provide details of accredited cognitive behaviour therapists
0161 797 4484 www.babcp.com
United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
Umbrella organisation for psychotherapy in the UK + list of practitioners
020 7014 9955 www.psychotherapy.org.uk
Further Information
MIND has produced booklets that give more information on Counselling and Talking Therapies. These can be accessed online via the links below or can be purchased as booklets through MIND Publications tel. 0844 448 4448
- Making Sense of Counselling
- Understanding Talking Treatments
- Making Sense of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Positive and negative - how easy or hard did you find it to access services? email: anne@guch.org.uk