COUNSELLING

Counselling provides a safe and confidential space for you to talk to a trained professional about your issues and concerns. Your counsellor will help you explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours so you can develop a better understanding of yourself and of others.

A counsellor will not give you their opinions or advice or prescribe medication. They will help you find your own solutions – whether that’s making effective changes in your life or finding ways of coping with your problems.

The first appointment will be an opportunity to discuss what would be appropriate for your needs and is therefore without obligation on either side.  Practical considerations such as time, place and duration of sessions will need to be discussed, and you are free to raise any concerns you might have.  It is at this stage that you set up a contract with the counsellor, so it is important that you are clear about what you want and what is being offered.  Your counsellor will be impartial but understanding. They will listen to you without judgment and help you explore your thoughts and emotions. They may offer information, but they won’t tell you what you should think or do.

Counselling can take different forms depending on your needs and what type of therapy may be suitable.

You might see a counsellor on your own, or as a couple depending on how you applied. You might meet them face to face in an office or talk to them online.

During a session, your counsellor may take you through specific exercises designed to help with your problem, or you might have more general discussions about how you're feeling. What you talk about will vary depend on what you want help with and the therapist’s approach. It could include:

• your relationships

• your childhood

• your feelings, emotions or thoughts

• your behaviour

• past and present life events

• situations you find difficult.

The service is confidential within certain limits that the counsellor will outline to you in their contract and during the initial appointment or ongoing work.  For more information on our privacy policy, click here: https://www.christianguidelines.org/privacy-policy 

Your counsellor will keep brief factual notes, which will be kept in a secure place.  There will be no identification attached to them and are not available to any other person, other than in exceptional circumstances.  We adhere to a strict confidentiality policy according to the ethical framework of BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy) & ACC (Association of Christians in Counselling & Linked Professions) and we adhere to current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU/2016/679) (hereafter referred to as “GDPR”), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.

Counselling hours at our premises in Newtownards are:

Mon, Wed & Fri 9.30am – 5.00pm (inc.) Tues & Thurs 9.30am – 9.00pm (inc.)

(Limited counselling is also available in Banbridge, Crumlin area, Carrickfergus, Dromore, Derry/Londonderry & online.

Counsellors refer to “the 50-minute hour”. This may be slightly shorter or longer depending on the issue but will normally be agreed in advance.  Sessions are planned and regular.

Some people may only need to talk things through quite briefly to see things more clearly.  Others may need to come weekly for a few months or even more.  We may suggest four to six sessions initially and then review after that.

Please give us as much notice as possible and at least 24 hours.   Please note our ‘Terms of Counselling’ states: “Christian Guidelines receives many requests for our counselling services and must make the most effective use of counsellors’ time. Therefore, repeated failure to attend scheduled sessions will result in the termination of the counselling process.”  We would ask that you make it a priority to attend your appointments.  

We appreciate that it is sometimes difficult to make your appointment, but we ask that you discuss these difficulties with your counsellor, and we will do our best to help you.

If you and your counsellor don’t feel you can work together, it is important to discuss this.  Possibly something has been misunderstood and can be easily sorted out.  Alternatively, we might agree to make other arrangements. 

You are free to stop coming at any time but please give us as much notice as possible.  If you are able to discuss your feelings with your counsellor that may help you both in deciding whether to take a break in the process or whether you wish to discontinue it.

As a registered charity, Christian Guidelines provides your counselling free of charge.  We do however depend on the generosity of our supporters. If you can make a donation, according to your means, it would be very much appreciated.   

We have been asked how much a counselling session would cost, and we would estimate it to be around £50 but this is not a charge, we welcome any donation large or small and are grateful for the generosity of our regular donors who allow us to provide counselling free of charge.

If you would be interested in helping us to help others you could become a regular supporter.  Setting up a monthly gift of £5 or £10 per month means we can help to support more clients.  Also, if you are a UK taxpayer perhaps you would consider filling in a Gift Aid form which is available from our office.  

You can also make donations, set up regular giving and even fundraise for us through our Stewardship account at https://account.stewardship.org.uk/gift/start/20026496