Counselling

Counselling

If something is troubling you it can be worth spending some time thinking and talking about why this may be happening. The LGBT community has many issues it has to deal with including:

 

  • Lack of confidence: worried about failing, never feeling good enough, feeling judged.
  • Depression: feeling isolated, lonely, empty, tearful, unloved, suicidal.
  • Destructive behaviour: harming yourself, abusive relationships, alcohol, drugs.
  • Bereavement: loss, anger, loneliness, sadness & depression.
  • Relationship difficulties: partners, sexual and emotional intimacy issues, family and friends, colleagues, commitment, jealousy, abuse.
  • Family issues: partners, children, parenting, separation and divorce, homesickness.
  • Sexuality: coming out to yourself and others, exploring your beliefs and attitudes to gay sex and the "scene", exploring your sexual identity and how it affects your lifestyle choices.

 

General counselling:

  • One-to-one counselling sessions to LGBT people and for those who may be questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • 12 weeks of counselling with a volunteer counsellor who is either fully qualified or working towards qualification/accreditation. All our counsellors, supervisors and assessors work within the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) code of ethics, or equivalent professional body. Counsellors who volunteer their time for London Friend all identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans.
  • Cost: Our main counselling service is currently unfunded. We incur costs, such as building overheads, the management and administration of the counselling service, plus the provision of professional clinical supervision for counsellors. Therefore we need to charge a fee for this service. The initial assessment is free. Counselling in the evenings (after 5pm) is £40 per session.
  • Concessionary rates: We are committed to keeping counselling affordable to LGBT people in need. We are able to offer a concessionary rate for people on low incomes for counselling sessions before 5pm. We suggest a sliding price scale in accordance with your income. This will be discussed at your assessment, proof of income or benefits will be required.

 

LGBT Domestic Abuse Counselling:

  • As part of the London LGBT Domestic Abuse Partnership we can offer free counselling to LGBT people who have experienced domestic abuse.
  • If you would like to make a referral into the LGBT Domestic Abuse Partnership, call the National LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline on: 0300 999 5428 or 0800 9995428 or contact referrals@galop.org.uk for information.

 

Free Counselling with SASH:

  • As part of our work with SASH, our community sexual health partnership, we are able to offer free counselling for residents of Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham. This will be at a location in the Tri-Borough area, rather than from our base in King's Cross. Please indicate if you would like to access this when you contact us, or contact SASH directly to make a self-referral. Proof of residence will be required for this service.

Next step:

  • Contact us via telephone on 020 7833 1674 and, if counselling is appropriate, we will meet you for an initial assessment interview from which together we can agree an appropriate way forward.
  • Please note that our counselling service is very popular and experiences a heavy demand; as such we operate a waiting list, and it may be several weeks before we are able to offer you an initial assessment. You may wish to access our coming out or social groups whilst you are waiting. If you would like to speak to somebody for support whilst you are waiting you can contact our partners Switchboard seven days a week. You can also try ELOP,  Metro or Spectra who provide LGBT counselling services in London.


Comments are closed.