Guidance for SAFA Counselling
ABOUT Counselling
Our overall aims are to help you to:
- Understand the underlying issues behind your self-harm.
- Develop healthier ways of coping.
Past clients have told us that counselling also helped with:
- Anxiety and depression.
- Self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Feeling more positive.
- Improved relationships.
- Sleeping better.
Counselling is a working relationship in which you are helped to explore and manage what is happening in your life. It provides a safe, non-judgemental and confidential space in which to explore the difficulties that you may be experiencing, in a way not always possible with family and friends.
Counsellors do not provide advice or offer magical solutions, but will help you to explore and identify thoughts, feelings and behaviours and understand yourself better. The counsellor will be like a companion on a journey, helping you to find ways of moving forward.
There are many reasons why someone might self-harm. Everyone has their own reason, personal to them and their circumstances. Our counsellors are able to work in a variety of ways, depending on the individual needs of the client.
WHAT to expect on the first session
On your first session we will assess your needs. This first appointment can be useful for looking at what sort of issues you may wish to explore. This is also a chance to decide if counselling would be useful or not. If we both agree on future counselling sessions, a contract will be formed, which covers confidentiality, attendance etc.
For some people undertaking counselling can be a difficult journey but with the support of a counsellor many people do begin to feel better. It is important that you are willing to attend regularly to make the best use of therapy. Counselling sessions usually take place once a week at an agreed time.
WHAT is confidentiality?
This means that any information you disclose to your counsellor is private and is not shared with anyone else outside of SAFA, unless you give permission to do so. There are, however, some exceptions where we cannot keep confidentiality, e.g. due to severe risk to yourself or someone else or for legal reasons. These will be FULLY discussed with you during your first session.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE!