Free Counselling
Sorry, we are closed for new referrals. Please check back later.
We're delighted to announce that following our initial pilot scheme, the free counselling service has returned to the Newton Farm Information Centre. We will be working with degree student counsellors from the University of Worcester, and the University of South Wales who are in their final year, in order to deliver the service
This allows us to fulfil our aim in providing counselling for those in need, regardless of income.
The students will have gone through several observations, rigorous assessments and the ‘fitness to practice’ process before beginning their placement. They will also have peer support via their course, input from their tutor and monthly supervision. One can start working as a counsellor on completion of a diploma, so our students are already qualified in that respect.
Our counsellors are all members of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or equivalent, and as such are committed to on-going training in accordance with the guidelines of the BACP. As well as anything discussed being 100% confidential, in accordance with ethical guidelines set out by the BACP.
Most of our students are studying on a person-centred/humanistic course, some students may work in an integrative or pluralistic manner, incorporating other types of therapy and theoretical models that they feel are the best fit for the client-this depends on the individual counsellor.
Weekly appointments are available between the hours of 9am and 3pm at the Newton Farm Community Association Information Centre. We do not offer evening or weekend appointments-there are no exceptions to this.
The sessions are 50 minutes long and clients will receive 8 sessions with a review in week six.
If a client is unable to attend a session, we ask that they let their counsellor know as soon as possible. If a client misses three consecutive sessions with no contact, then it is assumed that they no longer want a service, and their space will be reallocated. They can self-refer again at any time, but will go to the foot of the list in this instance.
We accept self-referrals, as well as referrals from professionals. We ask that the referral form is completed as thoroughly as possible, or we may be unable to accept or process the referral. We do not accept referrals via email (as the email is not secure enough for highly confidential material and is accessible to all of our volunteers).
When we receive and process a referral, the placement manager will carry out a telephone assessment to ensure that the referral is appropriate. The referral cannot be processed without a telephone assessment. If the referral is appropriate, the client will be allocated to a counsellor who will contact them as soon as they have a space free. Clients can expect to wait up to six weeks for an initial assessment and up to a further twelve weeks to be assigned a counsellor (i.e. up to eighteen weeks to begin counselling). This is, however, only an estimate and may vary depending on factors such as counsellor availability and academic holiday etc.We endeavour to ensure that suitable clients begin counselling as soon as possible.
If a client is no longer ready when they are contacted with an appointment, we have a one-month grace period for them to begin sessions, otherwise their space will be allocated to somebody else and they will need to make a new referral and begin the process again.
Seeking help from a counsellor can, initially, feel stressful and we aim to make the process as straightforward as possible. We aim to work through referrals as quickly as we can, but please bear in mind that because it is a volunteer run student placement and FREE service, there are sometimes short delays beyond our control.
There is a link to the referral form at the bottom of this page, although you can also collect a form from the information centre.
Simply download the document at the bottom of this page and complete it (please and complete all sections of the form and include a contact telephone number) and return by post in an envelope marked ‘Private and Confidential’ to:
Rebecca Ashton
Newton Farm Community Association
21-23 The Oval,
Newton Farm,
Hereford
HR2 7HG
Alternatively, you can drop the form off in person (again in a sealed envelope for the attention of Rebecca, marked ‘Private and Confidential’).
In the interests of confidentiality, please do NOT email completed forms to us (as the email is not secure enough for highly confidential material and is accessible to all of our volunteers). Unfortunately, our volunteers do not have clearance to check counselling referral forms so we are unable to confirm the whether we have received your form. Therefore, if you wish to know whether we have received your referral form we highly recommend that you return the form by recorded post.
We can help you to make sense of what is happening in your life – to begin the process, just fill out a referral form and get in touch.
Sorry, we are closed for new referrals. Please check back later.