“As a member of the NHS I am only too aware of the battle that front line staff are fighting at this time. The current national state of emergency means that not only is everything seeming to change quickly, but now more than ever NHS workers across all levels are facing real fears and risks like never before. I have created this page, to advise how I think I maybe able to support”
6 Free counselling sessions - to support nhs front line workers
Why are you doing this?
Put simply, my answer to this is question when i’m asked is, because I work within NHS primary mental health services and know what my colleagues within the general hospitals are facing. If I can help people face going into work, provide a space for them to just try to make sense of their experiences and support them through this with the skills that I have, then I would like to do so.
are the sessions Really Free?
Yes - to put it simply.
Across the duration of this national crisis I will offer 6 sessions of 50minutes per person for free, to NHS staff who are working in the front line or who’s jobs have changed as a result of this crisis. There is no obligation or expectation for these sessions to be continued outside of the offering and the six sessions are free.
How are sessions delivered?
In order to keep everyone safe, I have temporarily moved session work onto video and phone medias until such a time as social distancing rules are removed.
The video facility that I use is Zoom, which if being accessed through a personal computer (PC) will only need internet explorer and a webcam / microphone set up. If being accessed through smart phone or tablet device, will need the Zoom app to be downloaded onto the device. At the agreed time of our session I shall email you a link which you will click and this will start our session.
If you don’t have the ability to use zoom, then I am proficient in delivering phone counselling and have done so within my work in the NHS. We will simply make an appointment time, where I will call you, at an agreed time where you can put yourself in a place where you will not be disturbed and able to speak.
All usual session confidentiality rules will apply, and I will discuss our sessions with no one other than within my professional supervision, or if there is a need to break confidentiality because I believe there is a risk of harm to you or someone else. I shall explain further about these points in our first phone contact.
Why 6 sessions?
6 sessions is usually considered fairly standard across the majority of psychological therapies to be useful to most people. This is also reflected within my own experience when working with people as a counsellor and mental health clinician.
What will we cover?
Anything you want to talk about is on the table for discussion. My training is both informed by systemic and DBT approaches (if you wish to know more there is more information contained on my website). In short this means that where I think particular skills might be useful, then we can negotiate these into our sessions. This session make up means that I maybe very active in our sessions, or I may be less so and just hold the space for you to talk. The sessions are lead by you.
What happens after the sessions finish?
On our 6th session we will review how you have found our sessions together, therapy is different for everyone.
It maybe that you wish to continue our work together and we can discuss this. It maybe that you wish for our sessions together to come to an end, which is an equally valued decision and position to take.
Unfortunately, I am unable to continue to offer free sessions outside of the first six. I have chosen six sessions as the amount as from experience and in general practice, six sessions tends to be a standard amount that people in general feel useful and no longer feel the need or as greater need to access personal therapy. If you are still requiring more sessions outside of the first 6 but financially are not in a position to fund additional sessions we can spend time thinking together about alternative support provisions that maybe available to you.
how often and when?
Unfortunately I am unable to offer sessions in the day time, I run my clinic hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
My usual session times are - Early slot = 6:30pm - 7:30pm / Late slot = 7:45pm - 8:45pm. I am aware that NHS workers do have shifts and we can work around these on a case by case basis. Please don’t let these working times put you off making an enquiry.
07747197180 to discuss or book!
If you would like to discuss booking a session or to have a further conversation about being a front line NHS worker and wanting to access the 6 free sessions please do not hesitate to contact me on 07747197180
Areas of work in relation to young people
Stress & Anxiety
Depression & Mood related difficulties and issues
Exam Stress
Young Carers
Counselling for Men & Male Mental Health
Self Harm
Poor or Negative Coping
Parenting - Advice & Support
Long & Short Term work
(ClearView Counselling & Psychotherapy is a trading name of ANJ Consultancy Ltd)