Counselling is a confidential talking therapy which gives you the opportunity to talk about your concerns, and any emotional difficulties you are experiencing with a counsellor.

We can help you explore your situation, see things more clearly and gain more understanding of yourself. Counselling can provide extra support outside of your network of family and friends.

Carers come to counselling to discuss all kinds of concerns, including:

• • Difficult transitions such as when your caring role begins, changes or ends
  • Challenging emotions such as anger or low self esteem
  • Bereavement or other loss, there are many losses which can affect our lives
  • Illness, accident or trauma
  • Depression, anxiety, worries or stress about the past, the present or the future
  • Isolation, loneliness or difficulties in a social setting

We will arrange an initial contact session to introduce you to your counsellor who will guide you through the process. You will meet with your counsellor online or face-to-face. Any face-to-face sessions take place in a quiet, undisturbed and safe setting.

You will have up to 6, 50 minute sessions where you’ll be encouraged to talk about your feelings and emotions with a therapist, who’ll listen and support you without judging or criticising.

The therapist will work with you to gain a better understanding of your feelings and thought processes and find your own solutions to problems. They will not usually give advice or tell you what to do.

All counsellors working with us are members of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or are a member of another recognised Professional Body, for example, the National Counselling Society NCS), and work within their ethical frameworks.

Our unique model of volunteer-led counselling utilises trained Counsellors who are volunteers. This helps us keep the cost free for Carers.

Some of our volunteer counsellors are fully qualified, others are in training working towards or at a minimum level 4 qualification and need placement hours so they can fulfil their counselling course requirements.

All of our volunteer counsellors have a minimum of 30 client hours and have been deemed “fit for practice,” meaning they possess the required skills, knowledge, and ethical standards to work with clients. This assessment is typically conducted by their college tutors, who evaluate their performance through observation. Once deemed fit, they are provided with a letter to present to AfFC. 

Are you interested in working with us as a Volunteer Counsellor? If so, we would love to hear from you. Volunteering can be an excellent way to bank some counselling hours. 

We make all the arrangements for you and you will be fully supported by our experienced team. Your clinical supervision and venue hire costs will be covered by Action for Family Carers.

Click here Volunteer Counsellor and register your interest.

For more details please contact info@affc.org.uk

All our volunteering opportunities can be found here