COUNSELLING

Watford Women’s Centre is committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all women in our community. As part of this commitment, we provide low-cost therapy for women over the age of 18 and a space where you can talk to female therapists in a safe and supportive environment. Our service is staffed mainly by trainee therapists who are working towards their British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Registration. We can offer you weekly counselling for up to one year or short-term focused counselling.

Why therapy?

All women experience difficulties at some points in their lives and can feel overwhelmed, challenged and alone. Talking to a counsellor can help you to see things more clearly, cope differently with situations, or support you through a period of crisis. Perhaps you need help to make difficult choices and changes or to look at destructive relationship patterns. You can explore many issues with your counsellor, such as depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, past or present abuse, substance misuse, and bereavement.

How much does it cost?

We offer a good quality low-cost counselling service for women at affordable fees that are much lower than for private counselling. Our fees are based on ability to pay and are subject to review. They range from £15 to £35 per week. Our cancellation policy is that that if you give us 24 hours’ notice that you need to cancel a session, you do not have to pay, but you do have to pay if you give less than 24 hours’ notice.

Please bear in mind that for counselling to be effective, it is important that you attend every week, apart from emergencies and agreed holidays. At your assessment we will ask you for your availability; you will need to think about days and times you can make every week.

I am interested, what do I do now?

If you over 18 years of age and are interested in counselling, please call 01923 816229 to book an assessment. We charge £15 for an assessment. As there is a high demand for our services, you may have to wait several weeks for an assessment. We will try to match you with a counsellor as soon as possible, but again, this might take several weeks, depending on our waiting list and your availability. In some cases, the assessor may feel that our service is not the most appropriate service for you. If this is the case, she would discuss alternatives. Our service is not suitable for anyone who is actively psychotic, has a current serious mental illness, or a person whose needs could be met more fully by a specialist agency or treatment centre.

Confidentiality

We take confidentiality very seriously and ALL client information is treated in confidence. We do not disclose verbal or written information without your consent. The exception is when we would be legally compelled to do so, or when a member of the service believes the client is at serious risk of harm to themselves or others.