Counselling Services

WHAT IS COUNSELLING ABOUT?

It is an opportunity for you to talk through anything which may be of concern to you. Things which have been worrying or nagging at you for some time or something which has started to worry you recently. You now have a chance to explore your feelings so that you can be helped to find your own resources to cope with these difficulties and problems.

WHO WILL MY COUNSELLOR BE?
That depends on who is available when you choose your appointment. You may have a preference to work with a man or a woman. All counsellors are trained, have regular supervision and work according to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy's Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling Psychotherapy.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GET MY FIRST APPOINTMENT?
If there is a waiting list you will be invited to visit Bedford Open Door for an initial meeting with a counsellor. This may not necessarily be the counsellor you will see when you start counselling. Once you start counselling, your appointment will last an hour and you will see the same counsellor each week or fortnight at the same time for as long as you both feel it is of benefit. You will be invited by your counsellor into a private, quiet room and listened to. 'Knowing where to begin may feel awkward, difficult, possibly even frightening. You may find it very difficult to talk or you may say a great deal at that first meeting. This is often what happens in the unfamiliar surroundings of a first session with your counsellor. Your counsellor will be aware of this. Your counsellor is here to help you, not to advise or tell you what to do. You can work at your own pace. During the session you will agree with your counsellor about the times of your sessions.

DOES ANYONE ELSE KNOW WHAT WE TALK ABOUT?
Counselling is confidential except if you or someone else around you is at risk of being hurt or harmed in some way. It is very rare that a counsellor would break confidentiality and the circumstances are usually exceptional. However, if this situation ever arose our aim is to talk with you. We hope that you would consent to any action we would take, knowing that our main aim is to keep you, and those around you, safe.

All counsellors are required to have supervision of their counselling work, but you are not identified. Please ask us if you need any more information about this.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY COUNSELLOR HAS TO CANCEL AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME?
If you have left a suitable contact number/email, and given permission, we will use it. If your counsellor cannot contact you, on arrival you will be given the date of your next appointment.

WILL COUNSELLING COST ME ANYTHING?
The service is free to all young people aged between 13 and 25.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I MISS AN APPOINTMENT?
If you cannot keep an appointment we ask you to contact us as soon as possible and a message can be passed to your counsellor.

If you miss two sessions without contacting us, we will assume that you do not wish to continue with counselling. However you can contact us again if you want to resume counselling. We could not then guarantee that you would be able to see the same counsellor but an appointment would be made for you to see someone else.

HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
You can either ring us on the office telephone number given below, or you can write to us in a letter or email.

Tel: 01234 360388

120 Tavistock Street
Bedford
MK40 2SA

Email: counselling@bedfordopendoor.org.uk