04-11-11

Weekly Group Support Meeting

Fridays
2:00 - 4:00 pm

To be held at:
NACRO
6a Bagley Drive
Wellington
TF1 3NP

This is an opportunity to gain support from people who have had similar experiences and an understanding of the problems encountered whilst supporting someone with an alcohol problem.

Sharing experiences, ideas and coping strategies can be very helpful.

Please join us for an informal gathering with free tea/coffee and biscuits.

Here at IMPACT we understand that before you attend your first counselling session you may be feeling very nervous and have some questions that you need answering. For that reason we have compiled this list of questions and answers for you to read before you come along for your first session. If after reading through you still have some unanswered questions then please feel free to call us, we will be happy to help.

What is Counselling?

Sometimes things in life can be scary, get us down make us distressed, anxious or confused. Sometimes family or friends can give us the support we need - sometimes not. Counselling gives us a private space to talk through what is difficult with someone who is not involved. A counsellor will not tell you what to do or judge you, but always try to understand things from your point of view, and support you to find your own answers.

What is Counselling for Concerned Others?

Living with a problem drinker can be really hard work. Often you will feel at the end of your tether. You will have to put up with many difficulties. Sometimes it will be their frightening or embarrassing behaviour and often you will have feelings of frustration, because whatever you try to do the drinker never seems to change. You may feel guilty, ashamed, embarrassed and alone. You might feel shut off from the rest of the world (and the drinker) with no-one else to turn to.

The counselling that you would receive at IMPACT is intended to support you rather than the drinker, although we are of course happy to support the drinker when they are ready. It is also not intended to tell you how to stop someone drinking; the only person who can do that is the drinker themselves. Hopefully through the counselling you should have a few more ideas about how to change the way the drinker's behaviour affects you, so that you feel more in control.

What is Alcohol Counselling?

This is where the focus of the counselling is around issues connected to alcohol. Your counsellor will help you to explore how your life is being affected and will work with you on any changes you want to make.

Counsellors

Counsellors at IMPACT are qualified and are either paid or volunteer their services and have many years experience in counselling, or they may be at the end of a 2 year counsellor training course. All our counsellors have also attended IMPACT's intensive alcohol awareness training programme. In order to ensure that counsellors have confidential support which meets the client's needs and safety, all counsellors have Supervisors. It may be necessary for your counsellor to share some of what you tell them with their Supervisor. They will not disclose your name so that you remain anonymous.

1) Who will be my counsellor?

Once you have made a referral to IMPACT you will be telephoned or sent a letter and an Initial Interview session will be arranged. In the Initial Interview you will have a chance to discuss what has brought you to Counselling, find out a bit more about it and decide whether it is for you. Following your Initial Interview session you will be asked if you are happy to continue counselling, if yes then you will make another appointment, with the same counsellor unless you ask to see someone else.

2) How often will I see a counsellor?

Counselling sessions usually take place once every week, or two weeks.

3) How long is a counselling session?

A counselling session is 50 minutes long.

4) Is there a charge for counselling?

No, IMPACT is a charity and we are able to offer our service for free. However we have a very limited income and we do welcome donations, no matter how small.

5) How many times can I have counselling?

Counselling can be short or longer term. The number of counselling sessions you can have will vary according to need. Some people only need 2 or 3 sessions, others require many more.

6) Is counselling confidential?

What you tell your counsellor is completely confidential, except for certain instances which will be explained to you at your initial interview.

7) What records will be kept about me?

IMPACT recognises and acknowledges its responsibility and duty to maintain the privacy of personal data shared with us. Personal information is anything that enables us to identify you in some way, such as your name and address. IMPACT will store and process your personal data, in accordance with the requirements of its Data Protection Policy and in keeping with the Data Protection Act 1998, whether it is held on paper, on computer, or any other media. Counsellors also keep brief notes of counselling sessions. These are anonymous, kept separately from any identifying documents and are kept in a locked filing cabinet.

8) Do I have to come to counselling?

Counselling is entirely voluntary. If you do not want counselling you do not have to have it even if someone else may be pressuring you. Equally if you feel that counselling is not working, talk to your counsellor about this, counselling may not be for you.

9) Will I feel better straight away?

Counselling is different for different people. Sometimes people find that counselling helps them to feel better and achieve their goals very quickly. The outcome of counselling may not always be what you expect, but hopefully it will be positive. Counselling is a collaborative process where you and your counsellor work together; it is not something that can be done to you.

10) What if I need to cancel an appointment?

If you need to cancel a counselling appointment please call IMPACT as soon as you can and leave a message for your counsellor. It would be greatly appreciated if you can give us as much notice as possible as many of our counsellors are volunteers and may be coming in on that day just to see you. By giving us as much notice as possible you can save them having a wasted journey.

11) What if I do not attend a session without letting my counsellor know?

We do not pressure any individual into coming to IMPACT for counselling, if you do not attend an appointment and do not contact us, we will assume that you no longer require counselling.

12) What if I am late for an appointment?

We will still see you if you are late but the counselling session will still end at the same time. This is because your counsellor will most probaly have another appointment afterwards.

13) What if I need to complain?

If for any reason you are unhappy about your counselling please talk to your counsellor about it. If you are still unhappy please speak to the counselling co-ordinator or the Chief Officer. There is a copy of IMPACT's Complaints Procedure in each counselling room.