Northamptonshire charity, Service Six, see hundreds of children, young people and adults for play therapy and counselling services each year responding to a wide range of problems that have impacted on their mental wellbeing.  Jane Deamer, Chief Executive for Service Six says “Therapeutic services provide life-saving and life changing outcomes for highly vulnerable individuals. They lead to a wide range of positive health, mental health, social and economic outcomes.”

Clients are referred to Service Six from various routes including Targeted Prevention Teams, Social Care, CAMHS, GP’s, Schools, Family or self- referral and receive a wellbeing assessment before seeing a counsellor.  “Many young people need someone to talk to through a difficult time in their life” says Service Six Counselling Manager, Catherine Sharp.  “If they receive this support it can prevent escalation of the issue and more serious problems later on.”

The sessions are unlimited but are reviewed 6 weekly. “Some clients, or parents, hope for an overnight transformation once counselling begins” says Catherine. “However it takes time for the counsellor and client to understand where the problems lie. Whereas counselling can work quickly for some clients it can take longer for others.  A lot depends on the how deeply rooted the issue is and how much support the person has at home”.

Services can often have waiting lists due to the increasing demand. Service Six have recently reduced their waiting lists in all areas due to a process review and increased use of technology. The waiting list is currently around 2 months and quicker in some areas of the County. Jane Deamer says “We are very proud of our range of high quality professional therapeutic services we offer to children, young people, adults and families within the county. The services have been developed over a number of years through a number of funders. Where you are offering a free professional therapeutic service it is inevitable that demand will be very high and it’s critical that therapeutic services keep very high standards in terms of qualifications, experience and quality assurance.”

Service Six counsellors are all professionally qualified, clinically supervised and quality assured. Many sessions take place in schools but the charity accesses a wide variety of other venues including Children’s Centre’s and Doctor’s surgeries,  plus fixed sites such as the county HQ in Wellingborough and suites in central Northampton.

If you are seeking counselling or one to one support visit Service Six at  www.servicesix.co.uk or telephone 03332 400716.