How do I get Started?
To make a referral for children or adults who can pay £30 a session or more please click the link below.
Payment 24 hours in advance is required.
To make a referral for adults who would like to work for free (or for a small donation) with a student counsellor please click the link below.
We are offering in person, telephone or online therapy to adults
IS IT SECRET?
Attending counselling with Open Minds does not appear on your NHS record, because we are an independent charity.
Counselling is confidential and what is said is kept between you and your counsellor unless someone is in danger.
If we have reason to believe someone is in danger we have a legal obligation to act to protect them. This may mean contacting Social Services, the Police or the NSPCC depending on the nature of the concern. We would normally discuss this with you before contacting anyone, unless we believe this would endanger people further.
The exceptions are that in supervision your counsellor will need to discuss their work with you, but not to report what you have told them, instead to ensure they are working ethically with you and to the best of their abilities.
The counsellor will email brief notes which are kept in your electronic file and password protected and coded. Files kept on site are kept in a locked office and the building locked, padlocked and two separate burglar alarms are in use.
Once your counselling ends we will archive your file and then store it in secure cabinets or electronically for 7 years, or if you are under 18 we store them for 7 years once you are 18.
You can ask us to destroy your information at any time however as part of compliance with the 2018 GDPR law.
HOW OFTEN WILL I COME AND HOW LONG FOR?
We offer 10 sessions initially, but you may find that you do not need all of these. If you find that 10 sessions is not enough your counsellor will discuss this with you and request an extension. Counselling is not intended to last forever but we understand that some difficulties and distress take a long time to explore, understand and overcome. You can come for as long as the counselling is therapeutically useful.
You will see the same counsellor every session unless you request someone else.
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We have both male and female counsellors available.
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We have ground floor counselling rooms available
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We open both inside and outside school and work hours.
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Day-time and evening and weekend appointments are available
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All of our counsellors primarily speak English but we do have one counsellor who is fluent in British Sign language.
Each session lasts 50 minutes.
We are very sorry for any delay in contacting us.
If you phone us on 07765 224564 and leave a message (or text that number) we are likely to respond sooner.
If you have left us an answerphone message, text or e-mail and not heard back within a week we suggest phoning again.
Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
Thank you for your time and we look forward to receiving your referral.