OUR SERVICES - what can we do for you?
Counselling one to one or in groups (Person-Centred, Humanistic and Integrative)
Art Therapy one to one or in groups (from a qualified, certified Art Therapist)
Who do we work with?
We work with clients on any issue, providing their mental health is sufficiently stable for them to access counselling safely.
Adults (one-to–one) on any issue
We categorise clients according to whether they are a risk to self or others, and the extent to which they are experiencing mental illness or may have experienced severe trauma.
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High Intensity require very experienced counsellors who have the insight to recognise the difference between typical responses to complex trauma,
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The waiting list for High Intensity varies from 6 - 12 months from assessment dependent upon the complexity of the client’s needs.
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The waiting list for Low Intensity, who are not a risk to self or others, varies from 2 - 4 months dependent upon the client’s availability.
Children and young people (one-to–one) on any issue
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All children and young people will be triaged for assessment.
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The waiting list for under 17s is approximately 6 months after assessment
In family groups and for Couples
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On relationship skills and on managing shared trauma e.g. sexual abuse or suicide
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We charge £30 per hour to families who wish to attend family counselling.
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We receive around 350 new referrals a year, and many of our clients have extremely complex mental health needs, including having survived childhood abuse, adult domestic violence and having symptoms of attachment difficulties, PTSD, personality disorder and other conditions which can complicate their lives.
Through counselling the client can address historical traumas, the way they see themselves and relationships, and deal with ongoing difficulties in their lives. Clients work through a lifetime of abuse or dysfunction to develop new coping mechanisms, increased confidence and renewed self-belief. Counselling also empowers the client to develop the skills to overcome obstacles they may encounter in the future, and to end abusive relationships.
This is often long term work, especially for children, who may still be having contact with a parent who has in the past been violent. Our therapies allow child, or adult, to work through their past trauma, deal with difficulties in daily life and find healthier ways of living and being in the future.
In 2017 of the young people we worked with 31% of under 18s had self-harmed, and 41% had expressed suicidal thoughts, with 9% considered high risk of suicide. 25% of children and young people attending are Neuro-atypical.
What difference do we hope to make?
REDUCE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS.
NICE guidelines suggest 50% of people will recover from depression and anxiety within 10 sessions.
I At Open Minds 86% of adults and 97% of under 17s improved their psychological well-being.
REDUCE TRAUMA/IMPACT OF ABUSE.
Nationally 1 in 3 adult mental health conditions relate to childhood trauma. In 2014 Johns Hopkins University found that talking therapies reduced long-term risk of suicide by 26%.
Open Minds works to build the adult or child client’s resilience, access their inner strengths and resources and help them develop healthy relationships to help them grow. 94% of Open Minds’ child clients and 90% of adult clients reduced their suicidal thinking.
REDUCE ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Open Minds provide therapy to survivors of abuse, and also separately to perpetrators of aggression.
Therapy for survivors of abuse helps them to recognise and understand symptoms of PTSD such as flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, rage, panic attacks and difficulties feeling safe and being able to trust in other relationships. Survivors learn through therapy that they are good enough, that they did not deserve the treatment they experienced, and teaches them that they can be valued and respected, and treated well.
Therapy to perpetrators helps to improve their relationships, manage their anger and impulsiveness and reduce the risk of harm they present to other people.
In 2017 45% of adults and children on Open Minds' waiting list were perpetrators or victims of Domestic Violence, and were referred to our unique counselling which incorporates anger-management therapy to reduce domestic violence by exploring trauma to then resolve dysfunctional thinking, disproportionate feelings and destructive behaviours. Aggression was reduced in 91% of Open Minds' adult and 96% of our child clients.
REDUCE EXCLUSION FROM SERVICES
through accessible, affordable counselling and support.
Nationally mental ill-health is the primary reason for claiming health related benefits.
Doncaster is in the 10% most deprived areas in England, with extensive long term physical and mental illness.
We do not exclude people by ability to pay; only 35% of children attending Open Minds had a parent in work and 40% of families cannot pay, with all of those who do, paying £5 or less per session.
BUILD CONNECTIONS AND INCREASE SKILLS LOCALLY
Open Minds have supported 140 counsellors through placements, mentoring and training since 2007. Many continue to volunteer with us after qualification. The network of Open Minds current and former therapists means we can share opportunities and knowledge more effectively and build on our, and their strengths.
This also gives Open Minds a resource of more therapists than a typical service, increasing our capacity.