Mental health service budgets 'cut by 8%' But we can still help you by offering affordable counselling

Mental health service budgets 'cut by 8%'

But we are still going strong regardless & offering affordable counselling

'Therapy for Life' has survived all along without funding or any aid from the government, and still able to offer affordable counselling for the public from as little as £15 per session on our scheme.

How do we do it? Our successful results bring back client after client through positive word-of-mouth. We are able to see clients within a week instead of long waiting lists, and our therapy is tailored to each client. We don't just use a single theory, we are integrated therapists and apply several theories to get the client to achieve their goals.

Successful companies like us are built on good feedback and results. That's how we survive inspite of the cuts that the NHS IAPT and MIND services suffer.
We are here and ready to help, why not come along and meet us. You'll be greeted with a warm friendly smile and offered something to suit your needs.

Client Testimonials:

"I have struggled with depression at various points in my life and have had anxiety as long as I can remember. I thought these were things I had to learn to live with.When it got really bad, I felt like there was nobody to help and no escape from my fears. It was a very frightening time. Luckily, I found Sam at Therapy for Life. Using CBT and other techniques, we talked through my worries and worked through my issues each week. She laid out a plan for me to do after each session and I felt empowered. My confidence grew and she gave lots of support and kindness. I was quickly back on my feet and I have got a brand new outlook on my life. It was a compelling and rewarding experience. I feel more in tune with myself and my confidence is here to stay. I am very glad I picked up the phone to her. I would highly recommend Therapy to Life and thank Sam for helping me feel free and happy."

Lucy from Southend-on-Sea

"On initially meeting Sam, you immediately realise why she is a counsellor. Being able to talk to someone knowing that they are truly listening is such an empowering experience. Sam shows such empathy and provides the perfect environment to be able to talk openly and honestly without the fear of being judged. Most of us at some time, for whatever reason, struggle to deal with certain issues and don’t quite know how to move forward. By seeing Sam and talking it through we worked together on coming up with a more positive way to deal with things. We owe it to ourselves to lead the happiest life possible. I would most definitely recommend Sam to anybody. You could not meet a kinder, more caring, genuine, trustworthy person. A truly positive experience. Thank you."

Keeley Smith from Essex


"Many thanks for the care, warmth and professionalism you have shown me over the last few months Sam. As I have said to you before, I am amazed at how much I have got out of the counselling sessions. I have a greater understanding of myself, feel more relaxed and able to manage life’s challenges better, which previously caused me a lot of anxiety - can’t thank you enough!"

Nicola Huggan from Essex

"I can honesty say therapy for life changed my life in every way As cliche as it may sound I feel like I've grown as a woman and person in mind and spirit. Sam was so welcoming and warm I felt comfortable and safe. Thank you is not enough I will be forever and eternally grateful."
Laurelle from Essex

"We found our counselling sessions really helpful and supportive. Sam was really lovely and made us feel at ease. Just having someone listen to our situation really helped us in our relationship. We would definitely recommend Sam and therapy for life for anyone who may have problems or struggling with life in general"
Claire and John from Southend-on-Sea

Source: BBC News

Stuck on a Waiting List? Can’t afford Counselling? Really need help?... Sessions from £15 on a new scheme

At Therapy for Life, we can now offer counselling that’s affordable for everyone in Southend-on-Sea.

If you don’t mind having treatment from recently qualified counsellors, or counsellors undergoing the last parts of training... we have found your solution!

Our counsellors are supervised and monitored and are up to date with all the latest techniques and skills in psychology.

For £15-£20 per hour, you will benefit from their expertise in a modern comfortable room. We are a friendly group of counsellors and you will be very welcomed.

Many people have negative preconceptions of therapy, if you’ve never been sure whether it would suit you, or you had a bad experience in therapy... This is your chance to give it a try with us for very little expenditure. You never know, you may really benefit...

We only have space for a few clients under this new scheme, so do contact us and book in as soon as possible... We will start running these sessions from September 2016.

You will be given an initial assessment on the phone with Sam, then your counsellor will communicate with you to arrange a suitable date and time.

Terms & Conditions:

• Cash is to be paid upfront at each session.
• Your attendance is expected unless you ring to cancel (early that morning at the latest if possible in emergencies).
• There will be a minimum charge of £12 if you fail 2 consecutive sessions or more without ringing to cancel (please cancel sessions ideally at least 24 hours before to avoid charges). These failure charges are put in place because room rent still needs to be paid whether the client turns up or not.
• If you fail to attend 2 or more sessions successively without ringing to cancel, or your attendance is very poor, your place could be given to someone else
• You are entitled to have an initial 6 sessions then a review to see if more are needed. You may have up to 12 sessions at this reduced fee, then the session fee goes up to the normal concessional rate at Therapy for Life if long term therapy is required.
• To qualify, you must prove that you are on Income Support, Benefits, Pension Credits or Job Seekers Allowance at your first session. If you are on a low wage and can prove it but don't receive benefits, you can still be entitled to the help, every case is considered.
• Your financial situation will determine your fee, our negotiation on fee relies on clients being honest about what they can truly afford, at the end of the day we'd rather you get the help you need, but understandably bills must still be paid at Therapy for Life. 

Contact Sam: sam.c@therapyforlife.co.uk/ 07546 917252

www.therapyforlife.co.uk

An Evening with Professor Windy Dryden

Please got to http://eepurl.com/b2-MBP to register your interest

Networking Evening Success

Thank you to all that attended our first networking evening last night, we had a group of around 20 turn up, luckily there was enough biscuits to go round (which is most important).

The great thing about these events is giving counsellors and therapists the opportunity to find work or placements, advertise their own events or courses and discover what's on that might be of interest to them.

This particular evening shed some light on what some of the more experienced counsellors felt was missing in the realms of support and connection locally...

It was put out there that there is a need for an online forum that delves into all aspects of mental health, primarily for local counsellors to benefit from, but also an access point for the public to ask questions and enquire from a large population of online counsellors. It would be the ideal site for counsellors to review courses, discuss ethical dilemmas, relay real life stories and experiences, advertise work, placements and volunteering roles, recommend certain services and find experts and specialists to refer to.

Therapy for Life will be looking into putting together such a site with advice and recommendations from our networkers, it would be beneficial to organise a brainstorming session with our web designer who can design the online forum for us.

We also discussed how so many of the interesting courses and CPD events always seem so far away and deter many of us in Essex from travelling there.

We shall look into this also, and utilise the conference rooms at Southend's University of Essex to run some interesting courses and hopefully get some guest speakers in.

So all in all a very productive evening, we shall run the next one in June, and see how we can really impact positively on mental health in Essex.

If you want to attend the next networking evening, just contact Sam at: sam.c@therapyforlife.net

www.therapyforlife.net

Incentive to encourage people's kindness to help friends with mental illness

Let’s face it... it’s uncomfortable for people to talk about Mental Health Issues. There is still a fear and stigma ingrained when discussing things like depression, anxiety, stress, grief, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. 

One of the ways we have started to reach out is through our clients. Many of us know someone who might be in need, finding life difficult to cope with or always seem stressed and find daily catastrophes ruining their lives.

"The pressures of life and the pressures we put on ourselves can be overwhelming, after all the biggest wall we will ever climb is the one we create in our minds".

At 'Therapy for Life', our clients at the end of therapy not only go away feeling good and have acquired new skills to cope with life, but their awareness has increased. Once their own problems become manageable, often their new heightened self-awareness abilities allow them to begin to empathise with others in difficulty.

We offer our clients a ‘Therapy for Life’ silicone wristband to wear with pride, to remember their own achievements during therapy, but also for when they recognise a fellow human being in need.

The idea is that they give their wristband to their suffering friend/colleague/family member who hears how 'Therapy for Life' can help. 

The suffering friend then contacts us and gains the help and support they need to head towards the life that they want.

As a reward, Therapy for Life sends a money gift of £30 to the referee for their kindness to another. It’s our way of saying ‘Well done, feel proud that you have helped someone’. It also encourages communication and connection within the community and begins to lift the stigmas around mental health issues replacing the fear with courage.

Terms and Conditions Apply*

If you or someone you know is distressed and not coping with life, contact Sam 07546 917252 or Jackie 07492 360357 at Therapy for Life.

At Therapy for Life, we are working towards encouraging communication and connection, relaying the importance of members of the public noticing a fellow human being in need, and then being brave enough to offer them help. This can go such a long way to improving lives and making a difference. Our aim is to support healthy lifestyles, aid people in getting back to work and to improve interaction within the community through working on client's setbacks in mental illness.

*Once the referred client has attended 3 sessions, the referee is then entitled to the reward and is contacted regarding the transfer.Client must have wristband and referees details.
Does not apply to concessions - see website

New additions to our Therapy Room

 Jackie and Laura getting stuck into the new sand tray (toys are coming soon)  

 New Book shelf for all things Psychological

 

Glass Cabinet to show off the 'Herbalife' goodies

 

More candles and Mindfulness aids with the addition of a deep thought Buddha

We are always trying to improve the environment in our office for our clients and counsellors.

The sand tray contains Kinetic Sand which has a different texture to normal sand enabling more of a building type characteristic for the clients. Toys will be added soon in a separate box containing figures and furniture.

We hope you like it!

Sam & Jackie

Therapy for Life

Herbalife

What is the best way to help the Homeless?

I spoke to my colleague and friend Peter Wyatt who has experience in dealing with the homeless. I asked him...

 “Is it kind to give the homeless food when you see them?” 

He explained the intention is good, but it saves them using what money they do get on food, so they invariably are able to spend it on alcohol or drugs instead. It’s best to give to the charities and shelters directly.

Of course, if you have the time, they could so greatly be helped with simply a listening ear and no judgement.

More info goo.gl/bvG1qM


If you or someone you know is in need of some counselling in the Southend-on-Sea area, don’t hesitate to contact me by clicking here... Take care, Sam

What is most beneficial: The Therapeutic Alliance or the treatment itself?

Research carried out by the University of Manchester and the University of Liverpool examined the psychological treatment of more than 300 people suffering from emotional disorders.

“A quality level of therapeutic alliance had a beneficial impact on wellbeing, but where the relationship was poor, the treatment could actually be damaging.”

It turns out that the most important part of therapy is the rapport between client and counsellor.

The quality in the treatment from the counsellor had by far the biggest positive effect on the client’s improvement over any Cognitive Behavioural or Transactional Analysis techniques.

“all types of psychotherapy, even though often appearing to be very different from each other, are equally beneficial to patients.”  Says Lucy Goldsmith, a PhD candidate from The University of Manchester’s Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health.

“Groups who received a psychosocial treatment fared much better than those offered only medication and usual care.”

(L. P. Goldsmith et al., 2015) http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S003329171500032X

A good therapeutic relationship relies on trust, respect and honesty, along with a good empathic ability from the therapist. The environment must feel safe and non judgmental for success in achieving the client’s goals.

If you or someone you know are in need of some counselling in or around the Southend-on-Sea area, don’t hesitate to contact me by clicking here

Take care, Sam