About Somerset Counselling Centre
SCC specialises in providing therapeutic counselling services and also in training counsellors to professional standards.
The SCC counselling service has been accredited by BACP since 2003 and SCC has also been affiliated to the wpf Therapy national network of counselling centres since 1996.
The Centre was founded in 1990 to provide an accessible psychodynamic counselling service for those with a limited income in the Taunton community. We now offer both long-term/ongoing work and brief/time-limited work (6 to 12 weeks) and some counsellors are also trained in CBT, EMDR, Couple counselling, Parent Support work and counselling with Young People. We also provide an Employee Welfare Service.
Counselling is provided by counsellors at various stages of their career from senior trainees to BACP accredited counsellors. There are now over 20 counsellors working at SCC and over 80 clients per week are using the counselling service. All counselling work is regularly supervised and a high standard of professionalism is maintained through adherence to the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Overseeing the work of SCC we have a board of trustees with special interests that link the centre to the local community.
There are opportunities for professional development and further training available at the Centre and within the Westminster Pastoral Foundation network.
Counselling information
Psychodynamic counselling aims to assist people in understanding how past experiences and current behaviour may be connected. By exploring unconscious patterns, the approach seeks to increase clients’ self-awareness and understanding of how past relationships and events are influencing present thoughts, behaviours and conflicts.
Some of our counsellors are also trained in CBT, EMDR and solution focused therapy. This will usually be shorter term work.
All counselling offers a confidential and supportive service and the opportunity for change.
Individual counselling
Regular sessions are arranged, usually once weekly, and these sessions last 50 minutes. Counselling may take place for a few weeks or may be extended over a much longer period of time and this can be discussed with your counsellor.
Couple Counselling
Difficulties in communication, jealousy, intimacy or bereavement all bring additional stress to relationships. Sessions usually last an hour and regularity depends on the circumstances. Couple work is usually shorter term work.
Arrangements
Following contact with SCC an initial session is arranged to talk over the problems and the reasons for coming to counselling. This is an important meeting as it gives the opportunity to consider what kind of help is required and whether the service we offer can provide that help for you.
Venues
As well as our rooms at Belvedere Road in Taunton, we provide counselling at other venues in Somerset, including Bridgwater and Ilminster.
Counselling for Young People
We are redeveloping our ‘Space for You’ counselling service for young people. Please contact SCC to ask about this service.
Parent Support
We are setting up a Parent Support counselling service. Please contact SCC for more information.
Individual Counselling
How can counselling help?
Counselling can help if you are:
- Suffering from anxiety, panic attacks or depression
- Feeling confused and unable to cope or lacking in confidence
- Having difficulties within personal or family relationships
- Experiencing any kind of loss, bereavement or trauma
- Facing a problem which is hard to talk about or resolve
- Experiencing stress or problems related to your work
We provide a safe place to talk to a skilled counsellor, who will listen and help you understand how past experiences, worries about the future, or lack of self-confidence may be affecting your life. Counselling will help you explore the way you think and act, to see how you may be repeating patterns of behaviour and thinking that are not helpful to you and to explore the way you deal with relationships and conflict
You can bring thoughts and feelings, which you may not feel able to share with friends or family. You are free to talk safely, without fear of rejection, criticism or blame. Your counsellor will not tell you what to do, but will help you to make your own choices and make changes in your life that offer greater freedom in thought and action.
Is counselling confidential?
Any personal information you give to a counsellor is treated in the strictest confidence unless it reveals significant risk to yourself or to other people, in which case we may have to notify a relevant authority. No information will be passed on to another agency without your permission, unless in exceptional circumstances, for example, the requirements of a court of law. If you have any concerns at all about this, please discuss them at the initial interview.
How long does it take?
We will work with you to decide what is most appropriate. This may be counselling over an open-ended period of time or time-limited focused counselling for an agreed number of weeks. Most clients attend once weekly.
Starting counselling
On contacting the Service you will be send an information pack and a brief questionnaire. When you return these with the deposit (£15) we will contact you to arrange an initial assessment at one of our venues which is most convenient to you. Please note that we operate an ‘appointment only’ system and that we cannot offer a ‘drop in’ service.
The initial assessment
We work hard to ensure we do not have a waiting list; assessment interviews are usually carried out within a week of receiving your deposit. The assessor will explore with you the reasons you are seeking counselling and will assess your needs and whether the services we offer can help you.
After the assessment
Following the assessment, arrangements can be made for regular weekly counselling sessions; ongoing session last 50 minutes. We aim to start your counselling as soon as possible and you can help speed things up by being as flexible as possible about the times you can come for counselling. Please note that evening sessions are often in great demand.
Couples and relationships
Some couples who separate never fully discuss what happened to their relationship; a relationship which started with much love and hope for the future. Like all individual people, relationships change and develop through the years; events outside the relationship, such as the death of parents, growing children or work problems can also affect the relationship dynamic and bring about changes.
Difficult may show in terms of unacceptable behaviour, lack of understanding, isolation or a breakdown in communication. It is not easy to look at painful or traumatic areas, to cope with conflict or to struggle with differing needs at different times in a relationship. Many turn to family or friends which can be helpful and supportive initially. However, these people may be too close to help improve the situation, particularly over intimate issues. Sometimes it can be helpful to seek professional help.
Couple counselling will help you to understand yourself and your partner better and also help you to be more aware of the origins of your relationship difficulties and how to address these now. Counsellors are not there to take sides, but we are there to help you work on your relationship together.
Who is it for?
Relationship counselling is open to all. Our confidential service can help you deal with your relationship difficulties whether you are married, living together, in a same-sex relationship, separated or divorced.
Do I have to be referred?
No, you can contact SCC directly.
Do the counsellors have special training?
Yes, we have a team of experienced counsellors who have undergone additional training to work with couples and relationship issues.
Starting counselling
On contacting the Service you will be send an information pack and a brief questionnaire. When you return these with the deposit we will contact you to arrange an initial assessment at our premises in Taunton. Please note that we operate an ‘appointment only’ system and that we cannot offer a ‘drop in’ service.
The initial assessment
The initial interview will be with a counsellor who will explore with you the problems and will assess your needs and whether the service we offer can help you.
After the assessment
Following the assessment, arrangements can be made for regular ongoing counselling sessions. We aim to start your counselling as soon as possible and you can help speed things up by being as flexible as possible about the times you can come for counselling. Please note that evening sessions are often in great demand.