QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT COUNSELLING
What happens at a Counselling Session?
You will always see the same Counsellor. With them, you will explore your feelings and expectations in a safe and confidential environment.
How long do sessions last & how often will we have to come?
Each session will last about an hour. You may need only one appointment, but about six is the average.
How can Counselling help us?
Working with a Counsellor gives you, and your partner a chance to think about what you can do to change your situation for the better.
It can help you communicate more effectively with your partner and other family members.
Counselling can put things into perspective, help you learn how to deal with difficult situations and restore balance to your family life.
Counselling helps you to take time out from your situation and see it from a fresh perspective.
Counselling can give you an opportunity to explore complex and difficult issues that may seem overwhelming and too much to cope with on your own.
What if we decide to split up anyway?
Counselling can help you understand what has happened. It can make it possible to move forward at the end of a relationship, and so help you make better relationships in the future.
If you have children you can gain a better understanding of your continuing joint roles as parents.
What about the effects on our children?
Children are always affected by their parents relationship difficulties. About a third of all calls to Childline are from children with worries about their parents.
Problems resulting from family breakdown are caused when relationships end with hostility, without talking through the situation.
People often need help and support to manage the process of family change. Click here for more information of how Family Mediation Scotland may help, if a relationship does end.
"Successful healthy relationships are essential for fulfilling stress-free lives"
Other sources of information and help for individuals, couples and their families are listed below:
Local Groups
Family Mediation Scotland
Oban 01631 570101
www.familymediationscotland.org.uk
Argyll & Bute Women's Aid
Helpline 0870 2413548
www.scottishwomensaid.co.uk/argyllandbute.html
Encompass
(formerly Oban Council for Alcohol & Drugs)
01631 566090
National Groups
Relate Scotland: Our National Body www.relatescotland.org.uk
Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline
0800 027 1234
Step Family Scotland
Helpline: 0845 122 8655
www.stepfamilyscotland.org.uk
One Parent Families Scotland
Lone Parent Helpline
0800 018 5026
www.opfs.org.uk
BACP British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy - The UK's professional membership association for Counsellors
www.bacp.co.uk
COSCA "The Confederation of Scottish Counselling Agencies" Promotes and supports good practice and is the National Professional Organisation for Counsellors in Scotland. www.cosca.org.uk
BASRT British Association of Sexual relationship Therapy www.basrt.org.uk
Contact us on info@relateargyll.org.uk for information about our service.
Your email will be dealt with by our office staff and not a Counsellor. We cannot offer any relationship advice by email. Appointments to speak to a Counsellor can only be made via our confidential telephone service.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful for support of the North British Hotel Trust and the Co-Op Dividend Fund for the development and running of this website.
Other key funders who helped us run our services in 2007 are Argyll & Bute Council
Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland