Counselling for carers
Generally speaking, as a carer you do not have a choice as to whether or not you take on caring responsibilities. However willingly you take on a caring role you will probably find yourself having to give up certain things in your life — your job, perhaps, hobbies, time with your friends, time on your own.
You may also find the relationship you have with the person you care for changes in ways you didn't expect and those changes can be difficult to handle.
More changes will have to be faced when your caring situation comes to an end — how do you adjust to yet another role; how do you pick up where you left off before you became a carer?
Time to Talk
As a carer you can easily become very isolated. Opportunities to talk through your anxieties and frustrations don't often happen. Time to Talk offers the chance to regularly talk things over with a trained counsellor who has an understanding of the difficulties and problems with which carers have to live.
Counselling is not about giving advice, neither is it about giving you a magic wand with which to wave away your troubles — if only it were that easy. It is about giving you a safe space and an understanding ear to help you explore ways of working through the anxieties and difficult feelings that can arise when you are a carer.
What am I committing to?
Sessions are held once a week, on Fridays between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm, and each session lasts for 50 minutes. Counselling is available for a maximum of 24 sessions which you will be expected to complete within an eightmonth period. There is no charge but you will be expected to make a commitment to attending the sessions.
Financial help to pay for sitters and transport is available. Please note that if you miss your first two sessions you will be asked to go back onto the waiting list.
For more information contact Claire Wheeler on 020 7388 5422.
Funded by Camden Council.
