Counselling

A counselling service is available at the practice. Referrals to this service are made by your GP.

The practice has a part-time counsellor who offers short-term counselling to help people deal with a wide range of mild to moderate psychological problems.

The issues that our counsellor may be able to help with include:

- Anger
- Anxiety
- Abuse (emotional, physical and sexual),
- Bereavement
- Depression
- Relationship problems
- Self esteem problems.

The service offers up to six appointments, usually on a fortnightly basis. If by the end of this period further work is needed the counsellor will endeavour to help people access other local services that can offer longer term support.

Access to the service is by referral from a member of the primary health care team, usually a GP.

Due to high demand the average waiting time is approximately 16 weeks although the counsellor will prioritise urgent referrals.

If you have a preference regarding whether you see a male or female therapist please discuss this with the person referring you.

As part of its commitment to training, and to increase capacity, the service offers placements to counsellors in training, with the trainees responding to some of the referrals.

Sessions are held in English only so a reasonable command of the language is necessary.

What is Counselling?

Counselling is a process in which a trained professional can help you to understand and deal with difficult emotions that you may be experiencing. These can be linked with previous difficult life experiences. People often seek counselling when they are going through challenging times in their lives. You may be feeling low or facing difficult choices or be anxious, depressed or stressed. The counsellor can help you make sense of what is happening and try to help you to find ways of dealing with the difficult emotions.

The counsellor will offer a safe place for you to explore your difficulties and help you to look at any changes that you might need to make. The counsellor won’t be able to give you all the answers but may help you to find the solution most appropriate to you.

Counselling can be a painful process as it can entail revisiting difficult previous emotional events of your life.

How often?

Usually people will have a 45-50 minute appointment once a fortnight, for six sessions. You can agree with your counsellor at your first appointment how often you would like to see them and for how many weeks. If it seems that you need longer-term work the counsellor will try to help you to access other local services who can offer this. If, after meeting your counsellor, you decide that you do not wish to go ahead with counselling, please let us know so your appointments can be offered to someone else.

N.B You must be a patient at the Muirhouse Medical Group to access this service.