Thank You for Taking Part in the Counselling Services Conversation

Thank you to everyone who joined our July LVET Members Meeting! It was great to see you all.

This month’s discussion explored counselling and wellbeing support across Lincolnshire, highlighting the wide range of support available to children, young people, adults and families.

We heard from our two speakers: Emma Conway from NW Counselling Hub (slides are available here) and Michaela Ardley from the Lincolnshire Centre for Grief and Loss. They shared the support they both provide, including counselling for children, young people, adults and families, bereavement and anticipatory grief support, trauma and domestic abuse counselling, and workplace counselling. Thank you for coming along and sharing what you do.

We also heard from some of our other members:

• Jo White from St Barnabas Hospice, who deliver free, compassionate end-of-life care and support (including counselling) to people over the age of 18, their families and carers across Lincolnshire.
• Kay Lee from The Butterfly Hospice Trust, who provide palliative care and holistic support to patients and their families for those over 18 and live in South and East Lincolnshire.
• Mike Burrow from Inspired Equine Assisted Learning, who shared how equine-assisted wellbeing work can be an alternative to some therapies and the powerful influence that horses can have on people due to their honest and calming nature.  Get in touch with Mike to find out more: info@inspired-eal.co.uk.
• Jo Thompson from The Wellness Network has a cohort of their Mind and Body Programme for anybody who works in VCFSE organisations in Lincolnshire.  Only a few spaces left, so do get in touch with Jo to find out more: info@thewellnessnetwork.co.uk.
• Cheryl Turner from Clear Quality, who deliver apprenticeships and helps businesses solve workforce challenges, and offer a Level 3 Counselling Course.  Do get in touch with Cheryl (cheryl.turner@clearquality.co.uk) to find out more about their other courses too such as developing managers and introducing AI into the workplace.

The conversation also explored some of the challenges facing organisations, including growing demand, workforce capacity, waiting lists and the need to keep support accessible and affordable.  Members shared ideas around collaboration, placements, safeguarding and how we can work together to help people access the support at the right time.