Overview

Swansea Counselling Service (SCS) is a voluntary organisation established in the 1980s to provide counselling in the Swansea area for people who otherwise could not afford private practice rates. It is staffed by qualified counsellors and student counsellors. 

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Counselling

Many people experience difficulties with the problems of living at some time in their lives and some issues can appear overwhelming.  A personal or family crisis, an experience of illness or family bereavement, a change in work or domestic situation, may bring periods of stress and uncertainty. The reasons people seek counselling are as varied as the individuals themselves and it can feel more beneficial to share our feelings with someone other than a family member or a friend.

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SCS offers counselling for a variety of reasons, such as unhappiness, loneliness, anxiety or depression. SCS can help with grief, loss, problems at work, difficulties with relationships or lack of self-worth, for example. 

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Our counsellors offer counselling in a range of integrative approaches, such as Person-Centred, Humanistic, Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Counselling is confidential and is always at the client’s pace to avoid causing any further trauma.
 

Counsellors

All our counsellors are members of professional counselling organisations, such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling Society (NCS) and all receive professional supervision for their work.  

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SCS adheres to the guidance of the Information Commissioner’s Office: https://ico.org.uk and any personal information held complies with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) Act 2018.

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Cost

SCS is a non-profit making organisation. Our counsellors provide therapy on a voluntary basis and receive no payment for their time or expenses. However, the service does have expenses and we are totally dependent on the financial contribution our clients make towards their counselling, which is in the form of a donation. All donations will go towards the rental cost of the rooms, telephone expenses and supervision.  Donations are received prior, or during, a session in cash or by bank transfer (BACS).  

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The required donation per session is a low rate and for clients who have a limited income. For example, if you are unemployed, a student, retired or are working and in receipt of certain benefits, such as Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit.

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How to access counselling

We offer our service to anyone who lives in Swansea and is 18 years or older, regardless of outlook, religious persuasion, nationality or sexual orientation.

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Individuals may refer themselves and can contact SCS for an appointment.  After an initial referral, one of our counsellors will contact you to arrange a suitable time.  Sessions last for 50 minutes and take place in our counselling centre in Swansea (or by other means such as telephone or online) usually on a weekly basis. 

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Sessions can continue for six weeks, and if deemed beneficial, for a longer period. The aim is to review progress at six weekly intervals.

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Confidentiality and Boundaries

Confidentiality is at the heart of the counselling relationship and SCS is totally committed to this. There are very few circumstances when confidentiality would not apply and these will be explained at the first session.

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Complaints or Feedback

In the first instance, please discuss any issues with your counsellor. Any further discussions would then be directed to the SCS Secretary, before being dealt with by the Supervisor at SCS.