Adult 121s
Adult Counselling
Counselling can help lead to positive change with increased self-confidence, self-esteem and the ability to face the future.
Dorset Mind offers a topic-based person-centred approach to counselling for anyone experiencing mild to moderate day-to-day issues, that could be improved by talking to a counsellor.
Initially, we offer six sessions at a low cost, starting with a bookable initial assessment with the Counselling Team leader. This costs £20.
If you want to go ahead, having met with our Counselling Team Leader, they will signpost you to the most suitable counsellor.
The session fee with one of our Trainee Student Counsellors is £20 per session, or £30 a session with one of our Qualified Counsellors.
All counselling contributions go back into the charity to support our life-changing services.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Meet our counsellors:
Christine leads the Counselling Service, providing a range of subsidised counselling pathways for 121 counselling, for adults seeking counselling with Dorset Mind. Our on-line service, starts with an assessment with Christine, to ensure the service is the right service for you.
Cathy previously worked for an older person’s community mental health team. After retiring from the NHS, Cathy joined Dorset Mind as a volunteer. Her aim is to empower clients to make their own decisions on how to move forward.
Louise previously worked in a secondary school, gaining insight into a variety of life experiences. Louise believes the talking therapies provide a special kind of relationship. Providing a safe and confidential space to talk.
Chris previously worked for Dorset Mind as a befriender. Chris has personal experience of mental health challenges due to work-related stress. He believes counselling is an opportunity for self-exploration and encourages self-reflection as part of the journey to mental health recovery. Chris is an avid gamer passionate about new technology and incorporates this into sessions if clients share similar interests.
Lucy is a Dorset Mind Children and Young Peoples counsellor and has been with Dorset Mind since 2021. Lucy has a background of working with young people involved in children’s social care. Lucy’s passion is working with young people, to support them in understanding themselves and the world around them, providing the tools for them to empower themselves and to support them through their journey.
Karen is a qualified and experienced integrative counsellor working for Dorset Mind. She started working for Dorset Mind as a volunteer counselling children and young people and then moved to the adult service. She has extensive experience working with adults. Karen has a background working in both education and corporate settings. She is experienced in supporting adults who have experienced trauma and has studied the impact of trauma on the brain. Karen’s approach is empathic and inclusive, ensuring that every client feels seen, heard, and understood. She is passionate about creating a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their feelings, build resilience, and foster positive change.
Charlotte began her journey with Dorset Mind, raising money with donations from a Local Horse Show and proceeds of coffee mornings as a stallholder of textiles. She joined as a Volunteer Counsellor, having trained in Person-centred therapy, and offers empathic, safe and non-judgmental sessions, while supporting clients integratively with additional methods such as a mindfulness toolbox, to be goal-oriented. She's passionate about helping clients find their ability to help and heal themselves through the client counsellor relationship, and feel more positive about their futures.
Paul has volunteered with Dorset Mind as a befriender for the past two and a half years. His passion to use his person-Centered skills to support individuals in helping them achieve their desired goals has led him to pursue his career in counselling. He strongly believes that counselling offers a supportive environment where people are able to work through areas of their life that they wish to improve on and change to help them become the person they strive to be.
Tom is a trainee counsellor volunteering with Dorset Mind, committed to offering a calm, compassionate and non-judgemental space where people feel genuinely heard, valued and understood.
Counselling FAQs
Counselling can help lead to positive change with increased self-confidence, self-esteem and the ability to face the future. We understand that taking the first step to accessing counselling can be a big hurdle and we want to make it as easy as possible.
Counselling gives you the opportunity to talk about issues affecting your life in a safe and confidential environment.
It helps you to explore your thoughts and feelings in order to change behaviours and achieve your goals.
Everyone has ups and downs and for most of the time we cope with them. But on those occasions when we need help, a counsellor is someone who will:
- Actively listen without making judgement
- Maintain confidentiality
- They will not give advice or tell you what to do, but they will help you find your own answers, reflect and explore your feelings safely
Trusting, caring relationships are a core foundation of our mental wellbeing. If we feel safe, secure and valued we are much more likely to stay well and recover faster.
Our counsellors are caring and compassionate and will see you for a series of appointments, which can be weekly or fortnightly to suit your needs. You will be offered a range of sessions to improve your sense of wellbeing.
Everyone who completes our Referral form for our counselling service will be contacted by a member of our Counselling Team.
They will discuss your needs with you, and book in your initial assessment (at a cost of £15) at a time that suits you.
The initial assessment costs £20 and will be payable when booking a time to suit you.
During this assessment, our team member assessing you will talk you through the difference between our counsellors and which one will be most appropriate to work with you.
For example, if you present with mild to moderate mental health issues at assessment stage, you’ll have some degree of choice as to what level of counsellor you’ll see (depending on availability).
If you present with complex trauma/s, we will advise seeing a more experienced counsellor.
Payments must be made at least 24 hours prior to the session and can be made via bank transfer, credit card or PayPal. This will also be explained at assessment.
Our Counselling sessions run for 50 minutes, and the rates are as follows:
- £20 per session – with a Trainee Placement Counsellor (coming towards the end of their training)
- £30 per session – with a Qualified Counsellor (qualified and extending their training)
All counselling contribution go back into the charity to support our life-changing services.
Our counsellors are qualified to (at least), or working towards, a Diploma in Counselling (Level 4). They all work within their own ethical framework of the organisation of which they are a member, including the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling Society.
No, unfortunately we are not running a counselling service for under 18’s at this time.
Unfortunately, we don’t currently have any student placements to offer as we’re at capacity.
Please support our work
Dorset Mind is a self-funded local charity that helps people in Dorset experiencing mental health problems access the vital support they need. The charity is at the very heart of our communities shaping futures, changing and in some cases literally saving lives.
