Cancer Counselling Trust - Cancer Counselling Service

Many of your questions may be answered below. If not, feel free to call us at 020 7843 2292 or email [email protected]

Where will counselling take place?

We see clients at Edward House, 2 Wakley Street, London, EC1V 7LT. This is about 5 minutes walk from Angel station on the Northern Line, City Branch.

Our telephone counselling service is available for anyone who cannot get to our centre. This means that we can offer support no matter where you live.

Will you make home visits?

We do not normally offer home visits, but we can arrange that you have counselling on the telephone with one of our counsellors.

How many sessions do you offer?

We offer up to nine sessions.

How much does it cost?

In order to make the service accessible to all, we offer the service free of charge. However, we do very much hope that those able to make a contribution towards their counselling will do so. A suggested contribution might be £1/£1000 of income/session, so if your income is £20,000, then £20 per session would be a reasonable donation. We do want to make it clear that for those unable to make a contribution, the service is free of charge.

Are your counsellors experienced in working with cancer issues and how qualified are they?

All the counsellors and psychotherapists have trained in British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or UK Council of Psychotherapy (UKCP) recognised courses, and are registered with either the BACP or the UKCP. Before setting up The Cancer Counselling Trust, they had all worked for a number of years as a team in the counselling service of a well-known cancer charity, providing counselling for people whose lives are affected by cancer.

How will it help me?

In our experience, many people faced with a cancer diagnosis find it very helpful to be able to talk about how they are really feeling to someone who is not trying to jolly them along. They can talk freely without the need to "protect" those close to them for fear of causing upset or worry.

Similarly, relatives and friends can explore their concerns and anxieties openly without needing to shield the person who is ill.

Counselling can give you the space to think about what it is you need to communicate and how to do that. It can help you say things that are difficult and to understand better what your needs are. It can help those who have been bereaved to talk about their grief.

Can I refer someone to you?

It is always at the request of the client. You can tell someone about our service, but we ask that the person looking for counselling call us him or herself. That way we can be sure that we offer what the person wants.

What is counselling?

Counselling is a private and confidential meeting to explore difficulties you are having. Your counsellor will be supportive but will not give advice, or tell you what to do. It can be an opportunity to talk about painful and difficult feelings. It's a chance to talk in an open way, without being judged, or having to worry about what someone will feel about what you say. A counsellor can help you to use your own inner resources to approach your problems with a clearer understanding.

Is it confidential?

Within agreed boundaries designed to ensure the welfare and safety of individuals, what is discussed will be confidential within the service. Your counsellor will discuss the confidentiality policy with you in your assessment session.

How do I make an appointment?

Call our office on 020 7843 2292. If there is no one in the office, or we are on another call, there is an answerphone, and you can leave your name and number and we will call you back. We will aim to return your call within 24 hours.

Why cancer counselling?

Research shows that counselling can play a significant part in helping individuals and families face and meet the many challenges implicit in a cancer diagnosis, and so improve their quality of life.

Our clients tell us that the short-term focused therapy practised by the counsellors and psychotherapists at The Cancer Counselling Trust has helped them to deal better with their emotional issues, and to gain support both from better communication with health professionals and more satisfactory interpersonal relationships with their families and friends.

Are there common feelings that people often experience when they have been diagnosed with cancer?

Yes, we have a number of articles giving first hand accounts on the emotional aspects of a cancer diagnosis.

The Cancer Counselling Trust offers a series of free, confidential sessions, both face to face and over the phone to anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis. You do not need a doctorâ€™s referral and we try to keep waiting times to a minimum.

To enquire about counselling please call us on 020 7843 2292 and talk to the counselling co-ordinator to see how we may be able to help.