First of its kind - Private Counselling service for people with Learning Difficulties to be launched in Taunton

First of its kind - Private Counselling service for people with  Learning Difficulties to be launched in Taunton

According to the ‘Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities’, between 25-40% of people with LD also suffer from mental health problems. With this in mind local Community Interest Company,  Community Life Design CIC have launched a counselling service specifically for people with learning disabilities in Somerset for over 18s. Becky Wright, Service Manager said, “ Someone who has learning disabilities or learning difficulties (LD) may find it hard to learn things in a straight forwards way as the brain is not able to receive and process information in the same way as others.  In Somerset the current provision for specialist counselling support is patchy at best and we wanted to offer a private alternative to the existing NHS offering.'

LD Clients in Somerset currently have two options for counselling in Somerset:

• NHS counselling (specific services for those with LD, follows a referral & waiting list)
• Other support services which provide a range of support, for example social skills, but not specific counselling.
  

First for Somerset - This is the first private counselling service delivered by a community interest company specific to this client groups needs. The service will initially be delivered at The Conquest Centre at Norton Fitzwarren, which offers both indoors and outdoors as an eco-therapy mode.  Session times will be around an hour costing £45.  Personal budget money could be used only be used for therapy if a need for therapy has been identified in the clients plan. It would need to be clear whether this was a social care need (paid for out of Personal Budget) or a healthcare need (paid for out of Personal Health Budget).   

Counselling can help deal with issues such as Abuse, Anger, Anxiety, Bereavement, Bullying, Depression, Fear, Family issues, Low self-confidence,  Low self-esteem,  Relationship issues, Self harm and Stress.