The Listening Centre was founded in 1993 with the aim of providing a drop-in counselling service for the residents of Blackbird Leys, one of Oxfordshire’s most deprived areas. We work to support individuals who have experienced challenges to their mental wellbeing to find purpose, meaning and connection again.
It is difficult to exactly quantify the difference good counselling has in people’s lives, as it can appear in so many different ways! Many people report weeks, months or years later that it was the best thing they’ve ever done, and its impact can show up for them in various forms such as changing careers, starting a new hobby or forming new relationships. We have many wonderful quotes from ex-clients, which I think say it best:
“I can’t express how grateful I am for the affordable counselling services at The Listening Centre. When I was going through a tough time, I didn’t think I could afford help. The compassionate and skilled counsellors here changed my life. They made therapy accessible, and I’m in a much better place now.”
With the £1,000 grant from the Beer-Harris Memorial Trust we have been able to offer counselling to adults in Oxfordshire who would not otherwise have been able to afford it. The money has funded four clients in being able to receive counselling at a cost of £10 per session for twenty-six sessions. This has allowed them to have the chance to develop a trusting relationship with their counsellor and explore some of the areas of their life they have felt stuck in, and finding ways to unlock their natural wellness and vitality, bringing them back to a place of peace and acceptance.
Many clients feel hopeless or like nothing can change when they are experiencing depression or anxiety. Many have been to their GP or researched private therapists, and so for these clients it is truly miraculous when they find The Listening Centre and start their journey towards health with mid-term counselling at a price they can afford. It is truly thanks to the Beer-Harris Memorial Trust that we have been able to offer this to clients who would not have otherwise been able to receive this support. The impact is life changing. Thank you.
Please visit their website if you would like to read more.
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