SWCTS is a unique service offering FREE counselling/therapy to women in Sheffield. We get many enquiries and, as a small charity with limited funding and a small number of staff, there is always a waiting list for our service. This means you could be waiting up to, and sometimes more than, 6 months for a first assessment appointment. Assessments are usually carried out over two sessions, though occasionally it takes longer. In the assessment sessions you meet with one of our therapists to find out if SWCTS is the right service to support you. If it's agreed between you and the therapist that we can support you, and you're ready to commit to weekly therapy, your name will be added to the waiting list to start therapy. We aim to offer a start date for therapy within 8 weeks of your assessment.
We understand that, once you've made the decision to go for counselling, it's hard to have to wait a long time. We keep in touch with everyone on the waiting list regularly, sending out our newsletters, or contacting you with details of any group sessions we may be running. We have run a series of group sessions – the ‘Managing Life Better’ group – which we invite women on the waiting list to attend. It isn't group therapy but a practical, skills-based approach to help you feel more in control, more able to relax, and to find ways to deal with stress. Feedback from the women who have attended has been very positive.
It's also very important for women on the waiting list to contact us if they move or change any of their contact details – if we send letters etc to an old address, you may miss out on an appointment offer.