Counselling Service

Some rehabilitation centres will have a counselling psychologist or Nurse Counsellor on their staff. Where the centre does not have a counsellor on their staff they will have access to the counselling service will be provided by the PCT they are part of.

This service is available to individuals and their carers who are about to undergo or have undergone amputation surgery. It is also available for parents of children born with congenital limb deficiencies or limb absence.

The counselling service provides you with the opportunity to talk privately and confidentially about your feelings and experiences in a way that might not be possible with friends and family. Counsellors are trained to listen and help you find your own solutions to any difficult ties you may be experiencing. The counsellor will not give you the answer, but they will help you make sense of what is happening to you and help you to make positive decisions for yourself.

CONFIDENTIALITY
It can be a great relief to be able to share your fears in the knowledge that what you say will not he repeated without your consent or agreement.

Counselling Sessions
Usually take place on a weekly basis to begin with and last for 40 minutes to an hour. The number of sessions you require will be decided between yourself and the counsellor. Some counsellors only work with referrals from the centre they are based at while others will make hospital visits and home visits. This will depend on the set up and your personal circumstances. Most counselling services will accept self-referrals as well as referrals form members of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team.