It feels difficult to have to wait, is there any help I can have immediately?
On the main menu
click on URGENT HELP for sources of support.
What will the service cost?
You
and your counsellor will have a confidential discussion at your first appointment about contributions to the cost of
sessions and agree what will suit your situation. Our policy includes providing sessions free of charge or by a contribution
at a level to suit individual circumstances.
If I can contribute to the cost of my
sessions, will I get an appointment more quickly?
No. NEECS was developed to provide access
to counselling for people in the locality whose income may not allow them to make the choice of using other counselling
services. Sessions free of charge are provided according to need and there is no fixed "quota" for
these.
How long will I have to wait?
Waiting times
for the Short Term Service are calculated regularly and you will be told the average current
waiting time. For up to date information on waiting times, click on WAITING LIST STATUS.
For
the Core Service we are not able to give accurate waiting times due to the varying length of time people
attend.
Are there evening appointments?
Yes. However, there is a high demand for these times and it is not always possible to meet all requests.
(Please see further information by clicking on WAITING LIST STATUS)
There is an additional wait involved, depending on the number of clients on the list requiring particular times.
Are there appointments during school/nursery hours?
Yes. (As above).
Do I have a choice about the counsellor I see?
If you have a preference about the gender of your
counsellor, let us know when you refer and your choice will be allocated.
If, after your first appointment,
you would like to see a different counsellor, you can request this and do not have to give a reason, although any feedback
you may wish to give is welcomed. We will do our best to offer you an alternative as soon as one is available.
With
the resources the service has, it is not practical for us to offer you a choice between particular counselling approaches
(eg. person-centred, gestalt, psychodynamic etc.). If you are looking for greater choice, information on finding
private counselling can be found by clicking on LINKS.
Can I put my partner's
name down for counselling?
You cannot put their name down as everyone who wishes to use the service
needs to refer themselves. If your partner does refer himself/herself, they will see a different counsellor from you.
Can couples be seen together?
Couple counselling is not currently available. Information
on finding this can be found by clicking on LINKS.
Can I use the core service
after I have had short term counselling?
Provided that the waiting list for the core service is open,
we can put you on it once you have completed your short term sessions.
Can I come back to the
Short Term Service after completing my sessions?
You can re-refer yourself after a period of six months
or anytime after that.
If I come back to use the service, can I see the same counsellor?
If
you are going to use the core service after having attended the short term service, it is usually necessary to see a different
counsellor. If you are returning to the same service as the one you previously used, it is usually possible to see the
same counsellor.
Is there a creche?
At present we unfortunately do not
have sufficient resources or space to provide this. However, we can discuss suitable appointment times which may suit
you; for example, during school or nursery hours.
Does the service have disabled access?
There
are five steps up from the pavement on Leith Walk to the door.
Once inside, all facilities are on one level.
If you are unable to physically access the premises, we will do our best to arrange for you to see a NEECS counsellor in an
alternative location and/or give you information on an alternative fully accessible service. Service information is
also available in large print.
I don't live in North East Edinburgh, are there other
services?
Click on LINKS for further information, including specialist services
and finding counsellors working in private practice.
