Dementia Support Line
Counselling for people with dementia and their families.
Because we know it’s good to talk about the things that are troubling us, Dementia Jersey provides a bespoke counselling service for people with dementia and their families.
What is counselling?
Counselling is a talking therapy that gives you the opportunity to talk in confidence with a trained professional who can help you explore your feelings, thoughts, or worries. This can help you find greater clarity in complicated situations, understand your feelings in response to these situations and help you make effective changes to feel stronger for the future.
What is counselling like?
Counsellors work with people in various ways so even if you have had counselling in the past with another counsellor in another service, our counselling service may be a little different. This is because it was designed particularly to meet the needs of people with dementia and family carers.
Our counselling service is very flexible. You can see a counsellor for just one session, or for several sessions over several weeks or months and you don’t need to be referred to this service by a GP or other health professional. Sessions are usually about an hour long, but each session can be shorter or slightly longer if this is better for you.
People usually want to speak confidentially, in private with a counsellor, but we also welcome couples and families who want to attend together to talk about issues that are affecting their whole family.
In counselling you will never be asked to talk about things you do not want to discuss, though the counsellor will be able to support you in exploring difficult life events, or thoughts and feelings that are troubling, or stir up strong emotional responses.
Who is this service for?
This service is for anyone who is affected by dementia, including people with dementia living at home or in a care home, their families and friends, and people who are bereaved following the death of someone with dementia.
How can I find out more about counselling?
You can find out more about Dementia Jersey’s counselling service by visiting our website www.dementia.je or about counselling more generally by visiting www.bacp.co.uk.
Where and when would I see a counsellor?
You should be able to see a counsellor within one or two weeks of contacting us. Appointments can be made for a time to suit you, either at our office in St Helier, or if it is not possible for you to come to our office, we can in certain circumstances, visit you at home or in a care home.
How much does this cost?
There is no charge for the counselling service, though if you would like to make a donation to help support the work we do, this would be very welcome.
How do I arrange to see a counsellor?
To make an appointment to see a counsellor, please phone or email us at Dementia Jersey.
Phone: 01534 723519
Email: info@dementia.je
What people have said about the counselling service at Dementia Jersey
“Thank you for your wonderful professional support. Your office is a lovely sanctuary.”
“Without this service I would have floundered long ago.”
“I left with raised hopes for the future, and this is the first time in months I don’t feel fearful or isolated. I know there will be challenges ahead, but I feel more confident that I will be able to learn how to cope and I don’t doubt my abilities so much now. Thank you.”
“It’s the one time in the week that’s just for me. To sit down and have someone to listen is so precious.”