GP Service

Primary Care Counselling Service

Sunderland Counselling Services provide counselling from a number of GP surgeries across the Sunderland area for patients of qualifying GP practices.

This arrangement provides us with the opportunity to offer the general public easy access to counselling across the city.

The Primary Care Counselling Service is a Time Limited service which offers clients up to 10 counselling sessions. Because of the time limited structure this type of counselling is best suited to individuals who have one main presenting issue and who are:

  • Capable of formulating their problems in a reasonable way
  • Motivated to change
  • Ability to feel emotion
  • Ability to engage with counsellor from 1st session


Time limited counselling is most appropriate for individuals experiencing:

  • Non complicated bereavement
  • Relationship difficulties
  • Divorce
  • Separation
  • Work problems
  • Mild/Moderate depression
  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Trauma
  • Self esteem issues
  • Loss of confidence


In exceptional circumstances extra sessions may be possible with the agreement of the Clinical Supervisor.
Time limited counselling is not suitable for those experiencing major depression or who have issues surrounding addiction.

This service is not suitable for individuals who may be likely to attend counselling when under the influence of drugs or alcohol or likely to behave in an aggressive or threatening manner to any member of staff.

Referrals


Individuals aged 18 years and over can access the service provided they are patients of a qualifying GP practice. Referrals will be accepted from GPs and other staff working within in a primary care setting. Self referrals will also be accepted by telephone from those who have previously spoken to their GP regarding their suitability for this type of counselling.

Referrals should be sent to:

Sunderland Counselling Services
36 West Sunniside,
Sunderland SR1 1BU
Tel: 0191 5147007

Fax: 0191 565 8127


After a referral is received – the client will be contacted and a telephone assessment will be completed by a qualified counsellor to assess the suitability of the referral and identify any risk factors.

Clients may be referred on to a more appropriate agency at this point. This process is intended to reduce waiting times and offer the client the most beneficial treatment option available to them.

A face to face assessment will be completed prior to the commencement of counselling.

GP’s will be informed of the clients’ counselling attendance or referral pathway.

The counselling team associated with this project are not a crisis team or a replacement for CPN’s. They do not carry out home visits and don’t provide a ‘drop in’ service.

The service works within both the Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children procedural framework.