The
Olive Branch
Christian Counselling Service
Olive Branch
Christian Counselling Service
V1u0 - News
Training Workshops
All our counsellors take their continuing professional development seriously and we benefit from the wide range of expertise they develop. Several years ago we introduced our own regular training workshops and have been pleased to invite counsellors from other agencies and those involved in pastoral care to join us for these events. Recent workshops have included one on bereavement counselling and another on addiction. Whenever possible the workshops take place in the excellent facilities provided by The United Church in Jewry Street, Winchester. Do let us know if you would like to attend such events and we will put you on our workshop mailing list. Our next workshop is on Saturday 7 June from 9.00 am until 12.30 pm.
Making an Appointment with The Olive Branch
We try to make it as easy as possible for people to approach The Olive Branch for an initial appointment. Most new clients phone, but some call in to the office and an increasing number send an email. However we are approached, our office helpers are very experienced at putting people at ease and finding the most convenient slot in the diary for them. We always try to see enquirers within a week and if they want to proceed with counselling, allocate them a counsellor within a month. If you know someone who you think would benefit from some counselling sessions, do encourage them to contact us. Although we will take referrals, we prefer clients to make their own appointment as it gives us the opportunity to speak to them directly.
Financial Matters
We carry out about 60 counselling sessions every week during the evening as well as during the daytime. Our costs last year (rent, salaries, telephone etc) were about £720 per week. We ask our clients to make a donation for each session and an agreement is made with them on the basis of their financial circumstances. So we currently receive about £590 per week from our clients. The funding gap is filled by the donations that we thankfully receive from churches and individuals and we receive a small grant from Winchester City Council. In 2007 we had a deficit for the first time in several years. This is why we held the recent Saturday Night Music event and we are happy to report that the proceeds from this amounted to about £750
