Frequently asked questions about Relate Dorset & South Wiltshire's services
What are your Privacy, Cookie, Data Protection and Confidentiality Statements?
Protection of your personal data and your confidentiality is critical to everything we do here at Relate Dorset. This is outlined in our GDPR, Privacy and Cookies Statement.
Can counselling help me?
We offer counselling to help with a wide range of issues, not just relationship based issues. We can work with you individually or with your partner or with other family members, using the range of different services that we offer. We can help you understand your problems and feelings more fully and then empower you to make the decisions that are right for you as an individual or for you and your partner if you are attending together. Our counselling is talking based and our counsellors take a holistic approach, meaning they have a range of tools and techniques at their disposal as we understand that everyone is different and a one size fits all approach does not work.
What is the cost of counselling?
Relate Dorset and South Wiltshire is a charity and each session costs significantly more than the fee we ask for, which is a contribution of £65 for an evening appointment and £55 for daytime for Relationship or Individual Counselling and £55 for Young People’s Counselling.
We are able to offer fully funded sessions through a range of partnerships that we have. Please have a look at our Funded Counselling page
If you think you’ll find it difficult to pay, you may be able to access our bursary scheme, and we can discuss this with you when you speak to our booking team on 01302 380 900 or 01722 569 028 for Salisbury or email enquiries@relatedorset.org.uk
How do I pay for my appointment?
We take payment in advance to secure your appointment. We offer a secure pay online option through an email link or payment can be made over the phone on a secure system too.
We have a strict 48 hour cancellation policy.
Do you offer Family Mediation?
Family Mediation is not currently available with Relate Dorset & South Wilts, but we work closely with organisations that can offer the service and we would be delighted to help you find a Family Mediator to suit your needs. Please contact us via email enquiries@relatedorset.org.uk
Where can I see a Relate Dorset & South Wiltshire Counsellor?
We offer counselling across Dorset, the Salisbury area and Yeovil area. We offer some face to face appointments and also online webcam appointments and telephone appointments. See our list of locations for maps and contact information.
What training do your counsellors have?
It is not easy to become a Relate counsellor. All our counsellors have to go through a strict accreditation process before they able to work for us in which their qualifications and work experience are carefully reviewed.
All our relationship counsellors receive specialist training in couple counselling, both theory and practice, most commonly delivered by our colleagues in the national Relate Training Team.
Our Children and Young People’s counsellors must have relevant training as well as experience of working with young people.
All our counsellors also undertake ongoing professional development and have close clinical supervision. They must also have a current DBS check in place.
Relate Dorset & South Wiltshire follows the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy’s ethical framework and the Relate Federation’s own principles and policies.
How do I make an appointment?
Please call us on 01302 380 900. We can take calls Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. For our Salisbury office please call 01722 569 028. They take calls Tuesday to Thursday (12pm - 4pm).
Outside these hours, or if the line is busy, for both locations the service reverts to answerphone, we will respond at the earliest opportunity to your message. You can also email us Enquiries@relatedorset.org.uk or Salisbury@relatedorset.org.uk if you are in the Salisbury area.
What happens when I come for a counselling appointment?
Usually you will be asked to complete some paperwork prior to seeing the counsellor. This paperwork will be emailed to you prior to the appointment to be completed and returned. We are also able to post the paperwork to you if you prefer.
The counsellor will see you/speak with you for an initial assessment, which is a 50-minute appointment. This gives you the opportunity to talk through your issues with the counsellor and what you are hoping to achieve in the counselling. If you come with a partner, you will both have individual time with the counsellor as well as seeing the counsellor together.
If you decide to have on-going counselling we ask you to contact our Admin team after your assessment and they will then look for a weekly or fortnightly appointment to suit you. It may be with the counsellor you had the assessment with, or it can be with a different counsellor - don't worry though, the assessment notes will be given to the new counsellor, so you don't have to repeat everything again!
How do I cancel or reschedule my appointment?
You will need to telephone 01302 380 900 or 01722 569 028 or alternatively email us at Enquiries@relatedorset.org.uk or Salisbury@relatedorset.org.uk giving at least 48 hours notice. If we receive less than 48 hours notice we may still have to charge you for the appointment.
Is there a waiting list?
This depends on where/how you want to be seen and how flexible you can be. The admin team will give you a better indication when you contact us as availability varies from week to week depending on client demand and counsellor workloads. Call us on 01302 380 900 or 01722 569 028 (for Salisbury) or alternatively email us at Enquiries@relatedorset.org.uk or Salisbury@relatedorset.org.uk
Do I have to be referred to Relate by my GP?
No. Your GP may suggest you come to Relate but we do not have a formal referral process for counselling. Anyone can contact us if they feel they would like counselling. Call us on 01302 380 900 or 01722 569 028 (for Salisbury) or alternatively email us at Enquiries@relatedorset.org.uk or Salisbury@relatedorset.org.uk
The Dorset Families Matter team may make a referral for appropriate counselling or you can be referred by one of our partners for funded counselling.
Can I come to counselling on my own?
You can come as a couple or alone for relationship counselling. You do not even have to be currently in a relationship. We are open to all and welcome anybody whether you're straight or LGBTQ+.
Individual counselling is available for those needing support for an issue not directly linked to a relationship.
Children and Young Person's counselling is usually just for the young person to attend, although parents are welcome to come in at the start of the first session to meet the counsellor and help break the ice for their child with the counsellor.
Can I bring my children with me to counselling?
No, it’s not normally appropriate to bring your child or baby with you for counselling and we are unable to offer creche facilities at our counselling locations. Even small babies can pick up on emotions in the counselling room and the counsellor will be able to support you best if your whole attention is given to the counselling process.
The same thing applies to online webcam counselling. You need to make sure that you are in a place where you can not be overheard or interrupted by other family members.
Are your counselling sessions confidential?
Yes, all Relate counsellors work under a strict code of confidentiality, which will be discussed before counselling. Relate rigorously defend the confidentiality of any notes of a session.
However in cases when we are concerned for your safety, or there is a question of a child or adult being at risk of danger,
How often will I have appointments with a Relate Counsellor?
Most people attend weekly sessions, on the same day and time, to maintain the momentum of the therapeutic work. If this is not possible we will make arrangements for suitable times. If appointments are less regular than weekly or fortnightly, we cannot guarantee that you will get the same time slot each time.
How long will I have to come for Relate Counselling?
Relationship, individual and young people’s counselling may last for 6 - 8 sessions, but how many sessions you attend very much depends on your needs. The number of sessions you need will be discussed with you on an ongoing basis by your counsellor, but ultimately it is your choice when you stop.
The exception to this is if you are having funded sessions. In this situation, our partner organisation will stipulate how many sessions they will fund.
Can I have a counsellor who speaks my language?
Please ask us for availability of counsellors who speak your language or whether it is possible to use a translator. Call us on 01302 380 900 or 01722 569 028 (for Salisbury) or alternatively email us at Enquiries@relatedorset.org.uk or Salisbury@relatedorset.org.uk
Is there disabled access at your Centre?
We have disabled access at most of our Centres and outposts. Please ask us about disabled access when you contact us and we will make appropriate arrangements. Call us on 01302 380 900 or 01722 569 028 (for Salisbury) or alternatively email us at Enquiries@relatedorset.org.uk or Salisbury@relatedorset.org.uk
My partner is violent/abusive to me. Can you help?
We do work with couples and individuals where violence is an attribute of the relationship but only where we are confident that no one will be placed at risk by doing so. In this situation we need to be sure that working together is safe. The counsellor will explain at your first session how we work.
We do also offer behavioural change programmes for both male and female perpetrators of domestic abuse, so if they want to change their behaviour, these might be appropriate.
Call us on 01302 380 900 or 01722 569 028 (for Salisbury) or alternatively email us at Enquiries@relatedorset.org.uk or Salisbury@relatedorset.org.uk
Is it too late to try relationship counselling?
Only you can make this decision. However if you both want to work together it demonstrates that it may be possible for you to redevelop or reform a relationship.
If your partner will not come with you, you can come on your own to work through your emotions and make the right decisions for you.
We can continue to work with you as you separate particularly if children will be affected and we can refer to a Family Mediation service which can help couples who are separating with practical, financial and legal aspects.
What is Relate's Data Protection Policy?
We regard the privacy of our users as very important and any personal information which you provide to us will be dealt with in accordance with our terms and conditions.
Full details are in contained in Relate National Privacy & Cookie Policy and we have embraced the new Data Protection Act 2018 which incorporates the EU directive on GDPR.
Not all factors discussed in the policy are pertinent to Relate Dorset & South Wiltshire so please feel free to discuss how we protect your data when you call.
How do I make compliments, concerns and complaints?
Please take a look at our compliments & complaints procedure which provides a summary of our process; you may also wish to email the Chief Executive Officer at ceo@relatedorset.org.uk
She will be happy to hear your feedback and if this is a complaint try and resolve it informally in the first instance. Should this be unsuccessful you will be able discuss our complaints procedure.
More help
If you weren't able to find the answers to your questions please get in touch and we'll do our best to help you. Call us on 01302 380 900 or 01722 569 028 (for Salisbury) or alternatively email us at Enquiries@relatedorset.org.uk or Salisbury@relatedorset.org.uk
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