Relate counselling for single person?

[misty75]

I'm trying to organise counselling for myself to help me recover from an emotionally abusive relationship. I'm having problems with anxiety and depression (not for the first time). My GP put me in touch with a local service run by NHS/Mind, and they suggested they could either refer me back to the counselling service at the GP practice, but there would be a wait of 2-3 months, or if I wanted to be seen more quickly, I could try Relate.

I want to see someone as soon as possible, and so I've booked an appointment with Relate, and they can see me on Tuesday. I made it clear when arranging the appointment what my issues are and that I'm single and not in a relationship.

I'm a bit confused though; I've never heard of Relate counselling single people before and there is nothing on their website to suggest that they do - I'd thought that they only did couples counselling and family therapy.

Has anyone got any experience of using Relate as a single person, and if so, did you find it helpful at all? Thanks for reading and I'd welcome any experiences anyone would like to share.

A friend of mine went as a single person. Unfortunately, I can't tell you much, as he didn't tell me more (which is fine), other than he felt it helped clarify some things in his mind.

I went as a single person this year for 3 months after a very bad breakup. I found my counsellor to be very kind and supportive and really on my side. It really helped me to have somewhere to go to every week and just talk about my feelings as well as about my relationship / fam

Family history and what I wanted from a relationship in the future. Highly recommended. I hope it helps you too.

Thank you, EBearhug and Scarletohello. That's very reassuring and I hope it helps me move on from the relationship and clarify what I want from a relationship in future

I went too after a break up from my husband and they were fab x

Oh yes, they absolutely do help single people. I am in a relationship, and my problems are relationship-related (or so I think), but I'm seeing the counselor on my own. Very useful and valuable, although a lot depends on whether you get on with your counselor. I asked to change mine once, which they did, no questions asked. The one I'm seeing now has made me a lot more confident, secure and at peace with myself.

I read your previous thread and I think it would be incredibly useful in your case to get some clarity around how much of the problems are down to abusive relationships/behaviour, and how much is down to your own personality and issues. Usually it's a mix.

Yes, they are relationship experts and will talk to you and help you. Hopefully you'll get a person that's understanding- I have been going fir a few weeks now since Exp left. I really like my counsellor. It's good to go and unload. Yes..go.. And hopefully you'll feel better after talking to someone .

I don't rate them personally. They only get referrals more then independent counsellors because they're a well known brand. They do their own in house training which I don't think is particularly in depth. It's not accredited by BACP either.

I would find a counsellor through BACP or UKCP websites. Preferably one who is accredited by said bodies.

Good to know a professional view, JaceyBee. The brand helps, for sure, but I feel it helps everybody, because so many people would have never started counseling at all if not the strength of the brand that Relate created. So not a bad thing necessarily...