Counselling

Depression. young attractive woman with an awful migraine

As parents, we at Little Hiccups know that it is hard raising a child. We also know that raising a child with additional needs is much harder. There are extra financial worries, worries about health, worries about their education among many, many others anxieties. Parents of a child with a disability or SEN are often under prolonged periods of physical and emotional stress. Research shows that parents with disabled children have higher levels of stress and lower levels of well being than parents with non-disabled children. A report published during Carers Week 2011 found that 75 per cent of carers, including parents with disabled children, had suffered ill health as a result of their caring work. Of these, 76 per cent had mental health problems, mainly depression, anxiety and stress.(*)

For these reasons, Little Hiccups hire a Counsellor to chat to our families if needed. For more information or how to book a session, please email info@littlehiccups.co.uk

The Counselling service is in line with the other services that Little Hiccups offer and is not a stand alone services. It is part of our commitment to help build memories and support the Little Hiccups families. We ask that families are known to us, are registered for at least 6 months and use our other services.

There is no cost.

Source:
https://senmagazine.co.uk/articles/articles/senarticles/parenting-under-pressure-stress-and-the-sen-parent

Criteria for applying for Counselling

Families must have a child with disabilities/additional needs that would benefit from Counselling.

Families must be registered Little Hiccups families and known to us and at the time of booking must have been registered family for a minimum of 6 months.
Please note: it is less about how long you have been registered and more that you are known. We like to know the families using the services, so ask that they are active members of Little Hiccups and attend groups and sessions for a minimum of 6 months before using this service.
You can register online here.

The client is aware that the referral is for counselling. If they require any further information about the service this is via a meeting or telephone conversation with the Counsellor prior to the referral.

The client knows the funding is for 6 sessions and there is no expectation for any financial reimbursement or promotion of the service in the future.

The referral is totally confidential:

No other parents or members of the public, or associates of Little Hiccups, is informed of the referral with the exceptions of Little Hiccups Secretary and Treasurer for purposes of admin and accounts.

Once a referral has been made, associates of Little Hiccups will not acknowledge or discuss the referral, the number of sessions attended, dates/times/places of meetings etc. to a member of the public or discuss this between themselves. Any concerns or questions to be discussed directly with the Counsellor.

Clients who have attended counselling and have completed the required number of sessions may be approached to provide a testimonial by their Counsellor and the Little Hiccups Secretary. This will be anonymous, confidential and voluntary.

On completion of sessions the Counsellor will ask the client to complete an evaluation questionnaire of the service. This will be anonymous, confidential and voluntary. An overview of the feedback over 6-12 months will be shared with the Little Hiccups Secretary or in an annual report of the service if required, but only if the contents cannot be identified back to clients.