We are your local mental health charity. At Mid and North East Essex Mind we believe no one should have to face a mental health problem alone. We're here for you. Today. Now. whether you're stressed, depressed or in crisis.
We work with children from the age of 5 and adults of all ages. Some people use our services for only a little while and others might need help for longer.
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Services Offered
We offer a free service as well as a private service, both are for people aged 18 and over.
Counselling is talking therapy where someone qualified can work with you for a short or long time (depending on what you need), will listen to you and help you make changes or improve your wellbeing. Wellbeing is about being comfortable, healthy and happy.
Usually people choose to have therapy because they are having difficulties in their lives and feeling distressed. Sometimes even where people have the most helpful family and friends, they can find it hard to explain why they may be feeling anxious and/or depressed. Or it may be easier to talk about personal, family, or relationship problems with a person who isn't a friend or family member.
We have both male and female counsellors who are all fully qualified. They all have at least a diploma and are members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). They also are either accredited by the BACP or are working towards their accreditation. This means they work to the high standards set by the BACP.
Health in Mind takes the referrals for our free service and will decide whether it is the best treatment for you.
Free Counselling
When you are referred, or refer yourself to Health in Mind, the people there will decide what services you may need. If they think our free counselling service could help you they let us know to contact you to arrange your counselling. Sometimes there can be a long wait for appointments.
You will get six free counselling sessions with one of our qualified counsellors.
Children & Young People's Private Counselling Service
Our Children & Young People's Private Counselling Service offers therapy to children aged from 5 years to 18. We provide a safe, contained and reflective space for young people to express, explore and process difficult emotions and experiences through creative and therapeutic interventions. We offer children a safe environment where they are free to play, draw and talk about their experiences in order to make sense of their emotional world, to grow and to develop.
Fees and Payment
This is a registered charity
Provides both free and private counselling services, please contact our office for more information.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens
Special Groups: LGBTQ
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
Were You Able to Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.