We started in 2016 as a tiny venture offering an accessible counselling service to members of York and North Yorkshire communities. Founded by our Director, Professor Lynne Gabriel OBE, a mental health practitioner and researcher, the Centre now involves counsellors, coaches, group facilitators, administrators, co-ordinators, volunteers, trainee practitioners, students on placement, interns, researchers, and internal and external partners and collaborators. The Centre is based at 32-34 Clarence Street, and we generate our income to cover our costs through research and sessional fees for counselling and coaching. All income is utilised for our core cost - the wages for Centre staff, with any surplus income being invested in projects of value to our local citizens and communities.
Since opening we've developed a range of community facing projects from counselling, coaching, the community language school, specialised bereavement support, and emotional and self-development groups, programmes and drop-ins. Already in the pipeline for 2024 is our new female student suicide prevention group and support for refugees. Most of our groups, programmes, and drop-ins are free, and it is so important to us that they remain free at the point of access, for those who need the services.
Our counselling and coaching is offered via affordable fee scales, with counselling starting at just £12 per session and coaching commencing at £30 per session.
Since October 2023, we have been located in 32-34 Clarence Street, and fully utilising the space for service delivery and associated research and placements. Every year we welcome 50-60 students who are involved in our work in multiple ways, including trainee practitioner placements, work-related administrative and management interns, and volunteers. You'll also see consolidation of our very popular counselling, community language school, bereavement work, support groups, drop-ins, and Centre research hubs.
Your donation makes a great difference, and supports us to cover the costs of providing our free services! As our income grows, so too does our staff team, and with the continual rise in demand for more support in our community, this continues to be a priority. Our receptionists, administrators, co-ordinators, assessors, supervisors, and practitioners, are compiled of YSJ students, recent graduates, and local people, and your support is needed to ensure they are actively involved in service delivery and are remunerated for their work.
We'll keep you posted on our work and developments through our social media channels, and thank you again for your support!
* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.
