We all experience difficulties or distress in our lives at times and things seem to be a struggle whether it's relationship issues, employment difficulties or redundancy, bereavement, divorce, bullying, abuse, health problems, anxiety, depression or underlying feelings of dissatisfaction with life in general. Counselling can help us to find our own answers to our difficulties and to make the changes that we decide are needed.

Few people can access counselling via the NHS and many cannot afford private counselling. Phoenix Counselling Service is trying to redress this by providing a high quality professional low-cost counselling service for people In Burntwood, Lichfield and the surrounding areas who cannot access counselling otherwise, so that no one in that area is prevented by finance from having counselling. It is a voluntary organisation and its application to register as a charity is pending. Most of the counselling is done on a voluntary basis with Phoenix only paying for the room hire and professional expenses of volunteers. However there is a lengthy, and increasing, waiting list for appointments and so it is necessary to look towards paying for some counselling hours.

Each person is offered up to 7 counselling sessions. The first session is free and after that there is a charge of £10 per session (although this is waived if the individual cannot afford it). If the counsellor is paid £20 per session (to include room hire and all other costs) the total cost of 7 sessions is £140 of which the individual pays £60, and so the cost to Phoenix Counselling Service is £80.

All counsellors at Phoenix Counselling Service are registered members of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (or equivalent professional body of their particular approach to counselling).

I am asking for £320 to allow 4 people to receive counselling at Phoenix Counselling Service.