Crossways Counselling Service
A year of success, problems overcome and problems to be solved...
Although we are now up to strength, we had only 5 instead of 8 counsellors for most of last year. We had no shortage of applicants but it took a while to identify the right people. This inevitably had a big impact on the waiting list but we now have 8 counsellors again and the waiting list is down to a few weeks depending upon the availability of the client.
Our strategy is still going ahead but more slowly and with less impact than we had hoped as we lost the fund-raiser we had recruited for this important role. Nonetheless we are still afloat financially and we are very grateful to all our local churches, including St John's, for their generous support.
Our 8 counsellors are seeing 24 clients between them. The presenting issue is still often family issues and relationships but with a variety of underlying causes, such as trauma, and physical or emotional abuse in childhood. I am amazed at the courage and dignity of our clients; it is a privilege to be working g with them.
We held a number of training events over the last year - workshops on sexuality and money as well as in-house training days. We are planning soon a workshop on dreams lead by Russ Parker as well as a quiet day at Acorn for our staff and volunteers. Crossways also led a very successful (competitively priced and profitable) 10 week Introduction to Counselling Course in the autumn; another one is planned for January, 2008. Please contact me if you would be interested in a place. We were fully subscribed last time so don't delay!
Our Chairman, David Wilbraham, has left the area to take up a new post. He has been such an asset and a support to Crossways and will be greatly missed. Please pray for us as we seek to replace him and to recruit a fundraiser - they are such key roles. Keep an eye out also for forthcoming fundraising events - a repeat of our successful quiz last May but first an Auction of Promises in October; so please let me know if you can contribute anything.
Our AGM and Celebration Service will be held at St Stephen's, Shottermill, (starting with cheese and wine) led by Jonathan Carter at 7.00 p.m. on Sunday 8th July. Please come along to find out more and to give thanks to God for all that he is doing through Crossways -JANE SAUNDERS