This service started in January 2009 and is funded by the Henry Smith Trust and Brighton and Hove Children and Young Peoples Trust. The counsellor is Michele Karban who has trained in Integrative Art Psychotherapy.
The proposed aims and objectives of this project were to set up and deliver an accessible counselling service specifically for young people aged 13 -21 who were either looked after by the local authority or in kinship care. This service also extends to those young people who had previously been in care and who had either returned to their family of birth or who were now living independently.
Brighton and Hove have an unusually high percentage of children and young people in care. As of 31st March 2009 there were 208 young people aged between 13 and 18 who were looked after by the local authority (source: Performance Team at the CYPT).
Locations of the Outreach Counselling Service
Currently the outreach service operates from three locations. These are located at the Safe and Sorted Youth Advice Centre in East Brighton, the Moulsecoomb Health Clinic in East Brighton and the Youth Advice Centre in Hove.
Take up of the Service
Uptake of this service from voluntary, private and statutory services has been very positive. Young people are either referred for counselling by someone already working with them e.g. social worker, housing support worker or alternatively a young person can self refer and contact Michele directly to arrange an initial assessment.
Counselling sessions
Young people can access up to twelve sessions of counselling, and are also able to re-refer themselves at a later time if they so wish.
The arts such as paint, clay, sand tray and miniature figures are available in the counselling sessions should the young person wish to use them. This has been extremely helpful for some of the young people attending. As it has provided them with another way to explore their issues and help gain insight and awareness into their relationship with themselves and others.
Contact Details.
For further information on this service or to make a referral, please contact Michele on 07590229896 or email: michele.karban@sussexcentralymca.org.uk.
