We are a not-for-profit service available to all members of the community in the Lewes area on a low income. Our mission is to provide affordable, good quality counselling.
We are a small, local service run entirely by volunteers.
We aim to provide a confidential and safe therapeutic space where clients who have emotional and psychological issues affecting their lives can explore them openly and are empowered to take control.
The duration of the work can be short medium or long term according to the needs of the client. We can work with clients long term up to two years, but resources do not enable us to extend this period. In committing to a term of counselling we ask that clients are consistent in attending sessions unless unforeseen circumstances prevent them from attending.
We provide individual counselling for adults over 18 years old. We work in accordance with the Ethical Frameworks of our professional counselling organisations.
We are a Monday to Friday service run entirely by volunteers. Our hours vary according to counsellor availability.
People who require counselling need to contact us directly and not through a third party.
Our sliding scale is £10 to £25 (in cases of hardship a lower fee may be negotiable).
We are an independent organisation without regular external funding.
Lewes Low Cost Counselling Service cannot respond to requests for immediate or emergency counselling. Please find below numbers for organisations that may be able to provide help at these times.
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK 0800 689 5652 www.spbristol.org/NSPHUK
Helpline offering a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide, available 24/7
Lifeline 08088088000
Free, confidential advice available 24/7
Mental Health Rapid Response Service (MHRRS) Call: 0300 304 0078
For those feeling suicidal
A 24/7 mental health crisis support for individuals that think they are at risk of harming themselves or others.
Website: www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/MHRRS
Sussex Mental Helpline 08000309500
Beachy Head Chaplaincy Telephone: 01323 301200
search and rescue charity that seeks to save lives at Beachy Head, East Sussex
NIMH text 998, text HELLO to 741741
Available 24/7
Samaritans call 116123
Providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide
SANELINE 03003047000
national out-of-hours mental health helpline offering specialist emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers, normally open every day of the year from 4pm to 10pm
SHOUT text 85258
Free mental health text support available 24/7
PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK 0800068414
For under 35s, weekday 10am-10pm, weekend 2pm-10pm
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALMZONE) 0800 58 58 58 thecalmzone.net
Provides listening services, information and support for anyone who needs to talk, including a web chat
The Mix 0808 808 4994 85258 (crisis messenger service, text THEMIX) themix.org.uk .
Support and advice for under 25s, including a helpline, crisis messenger service and webchat.