Aberconwy Domestic Abuse Service

The original project plan was to create 2 Student Placements. Due to limitations of student capacity it was quickly found that more than 2 students would be needed to cover the hours and make full use of the counselling space. In total 8 students + 1 specifically for telephone clients, on a rolling placement programme, contributed to the department during this project year.

A total of 506 hours of counselling was delivered, supporting a total of 80 clients. Overall, there was an average of 66% reduction of client psychological distress. However, this is somewhat misleading as the two forms use different assessment ranges and all clients start at different points. Another way it could be measured is that 100% of clients were in the mentally healthy range by the end of therapy.

The swift success of the adult counselling department has exceeded all our expectations. The work has been coordinated very efficiently, coupled with compassion and care for both clients and student counsellors. It has enabled us as a multi-faceted service to reflect on the work we do and add value. We are especially pleased at the way the counselling dove-tails so well into our other activities such as The Own My Life course – enabling more opportunities to cross refer and so strengthen the therapeutic work that we do as a whole. The project has strengthened our links with partnership agencies and raised awareness of the service with many local education providers.

“I feel I benefited a lot from the counselling and has helped me make positive changes in my life and relationships”.

“Without this support I’d have gone back to square one and spent more years in an abusive relationship”.

“Saved my relationship with my kids. I feel like a completely different person now”.

“I now feel like I have the tools to keep going forward. It has also impacted my daughters positively as well”.

“I gained a lot more insight in behaviours and gave me clarity”.

“My boundaries are so much stronger now”.

“I have so much more confidence now. I have found my voice!”.

“Felt truly cared about from the first contact with the service”.

Feedback from Clients:

Feedback from Referral Agencies:

“Thank you so much for getting in touch with and offering my client, XXXXXX, counselling so soon after my referral. I spoke with her today and she said that she had a session with you and felt it was positive. This will make such a difference to her mental health and ability to process the domestic abuse she has been subjected to.” Ceri Owen, Independent Domestic Violence Advisor.

“I have been referring my clients to your service for some time and have witnessed the positive impact of your service on the lives of many victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

I believe that your service is vital for addressing the urgent and complex needs of our clients. Your service provides an efficient and safe service to assist and support our clients.

Claire Waters Bannister IDV

“It was good to know there was always someone in the building whilst I was working, that I could turn to seek advice or if there was an emergency.”

“Really appreciate the speed at which the coordinator responded to any queries.”

“Have loved seeing the counselling room and its resources developed whist I’ve been in placement. It’s such a lovely environment to work in.”

“The training and student guideline handbook has been excellent. Really clear and all questions anticipated and answered”.

Feedback from Student counsellors