Family Resource Centre UK, an award-winning national charity, has opened an accessible and low-cost counselling centre in the heart of Thornton Heath.

The counselling centre is staffed by a qualified and experienced team of counsellors who are able to see clients individually, as couples, families, children and teenagers, providing mediation when needed. The counsellors have a range of different specialities with the couples/relationship counsellors having been trained as Relate Counsellors. The centre also has counsellors who have worked extensively with children, teenagers and families, as well as experience as one to one counsellors.

Family Resource Centre UK has been supporting families for more than 20 years, expanding its service delivery and projects to meet the ever-changing needs of families.

The charity believes in taking a user-led approach, listening, changing and building on issues, delivering services which are desperately asked for by families.

The new Thornton Heath centre is therefore the result of local demand. With 1 in 4 of us expected to experience a mental health issue, and depression and anxiety on the increase within society in general, Family Resource Centre UK believes that theirs is a service that will be needed even more during a period of recession and widespread unemployment.

“Depression can be a very isolating condition and there still seems to be stigma around mental health in general, so by providing a low-cost counselling service where the household income is taken into account before deciding on the fee, the charity is making accessing counselling much easier and affordable for all,” a spokeswoman said.

Counselling services and advice continue to be available through the NHS, often at no fee, although there is sometimes a waiting list. If you are seeking help for depression, you may wish first to consult your GP.

The new centre is at 21-23 Woodville Road, Thornton Heath CR7 8YT, but counselling is “by appointment only”: to find out more or book an appointment, email at sheila.crabb@familyresourcecentreuk.org or by phone 0790 199 8067.

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