If you come for regular counselling you will be given a regular time each week, for an agreed length of time, which can be from 16 sessions up to two years.  If session times have to be changed we will offer an alternative time whenever possible. Sessions last 50 minutes.

Each client is different and the sessions will develop according to your own need and your situation. The impact of a physical life-threatening illness is far reaching and you may want to use your sessions to explore issues such as:

• Waiting for a diagnosis
• Fear and anxieties about becoming ill
• Living with a life-threatening illness
• Living with disability and/or disfigurement
• Caring for a loved one who is ill or dying
• Fears of death and dying
• Bereavement, loss and separation
• Loneliness and isolation
• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts and feelings
• Relationship difficulties
• Managing drug or alcohol use
• Sex and safer sex issues
• Surviving a life-threatening illness and coming to terms with the experience

Yes, please ring us on 0117 9259348 or email: info@the-harbour.co.uk and tell us about your own situation. We will help you if we can, or, if we are unable to, we will suggest other agencies that might be more appropriate.

All of our counselling and psychotherapy is completely free of charge.  However we do welcome donations. As a registered charity we are dependent on voluntary donations to be able to offer a free service.

Not necessarily, although you do need to be able to come to our premises in central Bristol for sessions.

We try to make an initial appointment for a consultation with a counsellor/ psychotherapist within two to four weeks of your phone call. We see new clients as quickly as we can, but at times of great demand there may be a delay before we can offer regular counselling.

Clients find that having a space and time to explore their own thoughts and feelings is a huge relief. Often it is difficult to express some of what you may be feeling to the people closest to you. The counselling relationship is a place where you don’t have to worry about anyone else. It can help you to come to terms with what is happening, to better understand yourself and others, and to find a degree of stability and peace when things feel overwhelming. Click here to see what previous clients have said.

To find out more about our service or to make an appointment please ring The Harbour on 0117 9259348. If we are not able to take your call we have a 24 hour answering service, and we will contact you as soon as we can.  Alternatively you can email us at info@the-harbour.co.uk

No, The Harbour can only offer counselling to adults, but there are other agencies that can help if a child is ill, or if you are concerned about the impact on children of another family member being ill. Please see our Resources/Links page.

The Harbours counsellors and psychotherapists are all professionally trained and particularly experienced in working with issues of death, loss and bereavement and are all trained and adhere to The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Code of Ethics and Practice.  The Harbour also offers supervised placements for counsellors and psychotherapists in advanced training.

Anything discussed in the counselling sessions is strictly confidential.

We aim to see people at our premises in Frogmore Street.  However if a client becomes too ill to attend then alternative arrangements can be made subject to discussions with your counsellor/psychotherapist.  These can be made at home, hospital or hospice.

Counselling sessions can be arranged outside office hours by appointment.

The Harbour has wheelchair accessibility and disabled toilets.  Please telephone us in advance of coming if you do have special requirements.

We are just off the centre of Bristol so it is easily accessible and on most main bus routes.  We are situated at 30 Frogmore Street, opposite the Ice Skating Rink and Bristol Academy.  A large multi-storey car park is situated almost opposite The Harbours premises.  Alternatively there is a car park to the rear of the Council House, a short walk away. Click here to find us. – link to google map

Rail ( Temple Meads ): You can catch an 8 or 9 bus from directly outside the Railway Station to the bottom of Park Street and we are only a 2 minute walk from here.

Bus Station: We are only a short walk away (approx 10 minutes).

Park and Ride: The Park and Ride service is available from Portway (Shirehampton), Long Ashton and Bath Road (Brislington) directly into the centre of Bristol.

Should you require any further details or have any additional questions please do not hesitate to contact us on 0117 9259348 or email us at info@the-harbour.co.uk