Soon after referral you will be offered a telephone assessment carried out by one of our counsellors. The assessment is a way for us to check your contact details, begin to get an understanding of your trauma history and the support you require – you will not be asked to talk about any traumatic experiences in detail, and we only ask for information that will help us to help you.

No! The initial piece of counselling work you will embark on at Survive focuses on what is happening for you right now – and how you are managing any challenges emotionally. Your counsellor will work with you to find ways to help you manage your emotions and feel more in control.

Yes! We work with all adults from 18 upwards. The only thing all our clients have in common is they have all experienced emotional overwhelm.

Talking can help you to make sense of a ‘jumble’ of thoughts in your head – or a flood of overwhelming feelings and sensations in your body. When you are truly heard, it can feel validating and lets you know what you are saying really matters.

There isn’t a magic wand or a quick fix – although, talking to someone who feels ‘safe enough’ can be the first step on the road towards healing.

We offer 10 x 1 hour counselling sessions, face-to-face or online. These sessions take place at the same time, on the same day, every week, usually without interruption.

We offer 20 x 1 hour Trauma Therapy sessions, face-to-face or online. These sessions take place at the same time, on the same day, every week, usually without interruption.

Our helpline is open Monday – Thursday (excluding public holidays) from 10am to 12pm on freephone 0808 145 1887, if you need additional support.

There are no rights or wrongs – but if you are anxious or worried about anything regarding your counselling, discuss your concerns with your counsellor.

If you begin to feel like you can’t cope – you may be expecting too much of yourself – speak to your counsellor – slowing everything down, focusing on the present moment, and learning a few coping strategies will help.

Some clients feel stronger, resilient, and more able to cope after the counselling sessions are finished. Others feel ready to begin working on the trauma.

At the end of sessions, the counsellor will use the final session to review the work/learning carried out. A scale (Impact of Event or Core 10) will be completed and discussed. Next steps are discussed with the client – which may include: an ending of support; return at a later date, if there is still work to do; internal or external referrals.

Some clients have a need to go through the memories, particularly if the memories are hazy or fragmented. Others prefer to do more in-depth work on the consequences of their trauma experiences. We ask clients who want to complete more work, to have a at least three-month break before they continue.

Survive is able to provide their services free of charge, thanks to the generous support of several funders, fundraising, and individual giving.

If you wish to donate to Survive, you can do here.