Family counselling service

The family counselling service is offered to support spinal cord injured people, their families, relatives and friends within the NSIC.

Family counselling gives people the chance to talk through their feelings, concerns or worries with a professional counsellor in a confidential and non-judgemental setting. You may find that you just want to talk on your own, but you can also bring other family members as well. 

The service is free of charge.

Receiving bad news

It can be very upsetting to hear that your husband, wife, child or friend has sustained a spinal cord injury. This news may leave you feeling shocked, distressed and wondering how you are going to manage in the future.

It is important to know that there is support during your stay, and when you return home, for you and your family and friends.

Do I really need counselling?

When a crisis occurs in your life it can feel devastating. Despite wanting to remain strong for the person who is injured, it is natural to feel a range of emotions. Counselling enables you to have space and privacy to talk through difficult feelings, it also helps to put issues into perspective and enables you to make the right choices in moving forward with your family life. We are also able to inform families about other resources and assistance that may be available both within and outside the hospital.

What sort of issues can I talk to the counsellor about?

Relationship difficulties, loss, communication, guilt, anxiety, anger, financial, legal and employment difficulties, changes of roles within the family, children, sexual and other emotional issues.

How do I contact the family counsellor?

You can speak to one of the nurses on the ward who will get in touch with the counselling service on your behalf, speak to the counsellor directly on 01296 315858 or leave a message with the clinical psychology department on 01296 315823. The family counsellor also comes onto the wards most days.

Once contacted, we will arrange an appointment with you at a mutually convenient date and time.

More information can be found in our family counselling leaflet.

Translation services

Translation services are available on request. Please contact the clinical psychology department
on 01296 315822.

We are committed to ensuring access to people of all cultures, ethnic background, religion and sexual orientation.