The Macmillan Information and Support Centre offers short term counselling to adults with cancer and their family members. This is a free service.

Counselling offers you a safe, confidential place to talk about your life and anything that may be confusing, painful or uncomfortable. It allows you to talk with someone who is trained to listen attentively and to help you improve things.

What to expect?

  • Counselling will take place in the quiet room in the Macmillan Centre. Each session will last 50 minutes, starting and ending promptly
  • Most of the sessions are weekly, usually on the same day, at the same time
  • At an initial assessment appointment the counsellor will discuss with you what you wish to achieve from the counselling; we usually offer six sessions. During this time there will be regular discussions about your progress.
  • Should you need to cancel or rearrange an appointment, please give as much notice as possible. Please call the Macmillan Centre on 023 9228 3324
  • If you fail to attend two appointments, your counselling may be discontinued. This is to allow everyone an opportunity to see a counsellor
  • Endings are best when negotiated. When you feel you have reached the point where your counselling is drawing to a close, the counsellor will discuss with you an ending date and move gradually towards that
  • The counsellor will keep brief, confidential notes of each session. These are stored in a locked filing cabinet for a period of eight years, after which they are destroyed
  • At your last session, you will be asked to complete a feedback form. Please answer it honestly. Feedback helps us improve the services in the Centre

What is confidentiality?

Everything you discuss is confidential between you and the counsellor; the time is set aside for you to talk about whatever you wish.

The only exception when confidentiality might need to be broken would be in circumstances, including:

  • If there is a serious risk of injury to yourself or others.
  • Any breach/proposed breach of the Child Protection Procedure (risk to children) disclosed by you,
  • Any breach/proposed breach of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults (risk to Vulnerable Adult) disclosed by you
  • Where we are required by law to disclose information about terrorism.

About the counsellors

The Macmillan Centre offers a counselling service in partnership with Wessex Cancer Trust and volunteer counsellors. All counsellors are qualified to diploma level/degree level be registered with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and be receiving supervision by an accredited supervisor.