WHO DO WE WORK WITH?
Adytum works with a variety of clients and in many settings. Adytum supports private individuals, couples and organisations. Our clients are from the age of five upwards.
The issues that we cover are never the same for any two people - the client is always a totally unique individual. However there is quite often a thread running through the problems brought to counselling that is similar to issues that other people have. Very often the strategies put in place by others can be usefully employed by our clients to assist them whilst they work through their own problems. Whilst Adytum subscribes to a person centred way of working - that is allowing the client to explore their own ways of resolving their own issues - we also understand that there are as many therapies as therapists! We have experience and training in many types of therapy including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Gestalt, Transactional Analysis (TA), Existential Psychotherapy, Psychoanalysis, Lifeskills Counselling and others. Our practice falls firmly into the Humanist Approach used in Person Centred Counselling. However, we unashamedly "borrow" techniques and ideas from wherever they seem appropriate in order to help the client. We see the work done by previous practitioners as our "toolbox" which we frequently use.
The fact that the founder is a specialist foster parent for particularly difficult to place young people means that Adytum has strong links with child focused therapy. Within the role of foster carer regular liaison with local authorities and fostering agencies takes place, some of whom use Adytum for therapeutic work with some of the children and young people placed with other carers. Adytum also works in partnership with the Children and Family Court Support and Advisory Service (CAFCASS) which involves referrals from Judges and Family Court Advisors helping young people come to terms with their parent's separation or divorce which can very often be a confusing and upsetting time for them. Adytum seeks to support these young people at this time and to enable them to have a voice.
Adytum is currently engaged in negotiations with schools to establish partnerships that will allow both staff and pupils access to professional help to try to resolve some of the issues that are causing problems in the school environment. There is a need for this intervention at an early stage. All too often referrals to over used and under funded educational psychiatric units take many months to be dealt with, by which time the problems are entrenched and even more difficult to deal with by the school staff. Adytum aims to fill this gap by working with a number of schools on a "Hub School" principle. Staff are also sometimes unable to cope effectively with the pressures and can access the service, either in school or outside, and in total confidence.
Adytum is also able to offer assistance in the work place. A number of partnerships have been initiated with, for example, the Shaw Trust which allows Adytum to work alongside the Trust in trying to assist people back into the workplace either after a period of illness, loss, or mental health problems. We also work alongside, and are complementary to, local authorities, companies, higher educational establishments and Universities such as Neath & Port Talbot County Borough Council, Pembrokeshire College, Aberystwyth University, University of Wales Lampeter and others. These organisations usually have vibrant and proactive Personnel and Occupational Health Departments. Adytum does not seek to supplant these facilities, rather Adytum acknowledges that they offer a very good first line of defence for both employers and employees. However there are occasions where, for various reasons, staff require to be seen by a totally independent person or organisation. We have found that our intervention on such occasions can lead to quicker, more effective and longer lasting solutions. Adytum can be viewed as a company's own Employee Assistance Programme with the counsellors being employed on a sessional, daily or a contractual basis.
We have a great deal of experience in relationship counselling with individuals and couples who often find it difficult to work with the way that some other agencies say they should. We operate in a way that acknowledges the individuality of each person in the relationship. Sometimes this can be helped if the couples are seen individually. This respects the unique individuality of each person and can help the relationship to repair itself if each person's issues are dealt with.
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COUNSELLING