Convenient Counselling Services Expand

With National Stress Awareness Day just around the corner (November 3rd), many people will be focusing their attention to the stress in their own lives and considering how best to handle it.

Many of those who are experiencing difficult times, or increased levels of stress will disregard the opportunity to seek professional help, on the basis that they are anxious about participating in counselling, are unsure of where to go for help and support, or are simply too busy. Rivers Assist is a well-being provider that aims to overcome those obstacles.

Established five years ago by Patricia Williams, a psychodynamic counsellor who has worked in private practice for 10 years, Rivers Assist offers an effective counselling service that is now launching in Birmingham City Centre, in its drive for expansion into every UK city centre.

With an existing network of highly qualified counsellors and psychotherapists across the country, who are accredited members of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, and members of UK Council for Psychotherapy, Rivers Assist is able to offer specialist, face-to-face counselling and psychotherapy services wherever is convenient for their clients, whether it be near their place of work, home, or further afield.

Rivers Assist also offers telephone and online counselling, via a highly secure online service, which protects the privacy of conversations. This remote service is offered with the aim of overcoming obstacles such as anxiety, busy schedules, mobility or other commitments preventing those who need it from seeking the help they need. Instead of having to visit a counsellor's office, this professional service is also available in the comfort of clients’ own home and can be arranged at a mutually convenient time. Patricia said:

“With telephone and online services providing 24 hour access for our clients, Rivers Assist is really bringing counselling into the 21st Century”.

In addition to counselling and psychotherapy, mentoring, mediation, life coaching, training and development, Rivers Assist also offers an Employee Assistance Programme. Patricia added:

"With work–related stress, depression or anxiety being attributed as the leading cause of working days lost through work-related injury or ill health, according to the UK Health and Safety Executive, many employers are starting to recognise the importance of supporting their employees through life’s ups and downs."

The Rivers Assist Professional Employee Assistance Programme works in partnership with Human Resources and Occupational Health professionals to offer practical and emotional support for employees and their immediate family members. Whether it is a workplace issue, a relationship breakdown, or a financial issue that’s causing distress, support is available when it is most needed. The service also offers support for managers on how to handle difficult employees or situations, and will enable the organisation to identify and address issues that have a negative impact on employees’ wellbeing and their work.