Presentation by Alison Hampton, Director of PF Counselling Service in Edinburgh. Given to MSPs and members of the Cross Party Group on Mental Health of the Scottish Parliament on 13 March 2013. Outline of a community-based voluntary counselling agency involved in addressing mild to moderate mental health issues in the population.

1. Alison Hampton
Scottish Parliament
13 March 2013

2. 12,000 counselling sessions offered
635 clients in total over 12 months
300 clients each week
93 volunteer counsellors: accredited,
qualified and students
15 volunteer receptionists
11 professional supervisors
7 counselling rooms
4 staff

3. GP 164 36.4%
Other NHS Service 14 3.1%
Social Services 3 0.7%
Total: 181 40.2%
Friend 75 16.7%
Other Counselling Agency 45 10.0%
Internet Search 33 7.3%
Family 23 5.1%
Returning Client 21 4.7%
Employer 7 1.6%
Other Voluntary Organisation 4 0.9%

4. Interpersonal/Relationship 255 16.0%
Anxiety/Stress 231 14.5%
Depression 227 14.3%
Self Esteem 202 12.7%
Bereavement/Loss 164 10.3%
Trauma/Abuse 98 6.2%
Work/Academic 43 2.7%
Living/Welfare 41 2.6%
Addictions 32 2.0%
Eating Disorder 22 1.4%
Psychosis 6 0.4%

6. Costs
Staff, Supervision, Premises, Office
£200,000
Funding
Client Donations & Gift Aid 136,200
NHS Lothian 30,000
Trusts and other donations 18,300
Other income 15,500
£200,000

7. Professional Counselling
12,000 hours @ £20/hr £240,000
Cash Costs
Staff, Supervision, Premises, etc £200,000
£440,000
Public Funding
NHS Lothian £30,000
(1/3 of a GP salary?)

9.  Person Centred  Integrative
 Psychodynamic  Gestalt
 Transactional  Transpersonal
Analysis (TA)  Counselling
 Psychosynthesis Psychology
 Process Oriented  Core Process

11. COSCA - Setting standards for counselling and
psychotherapy in Scotland
PF Counselling Service is a COSCA Recognised
organisation, which helps ensure:
 Client protection and reassurance
 Public recognition of our commitment to
 high standards
 ethical, safe practice
 keeping up-to-date with policy and practice
 continuous improvement

12. “I'm happier now than I'd ever thought I could be,
and I can make friends, which I could never do
before. I don't have panic attacks anymore.”
“I gained confidence, I got a new job and I have
more faith in my decisions. I think coming to PF
was the best decision I've made.”
“I’d reached a point at which I felt life was not
worth living. I don’t think I can quantify the many
ways in which I’ve benefited from the PF’s help.”
“I feel more confident, calmer, less stressed.”

13. www.pfcounselling.org.uk
0131 447 0876
alison@pfcounselling.org.uk
8 Balcarres Street, EH10 5JB