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Counselling Service

Professional and affordable counselling for individuals in Exeter and Poole

We are here to listen!

Whether you need just a few sessions to deal with an immediate problem or would like to work long-term on a deeper issue, we can help.

Call 01392 499388

or email counselling@ironmill.co.uk

09:30 - 17:00 hrs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
09:30 - 20:00 hrs Tuesdays and Thursdays

Iron Mill Counselling Service (IMCS) offers a professional, affordable counselling service Exeter, Devon, and Poole, Dorset.

Counselling offers a safe space to explore any difficulties you are experiencing in your life, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disabilities.

Individual counselling for adults
Open to the public - referral letters are not necessary
Daytime and evening appointments
Low counselling fees

The majority of our counsellors and psychotherapists are mature students in advanced professional training at Iron Mill College and work for the service voluntarily. All counsellors are supported by experienced supervisors and are members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

IMCS is a popular service and operates a waiting list. The downloadable documents in the tabs below provide further details about our initial consultations and provision of counselling, which may be helpful for you to read if you would like further information.

You are welcome to get in touch and we’ll arrange a free-of-charge initial phone call and/or initial consultation session to discuss your needs and whether we can be of assistance.

Email us on counselling@ironmill.co.uk to be the first to find out more about our service in Poole and join the waiting list.

What is counselling?

Counselling is a confidential process where people are provided with a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space to discuss issues, concerns, emotions & behaviours.

Our counsellors can help support you with a variety of issues, including (but not limited to):

Self-esteem issues.
Relationship issues.
Loss, bereavement, and separation issues.
Depression and Anxiety.
Family issues.
Workplace or educational difficulties.
Emotional problems related to physical health issues.
Life stage issues and transitions such as becoming a parent, or retirement.

However, if you can't find the answer you're looking for, or need further help or information, do not hesitate to contact us at 01392 499388 or email counselling@ironmill.co.uk.

What can I expect?

You can expect to be provided with a non-judgmental approach by a respectful, open, and genuine person.

Your counsellor will not give advice, direction, or solutions to problems or issues, but they will support you in gaining insight and new perspectives. Each session lasts 50 minutes and you will meet with your counsellor on a weekly basis. You may terminate therapy at any time. We have male and female counsellors and a choice of weekday and evening appointments.

Sessions with your counsellor are confidential. However, counsellors are obligated to break confidentiality if you disclose that you intend to harm yourself or another person or if you reveal current abuse of a minor.

Opening hours & location

Iron Mill Counselling Service is based in 'The Quadrangle' at Iron Mill College in Exeter, 7 Barnfield Crescent, Southernhay East, EX1 1QT (just to the rear of 'Morwenstow') and at Acorn Business Park, Unit C, Lower Ground Floor, Ling Road, Poole, BH12 4NZ.

For full details of our location, public transport, and parking, click here.

The service currently operates from 9:30 until 17:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and from 9:30 until 20:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Poole dates and times are to be confirmed, to register your interest, please email counselling@ironmill.co.uk.

Please note that we are closed during bank holidays and for a period over Christmas – please see notifications on the home page during this time for details of the college closure period.

Opening hours for Poole will be confirmed in October 2024 when the service starts.

If you would like to be added to the waiting list for Poole please email counselling@ironmill.co.uk

How much will it cost?

When you first get in touch, we’ll arrange a free initial consultation to assess your requirements. You will then be matched to a suitable counsellor for subsequent sessions, which last 50 minutes and cost £25.

The service also offers a limited number of further reduced-cost spaces for those facing financial hardship.

Our counselling service is a not-for-profit initiative of Iron Mill College and aims to make counselling more accessible - offering a safe, professional yet affordable service.

How do I book?

To book an initial consultation, please call 01392 499388 or email counselling@ironmill.co.uk.

We’ll arrange a free assessment session, and you will then be matched to a suitable counsellor for subsequent sessions, which last 50 minutes.

If you are looking to start counselling in Poole the service starts in October 2024 and you can join the waiting list by emailing counselling@ironmill.co.uk

FAQs

What can IMCS not help with?
IMCS is very careful to ensure we offer a safe service, which means we will only offer a counselling place to you if we believe we have therapists on the team who can help you and who have an appropriate level of skill and experience. We cannot offer counselling support to people who

are in acute mental health crisis
are not registered with a GP locally
have current serious untreated addiction issues
are under 18 years of age
do not have the capacity to give informed consent for counselling
have requirements that sit outside the expertise or capacity of the service

If we cannot help, we will explain why, and where possible will signpost you to suitable sources of support.

What is an initial phone call/consultation?
Most people will be offered an initial telephone consultation. This is not a counselling session. The purpose is to give you the chance to speak with a senior member of the team, who will

listen to the reasons you would like counselling, and help assess whether this is the right service for you at this time
explain more about the service, and give you the chance to ask questions so you can make an informed choice
establish your availability and any other preferences
talk about the process and what to expect
talk about practicalities such as cost/ payment and take some initial information

How long will I have to wait?
The service cannot give a ‘one size fits all’ answer to this question, as every arrangement is unique. Factors depend upon how many people are waiting for counselling, what your availability is, what you might need, and when a suitably experienced therapist becomes available. The wait can be from three weeks to several months. Sometimes if we have been trying for 3 - 4 months and are still unable to secure a suitable arrangement, despite our best efforts, we will contact you to reassess the situation. The service does not routinely contact people on the waiting lists until an arrangement has been made, but you may phone to check on progress at any time while on our waiting list.

I need help urgently – can someone see me?
We are not able to manage emergencies or provide ongoing crisis support, but if you or someone you know needs urgent help relating to their mental health, please refer to our downloadable document below.

Can I have flexible appointments?
Our counsellors offer you a commitment and reserve your weekly session and will not allocate this time to anyone else. For this reason, we ask you to commit to attending weekly sessions. We cannot offer sessions fortnightly, monthly or intermittently, and we cannot offer extended or repeated breaks during your counselling contract.