1. COUNSELLING IN LATER LIFE
David Richards, Psychotherapist
& previously Counselling Services Manager, Age UK Camden

2. Emotional needs in later life
Loneliness: importance of relationships and social interaction
Housing: need for safe and secure accommodation
Equally need for personal contentment & peace of mind

3. Why counselling? Counselling is not for all
Important emotional needs may be met by other experiences/services:
E.g. reliable group of family/friends
Befriending, social/support groups
Our social/support needs vary

4. Internal world
Our psychological needs reflect our character and our personal history
Our situation in later life may have changed, esp. in terms of experience of loss
Our needs may therefore be similar or different than in the past

5. Camden’s approach
Age Concern Camden (as it was in 1998) identified research about depression in parts of the borough within communities of older adults
ACC bid for funding from two trust funds, one local and one national

6. Funding & Resources Initial funding was just for 18 months
One p/t Counselling Manager
Use of volunteer counsellors (trainees wishing to develop their clinical experience): expenses paid
Thus limited financial resources to support a fully functioning service

7. How it worked 1 Manager assessed each client referred
Clients referred by GPs and other professionals
But clients could also self-refer
Provision of home visits where needed

8. How it worked 2
Volunteer counsellors provided weekly sessions for up to one year
Counsellors attended clinical supervision with manager on fortnightly basis
Volunteers attended regular training workshops run by ACC

9. Ongoing funding
Further funding was successfully achieved, initially from the local Primary Care Group
This has developed over time into a new partnership (from 2011) with the local NHS Trust

10. Why so few? 1
It is important to ask the question: Why have there been so few other counselling services within local Age UK agencies?
Resources may always be limited, but Camden’s experience shows what can be achieved

11. Why so few? 2
Is there some resistance to setting up a psychological service within the Age UK environment?
Such a service is of course different to many of the other kinds of services commonly provided, which are primarily practical and social

12. Why so few? 3
Maybe there’s lack of understanding about what is required to establish a counselling service?
Maybe emotional/psychological support is seen as less important than practical/social support?
We are living longer: emotional needs are also very important…