York Women’s Counselling Service welcomes North York High Sheriff

We were delighted to welcome Clare Granger, High Sheriff of North Yorkshire to visit York Women’s Counselling Service (YWCS) last week. It was an honour to show her around our premises and our counselling rooms and explain in detail how our services runs.

Clare met with Emma Drake, our Counselling Manager, and Aishah Malik, who is a trainee psychotherapist with the Service as well as Liza Miller, Deputy Chair of Trustees and Fiona Hills, YWCS Administrative Support Officer.

Clare heard how we specially aim to reach women with limited financial means who cannot afford private therapy and whose needs are too complex for short-term counselling services. Emma, our Counselling Manager explained the high level of demand for our services in York and the overwhelming response that we experience when we open our waiting list. This often means we need to close it again after only a few days (so that those on the waiting list do not have a long time to wait) which is difficult for our committed team of staff and volunteers.

Emma said

Counsellors who volunteer with us are the beating heart of our service and their wellbeing and support are paramount. It’s a privilege for me to mentor our qualified and trainee counsellors and provide a listening ear to all members of our team. Through our activities we aim to give back to our volunteers and we are proud to have many long standing team members.

Left to right: Liza Miller (Trustee), Emma Drake (Counselling Manager) Clare Granger (High Sheriff of North Yorkshire) Fiona Hills (Admin Support Officer) Aishah Malik (Trainee Psychotherapist)

Following her visit Clare commented

It is very moving to hear about the need that the Service is meeting and it is very rewarding for everyone to know that you are all making such a difference to women in distress. It is wonderful that so many are prepared to give of their time on a voluntary basis in this way. Not only that, but the Service also clearly hugely supports those counsellors who are in training. One could really feel the warmth and respect with which everyone involved in the Service is treated.