Photo: Eleanor King
We provide confidential counselling to support clergy and their families in times of personal difficulty. There is also support available to clergy, their spouses and families in the form of Bishops' Visitors.
The Counselling and Wellbeing service is a professional, free service and is independent of church structures.
Clergy, their spouses and children can all use the service, which is funded from trusts established specifically for couples and families. Counselling for couples and families is also available.
Sally Walters is the adviser for this service. She is happy to be contacted for any difficulties, large or small.
The service is well used and requests have included:
- Personal or professional relationship difficulties
- Bullying
- Stress in the clergy home
- Depression, anxiety or other mental health issues
- Loss and bereavement
- Financial worries
- Addictions
- Tiredness, insomnia, overwork
- Unresolved traumas
- Managing change
- Long term illness
- Low confidence and poor self-esteem
What’s involved?
Counselling offers a safe and confidential place in which to reflect, without rush, on issues that are concerning you. Counsellors are trained to listen and engage in a sympathetic, respectful and non-judgemental way with how a person is feeling, to provide a safe and confidential environment for reflection.
If you contact Sally, she will first discuss your situation with you, and together decide the right way forward. This usually means a meeting, which will be followed by ongoing support if required. The advisor may suggest referral to one of a range of therapists around the diocese who are all experienced practitioners and hold an up to date DBS disclosure. This enables greater flexibility to meet your needs and location.
This service is available to clergy and their families, and Sally welcomes enquiries from anyone needing help at any given time. There are child and adolescent, and couples specialists available within our therapists referral system.
Who to contact
Sally Walters, Adviser in Counselling and Wellbeing
Downloads
Financial support is also available to clergy in Bath and Wells, download the documents below to find out more: