Connections Core Values
Client-centred values
Counselling should be accessible to everyone, but it isn’t always. So, what are the barriers that people face?
Accessible to everyone
Financial: It is well known that we are in a mental health crisis in the UK, it is also known that the lowest socioeconomic sector of society has the poorest mental health. This means that those who need access to this service the most, are those who face challenges in being able to afford it. While we cannot remove this barrier, we intend to build bridges over it through funding, providing a free and/or pay what you can access to help. If you are unable to pay the counsellors going rate, please let us know and we can discuss our access program with you.
A missed session is a no-show or cancellation within 24hrs of the scheduled time. We feel that charging you for a missed session is outside of our ethical values of helping you. Sometimes life can just get in the way and you might just simply be unable to face a session, or something happened last minute, or you simply forgot. We will not penalise you for this. We do however need to emphasise the importance of the commitment to the therapeutic relationship and should this happen more than twice, we will discuss with you whether or not this is the right time for you to be in this mutually committed relationship.
Physical: We are inclusive, not normative. Not everyone can access the traditional counselling room and Connections provides online access. We understand that even working online can be problematic for some and plan on offering a range of access, such as home visits and walk-and-talk after we have become established fully next year. When our in-person counselling space has opened, it will be fully accessible for people who have mobility challenges.
Nurtured Connections
Circumstance: Should you choose to disconnect from our services, we will endeavour to make sure that this is by choice as apposed to challenging circumstances. If you do not attend any appointments, we will attempt to make contact with you to see how we might remain of help.
Stigma: Whilst more of society is accepting of mental health support, there are still some big hurdles, particularly for men and stigmas surrounding counselling being for people who are broken or weak. The truth couldn’t be further from this lie. Not only is it a sign of strength to actively seek change for personal development or from a place of suffering but it is a self-serving responsibility to look after ourselves, physically, mentally and emotionally. Seeking counselling is a proactive and strength-based action and considered part of your overall self-care, just like physical health practices.
Holistic and Tailored Approaches: Connections aims to offer flexible, personalized therapy with diverse modalities (e.g., CBT, somatic therapy, person-centred approaches) to cater to individual client needs. This will allow you to co-create your therapeutic plan, ensuring counselling is adapted to your preferences and circumstances.
Relational values
Accessible to everyone
Counselling is for everyone: At Connections, we believe that everyone benefits from therapeutic relationships. Whilst many seek change and growth from a place of rupture (through repair and into growth), growth can also come from a place of neutrality, like a seed being watered. We understand what is known as the actualising tendency – a natural desire within us all to fulfil our potential – and are here to help you engage with yours.
Nurtured Connections
Mutual commitment: Relationships take work and are built over time with communication. We will be authentic, empathetic and hold you in positive regard to help create an environment where you feel safe enough to bring every part of yourself, ensuring mutual relational growth.
Transparency and Collaborative Feedback: We will nurture a transparent therapeutic process and emphasize collaborative feedback between clients and counsellors. You are encouraged to provide feedback and counsellors to adapt based on that feedback, ensuring the process is co-created and responsive.
Engagement with the Local Community: We will also build community connections by offering peer support groups, workshops, and outreach programs to reduce isolation and foster a sense of belonging. Counsellors and clients both benefit from being part of a larger, supportive local community that reinforces mental health outside the therapy room.
Blended power balance
As counsellor, also client: We work to maintain as much as possible a power balance in our relationships and demonstrate that in various ways. For example, having our own counsellors so we are both counsellor and client, understanding the full sphere of the therapeutic relationship and a and a shared experience of the therapeutic process. We are not experts and do not give out advice.
Compassion & Empathy
Creating a safe space: We will work together to create an environment where you feel safe enough to be able to bring anything that you are dealing with into conversation. We will be with you, listening and accepting of what challenges you are facing.
Counsellor-centred values
Nurtured Connections
Always actively listening: Connections is here to listen and help you create change in your life by providing a supportive, professional relationship. All connections received responded to, we will always answer within 2 business days and never let an attempt go unanswered.
Active self-care
Counsellor self-care: To be there for you, we must also be there for ourselves. We recognise there can be longer term complexities in working in mental health and make sure that we look after our counsellors, so that they can help you. We make sure each of our counsellors engages in an active self-care plan and takes time off where necessary.
Professional Development
Continual Professional Development: We all commit to regular continual CPD, including specific training in trauma, suicide awareness, and cultural competence.
Supervision: We have regular supervision where we bring our client work into conversation as another tool of help for you, our client. This helps us to not only reflect on our practice but stay updated on best practices.
Trauma Informed practice: All CC’s are suicide and trauma aware, having undertaken CPD specific to these areas.
Systemic Care: Trauma-informed care will be central to the practice, recognizing how social, cultural, and systemic factors impact mental health. We will create a safe and empowering place for those who have experienced trauma, taking into account societal and systemic inequalities.
Social Awareness
Anti-discrimination practice: We aim to create an inclusive, safe, and equitable environment for all clients by actively addressing biases and ensuring respect for diverse identities. This includes ongoing cultural competence training, using inclusive language, and adapting therapeutic approaches to clients' backgrounds. Counsellors follow ethical guidelines that forbid discrimination, ensure accessibility and recognize the impact of social inequalities on mental health. We adopt a client-centred approach that empowers individuals, integrates trauma-informed care, and remains open to feedback, ensuring that marginalized clients feel respected and supported.
Sustainability and Environmental Consciousness: Connections will be run in an environmentally sustainable way by adopting eco-friendly practices such as reducing waste, using energy-efficient resources, and integrating sustainability into the day-to-day operations of the practice.
As clients having experienced aspects of the therapeutic industry, we felt there were better ways to go about certain industry standards. Connections is being built upon its counsellors’ experiences and core values and work from the following principals:
Accessible to Everyone
Nurtured Connections
Blended Power Balance
Active Self-care
Professional Development
Social & Cultural Awareness
Compassion & Empathy
The therapeutic relationship is one where two people meet for the benefit of one, but we must both commit and meet for it to be of benefit. Please click on the above headings for details surrounding our core values.
“The actuality of Life tends to transcend the binary of black or white; it’s often more an intricately layered balance and blend of both. Deep within this rainbow of grey, we can discover the richness of experience and opportunities in life, which is unique to every individual on their journey. This is where we will connect, where change begins and growth occurs.”
Ian Nicholson-Kapasi