“Since finding SLDAS for my counselling placement , I have felt supported and encouraged in every way by Polly and the team. There is real understanding from everyone of the commitment you need to have to keep training and how to help you grow individually as a counsellor. Having a peer support group is also invaluable. The whole place exudes energy , care and passion for their work to support women and you immediately feel welcomed into this community.”
Creating a counselling service from the ground up has been one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences of my career. At SLDAS, we recognised a real need for dedicated therapeutic support for women, and from that seed, a deeply considered and carefully constructed service has grown.
The journey began with months of preparation—researching policies, drafting procedures, and shaping clear agreements to ensure the highest standards of care. Every element was thoughtfully developed to reflect the complexity and sensitivity of the work we do, from safeguarding protocols to ethical frameworks and practical delivery.
We now proudly offer women up to 12 free weekly counselling sessions. These sessions provide a consistent and confidential space where clients are truly heard, held, and supported. What continues to inspire me on a daily basis is the sheer resilience, courage, and honesty of the women we work with. Their strength in seeking help, showing up each week, and doing the work is nothing short of remarkable. Supporting them through their journeys of recovery and self-discovery is a profound honour.
One of the most exciting developments has been the creation of a student placement service. We’ve built a robust structure where skilled and compassionate counselling students can take on up to five clients each. These students bring incredible dedication to their work, and in return, we offer them regular supervision and peer support. This has fostered not only professional growth but also a genuine sense of community within our counselling team. The mutual support, shared learning, and collective mission have made this a truly special environment.
‘Working with SLDAS on a counselling placement has given me the opportunity to enrich my skills and gain confidence in counselling practice. Working with such a supportive and passionate organisation has been deeply rewarding. Peer and managerial supervision has also been a great opportunity to learn, reflect and adapt. My time with SLDAS so far has only reinforced my passion for counselling and I continue to grow into a grounded practitioner.
The work is invaluable—not only for the women we support, but also for the students and team members who grow through this experience. There’s a deep sense of purpose in creating something that feels both responsive and sustainable, rooted in community values and compassion.
Looking to the future, we’re thrilled to announce that the service will soon expand to support young people aged 16–18. Thanks to the tireless work of our outreach team, who are actively engaging with local schools, we’ve identified a growing need for early intervention. By extending our counselling offer to younger clients, we hope to provide vital mental health support at a crucial time in their development. This will empower young people with the tools to process their experiences, build resilience, and feel less alone in what can often be overwhelming circumstances.
This service is more than just a project—it’s a testament to what can be achieved when empathy, structure, and community come together. I am so proud of what we’ve built and even more excited for what lies ahead.
Polly x