This Mental Health Awareness Week we chat to Caroline, who provides companions with regular counselling.
At Emmaus Oxford, we understand the significance of addressing mental health concerns and providing the necessary support for our companions. To mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 we chat to Caroline, who has offered in-house counselling sessions for Emmaus Oxford companions since 2017.
‘A typical counselling day at Emmaus Oxford starts by preparing the counselling room. I take the art materials from the cupboard, water the plants, open the windows to allow some fresh air to flow through, put out water for clients to drink, and hang the ‘counselling in progress’ signs on the door outside.
Before each client, I like to have some time to myself. I might meditate or practise some other form of mindfulness such as focused breathing or yoga, so that I’m ready to give all my attention to companions in my sessions.
When a companion moves to Emmaus Oxford, they are supported by having across the board stability including private living space, regular meals, support from Emmaus staff and a feeling of value by working at the store. I feel that this contributes to their well-being and gives them a stable and structured platform from which to start. If needed (which isn’t always the case) I will evaluate their mental health and offer further support from counselling with me and/or other support agencies.
I support companions by providing them with a regular weekly safe and confidential space. In my sessions companions can express themselves and talk about what difficulties life is currently presenting them with. I realise that not everyone is comfortable with expressing themselves verbally, so I am very open to using art making, writing etc to help with this. The most common areas that we might explore together and create life strategies for are:
Understanding what emotions are and why we have them.
Knowing and linking our bodies to our emotions.
How we can lessen overwhelming emotions and react proportionately to a situation.
Identifying current unhelpful thinking styles and discovering more helpful ones.
Identifying how we can best transact and communicate with others and ourselves.
Reframing our unhelpful perceptions of events and other people.
Grief and loss.
Understanding any previous mental health diagnosis/’s we may have been given. Developing confidence to voice our needs.
Identifying other professionals for further support.
A companion can see me for a one-off session, a short number of sessions (perhaps 6-15) or, on some occasions, long-term support over several years. Emmaus Oxford also enable companions to see me for some further sessions, after they have moved on to independent living, to help with the transition.
I really enjoy developing relationships with my companion clients and helping them grow more self-esteem, autonomy over managing their mental health and increased self-awareness. I love it when companions come back to visit after they have moved on and tell me what they have been up to.’