Wimbledon Guild Encourage Residents To Be Alert

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Mental Health Awareness Week 2015

The Wimbledon Guild would like to draw people’s attention and support for Mental Health Awareness Week (11 - 17 May). It is a vital opportunity for people to be more alert to mental wellbeing and to look to the ones they love and to themselves. Awareness is key and often a lack of it is what causes problems to develop and worsen.

John Priestley, Head of counselling, the Wimbledon Guild says: ‘People often don’t share their feelings and talk to people if they feel sad, anxious, stressed or depressed. As a result, friends and family are often completely unaware. Often emotional health is overlooked; many people don’t know where to turn or feel unable to express how they feel, which can easily lead to problems. Often just talking these through early on can prevent emotional issues which can be damaging in the long term.

He continues: ' At the Wimbledon Guild, we offer therapy sessions for all ages and have seen a huge amount of people benefit simply from being able to talk freely about how they are feeling and gain the support they need.’

Client quotes 'I have had some counselling before but I didn’t find it helpful at the time. At first, I wasn’t sure if it would be ok but now that I am coming to the end of 60 sessions, I notice how much has changed for me. My counselling has become really important to me; it has been so helpful, now I feel ready to move forward with my life.' Male – 21years 'It has been really interesting, sometimes difficult and awkward but I feel I can manage stuff a lot better now.' Female – 20yrs "My friend suggested I come to counselling and I thought it would not be as helpful as it turned out to be. I was struggling with depression and sometimes feeling suicidal, now I feel more stable and able to manage my feelings." Female - 16years "I know now, that if I was struggling again, I would always consider counselling. The Wimbledon Guild has been great." Male - 18years

More about Head of Counselling:
John has worked as Head of Counselling at local charity, the Wimbledon Guild for 18 years providing one of the largest BACP accredited counselling services in South London.
John specialises in one-to-one psychotherapy including working with people presenting a level of risk of suicide. He is responsible for a team of more than 100 volunteer counsellors, providing one to one counselling, family therapy, youth counselling and group psychotherapy.
Prior to taking this post, John was a research fellow at St George's Hospital Medical School He studied at the University of East Anglia and trained initially with the British Association of Psychotherapists. He is recognised in the sector as a leading Jungian psychotherapist and is also a qualified Schema Therapist.

May 11, 2015