• 24/7 Telephone Access
• Local managers to liaise with Occupational Health and Human Resource staff
• Issues are dealt with quickly
• Counsellors across South Wales local to client office and home bases

Using a Brief Solution Focused therapy approach, our counsellors work positively to empower each client to enhance self awareness and coping skills. Our counsellors use strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Human Givens and Neuro-Linguistic Programming as appropriate.

We recognise the wide range of difficulties clients may be experiencing and IMPACT counsellors have additional training and specific expertise with issues such as stress and anxiety, depression, substance misuse, bereavement, relationship problems, domestic violence, and post traumatic stress.

In addition counsellors have worked with adult survivors of abuse and received referrals from police investigations such a Flight and Goldfinch.

IMPACT has counsellors who offer couples counselling.

Counsellors have access to a clinical psychologist for advice and support.

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We provide Independent confidential counselling

Face to face

• One to one sessions
• Appointments are at appropriate venues near to client's work or home
• Appointment times are agreed between a client and the counsellor taking account of working arrangements etc.
• Issues discussed may be personal or work related recognising how they impact on one another.

Telephone counselling

• Appointments are agreed between a client and a counsellor at suitable times.
• The counsellor telephones the client at the agreed time
• Clients need access to a private telephone where there will be no interruptions
• Sessions are up to 50 minutes long

On line counselling

• Clients need access to a computer
• Suitable for clients who need appointments to suit particular circumstances
• The service Intranet is protected
• It provides a client with anonymity
• This is a good way to keep in touch with a counsellor for those clients who travel a lot for their work
• Client and counsellor communicate using emails or by instant messaging using MSN's Instant Messenger using a hotmail address).

IMPACT has counsellors who have completed the Diploma in Supervision for Counselling and Psychological Therapies and who provide individual and group supervision.

IMPACT supervisors have worked in statutory, voluntary and business organisations and are able to provide non line management supervision/professional consultation for other professionals and managers dealing with people. This enhances in house support offered by an organisation, particularly for staff in jobs involving high levels of stress.

Pressure of work and organisational change can undermine moral which affects service delivery. IMPACT mediators and counsellors will work with a team or group of staff to overcome disaffection and improve working relationships.

Working with conflict resolution

There may be disputes between members of staff, or between a manager and member of staff, which can drag on and become increasingly difficult to resolve. It will take staff time, result in formal processes and lead to loss of productive work time due to stress or sickness.

The introduction of a trained, experienced and independent mediator can help resolve the difficulty more quickly. Mediation is a structured, step by step process used to resolve conflict and to help parties reach agreement. It is confidential and speedy.

The mediator creates a safe environment, remains impartial and manages conflict constructively. Issues are explored and clarified, communication is promoted to enable the parties to generate options for a way forward, and the mediator helps the parties to reach win :win solutions.

A voluntary agreement is brokered and written up. Parties are invite to return to review the situation if necessary.
Our Mediators are well qualified, recognised and accredited to National Family Mediation, the UK College and the Legal Services Commission

In line with recent research IMPACT counselling has developed an approach to supporting managers and staff following a traumatic incident. Evidence about the need for a co-ordinated and supportive response concludes that early and appropriate treatment alliance will have a positive effect on the long-term outcome for those involved.

It is important organisations have in place a clear policy and procedure for dealing with traumatic events such as violence, accidents and death. Managers play a crucial role and need to feel supported and that there are appropriate supports open to their staff.

However current research is showing that a flexible response to staff after an incident is the most effective approach. People's own coping mechanisms need to be activated but they need to feel supported. During this time IMPACT staff would be available for support and flexible communication with staff.

We work with those staff who need help to understand their reactions, to rebuild their confidence and to develop their coping mechanisms. For a small number of staff there will be a need to refer on to the psychological services for longer term support.