Who are we?
The Clockwork Charitable Trust is a registered charity based in Oxted, Surrey, which offers support and information to young adults in Oxted and the surrounding district suffering with difficult emotional, family or personal circumstances.
Clockwork is now able to provide free and confidential counselling to young people aged 14-24 in the Oxted area, working in partnership with Heads Together, East Surrey. This service is provided by qualified counsellors supported by experienced supervisors.
Why would I want counselling?
Sometimes life can be really difficult and it can feel hard to cope on your own. At times like this it is OK to ask for help. Young people might come to us for lots of different reasons, such as feelings of anxiety or depression; difficulties with family or friends; worries about school, college or work; self-harm or drug taking; or concerns about gender, sexuality or sex.
How do I book an appointment?
Please email Clockwork at support@clockwork.org.uk and we will call you back or email you, whichever you prefer. We will ask you some basic questions such as contact details and how we may be able to help you. In some circumstances we may direct you to seek a referral from your GP or another professional but, otherwise, the next step would be for you to have a referral session with a counsellor. Together, you and the counsellor will look at the options available to help and decide on the best next steps for you.
What about the cost?
Our service is free to use. We rely on donations and fundraising to be able to continue to support young people in our community, and so if you wish to make a donation we would appreciate it, but this is not a requirement and there is no pressure to do so.
What will happen in my counselling session?
Meetings with your counsellor will be private and will usually last for 50 minutes. You can talk about anything that is concerning you. Our counsellors are friendly and supportive and won’t judge you. Your counsellor will not tell you what to do, but will give you the time and space to get to know yourself better and will help you think through things for yourself. Most young people are offered the opportunity to come initially for eight weekly sessions with one of our counsellors. During the Covid-19 pandemic, all sessions are currently done on-line, although face to face sessions will be available in the future, when the Covid-19 situation allows this to be done safely.
What about confidentiality?
We know how important it is for young people to feel confident they can trust their counsellor. Nothing you tell us or your counsellor will be passed on to anyone without your consent, unless we think that you or any other person will be in danger. Even then, we would try to talk to you about it first.