Western Counselling in Africa.

Western Counselling has been working with The Addictions and Recovery Trust in Harare, Zimbabwe to set up a 12step recovery programme, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe.
 
Read our other articles about our time in Africa here and here.

 
The First Step opened 23 January 2017 in Harare. It is a recovery day programme delivering group sessions, workshops and 1:1 counselling to clients as part of an ongoing programme. Aftercare is delivered to those who’ve returned to Zimbabwe from treatment in South Africa and elsewhere and is a much-needed resource. The intention is to grow The First Step and deliver it nationally amongst the diverse communities.
 
Staff from The First Step have been trained in Weston super Mare with Western Counselling, learning about programme delivery, referrals and admissions, governance etc.
 
Carol, Amanda and Rob were in Harare for the opening of the new service. Carol was able to stay for 3weeks afterwards to help the staff and clients to integrate and “bed in” best practice and service delivery.
Ongoing The First Step will continue to be supported by Western Counselling with support, training, policy and practice updates, annual service audit and monthly line and external supervision.
 
Volunteers will travel to Zimbabwe to assist in all areas including support work, admin, recovery programme delivery and reciprocally Western Counselling will continue to train all new staff in the UK.
Western Counselling, staff and volunteers are extremely excited to be part of this new venture bringing addiction recovery resources to Zimbabwe.

from Western Counselling https://www.westerncounselling.com/blog/addiction-2/western-counselling-in-africa/
via Alcohol

Western Counselling in Zimbabwe

Week commencing 09 January 2017.

 
Read our previous entry.
 
We’ve arrived in Harare and its raining! Can you believe that? We leave the cold and frozen UK for Africa and its raining!! January is apparently the rainy season, we were warned, however nothing can quite prepare you for the deluge when it comes; lightening, thunder and torrential downpour that can last for hours.
 
So, why are we here?
 
Western Counselling is partnering with a not for profit organisation called The Addictions and Recovery Trust who are starting the process of educating Zimbabwe about addictions and recovery. We are assisting them in setting up their first project which is a 12 Step day programme in Harare, The First Step.
 
Last year, Amanda travelled over to start the process and meet with the team and since September 2016 we’ve had members of the team from The First Step training at Western Counselling learning about treatment programme delivery, referrals and admissions, policy and protocols etc. Its been an honour to host them and have them as part of our team and we intend this to continue in 2017 and onwards. Amanda is back in Harare with Carol and Rob to assist with the launch of The First Step on Monday 23 January.
 

The First Step is delivering a structured and boundaried 12 Step day programme incorporating many of Western Counselling’s unique elements and educational workshops. When Amanda and Rob return to Weston super Mare at the end of January, Carol will stay on to assist Ndaba, Dave, Penny et al to deliver the programme; she will return to us at Western Counselling in February.
 
Mid January a Loss to Addiction service was organised in Harare in collaboration with the Kurarama Trust. There was a programme of music and speakers sharing their stories of bereavement and loss, candle lighting and an opportunity to share and mourn as a community. Over 100 people attended the beautiful service.
 
The welcome and encouragement we have received since we arrived in Zim has been incredible. Interest has been received from all sectors of the community and we are all really excited to see what happens as the service develops and grows over the coming months and years.
 
Are you interested in travelling to Zimbabwe and volunteering with The First Step in Harare? Please follow the work of The Addiction and Recovery Trust and The First Step Africa on Facebook.
 
Amanda Thomas

from Western Counselling https://www.westerncounselling.com/blog/addiction-2/western-counselling-in-zimbabwe/
via Alcohol

Gender Based Addiction Treatment.

What are the main reasons women give for not wanting to go into an all women’s treatment centre?

 
At Western Counselling we offer a residential programme with single sex accommodation. An opportunity for men and women to focus on their core issues and explore and address issues with the opposite sex. Many women particularly find the thought of living in a single sex environment challenging and come up with a range of excuses as to why it won’t be suitable for them.
 
Some of the responses have been ‘it will be very bitchy’ or ‘there will be clashes’ or the best one I’ve heard up to now is ‘I get on better with men’’. These comments are from women that often have had no or very few positive healthy relationships with other women. They have few boundaries and are often in unhealthy relationships with men. There is an element of mistrust of other females and for many they have not had positive role models i.e. Mothers, Sisters etc.
 
So, how do we change this in treatment? When a new female comes into Western Counselling for the treatment of their addiction they are put with a fellow female peer, the peer is often someone that is further into the programme and is settled. They will look after the new person offering support and to show them the ropes and reassure them that they will settle. They will share a room with their buddy so they are not alone. After a couple of days the feedback is that the new person has settled well and has been made to feel welcome which is the opposite of their initial perception.
 
Our specific Female gender day is designed to address women’s issues that have frequently been experienced by most and a way of bonding. It may be going for a coffee together and chatting and laughing, something most haven’t done for a long time if ever. The women are taught other new skills from baking, card making or more recently flower arranging. They often have pamper afternoons where they will give each other a manicure and this helps with the bonding and learning to form good connections and relationships.
 
They soon realise that they don’t get on better with men they have found men easier to manipulate or that the relationship is very controlling. This comes from the workshops and by sharing their experiences.
 
Caroline Pantzelioudaki
Counsellor – special interest in women’s therapy.
Meet Caroline and the team

from Western Counselling https://www.westerncounselling.com/blog/residential-rehabilitation/womens-drug-rehabilitation-centres/
via Alcohol