Client working with Young Persons' Counsellor

Until you have been through this yourself you can only ever read and try to understand how people feel when they write in the PARCS feedback book. Its like reading an autobiography, you’re reading how people feel but it doesn’t always touch your heart. To some they are just words on a page from a random. For the funding people reading this they may be empty words but to me they are from the heart.

I saw myself as damaged and non repairable. So emotionally confused and not knowing why I felt this way. Nothing linked together, the way I thought and the way I felt were at war with each other. I felt like a shell, holding up another thing inside me that wasn’t me. All these different components battling and arguing and all I could do is sit back and let them. There wasn’t any point in trying to work with them because they were uncontrollable. They wore me down, wore me out physically and emotionally. Everything was ok for the first second of every day then the realism kicked in and I would go back to feeling different. What 18 year old is at war with herself – me – that’s who. I’ve learnt I am important and nothing is going to be easy. Its going to be a journey of raw emotions and bad memories. But I will get there because of PARCS and that is from the heart.

I’d be a broken girl if it wasn’t for these people. My doctor told my mum that I wasn’t stable enough to be left on my own, one week after that I joined PARCS and from the moment I walked in I instantly felt like a little child needing someone’s care and I got it. Please don’t take that away from me.

Client who has received face to face counselling

Thank you for the opportunity to come and try to resolve my issues. As it turned out there was a whole lot more I had stored inside and carried guilt for. The relief to know ‘it wasn’t my fault’ no matter what the situation was has helped me no end. I feel I am coming towards the end of my journey and I hope the nightmares will become less and the memories become a distant past. One thing about my past, it has contributed to who I am today and that aint a bad thing. I am not good at this sort of thing, so a massive thank you to the lady who has listened and been there. THANK YOU

Client who has received face to face counselling

It’s hard to put into words what I wanted to say – if it was not for PARCS I would not care enough to write anything. This is the first time I have written in this book. I was too angry to write anything before. I am still angry but my anger is more understood to me now. PARCS is enabling me to explore where it came from, and also realise that whatever happened doesn’t have to affect the rest of my life.

Client who has received face to face counselling

I have been with PARCS now for a few months and the difference the counselling is making to me already is immense. I no longer have to keep the dark shades of my childhood hidden from view inside my head and I now see the opportunity of no longer having to live life as a victim of my circumstances. I hope dearly that PARCS will continue to receive funding and be able to continue its good works for they have started to make a difference in my life and reading the other comments here, they are making a huge difference to other peoples lives too. I am very blessed to be receiving help, advise, counselling and support from some very special people here and without them, without PARCS I would not have been brave enough to even start on this path and would have remained half empty, filled with little dark shaded secrets for the rest of my life.

Client who has received face to face counselling

Just started my counselling was very apprehensive, glad I came, got on well with my counsellor. It’s going to be a long hard road ahead but I’m determined to see it through.

Client who has received face to face counselling relating to Domestic Abuse 

it is a fantastic service, for the first time in a long time I have some breathing space and time to think about me.

Client who has received face to face counselling relating to Domestic Abuse

A very helpful and pleasant experience. I’m really benefitting and the staff are lovely

Stern Review

Dear Ms Hosier

I would like to extend my great appreciation to you and your team for sharing your knowledge and experience around the issue of rape at our recent meeting as part of the Stern Review into how rape complaints are handled.

Your contribution has been invaluable in informing my thinking around the issue”.

Baroness Vivien Stern CBE

 17^th December 2009