Albert Centre Services & Projects

Care Planned Counselling

Counselling is provided in a number of locations including central Middlesbrough, West Middlesbrough, Redcar and Hartlepool.

There are times when it is not possible to talk openly and freely with family and friends. The Albert Centre offers confidential, client centred counselling for individuals experiencing problems in relation to Alcohol and/or Drug use/misuse. The Agencies counsellors use methods such as motivational interviewing, which assist individuals in identifying issues relating to their current situation.

Definition of Counselling

The agency subscribes to BACP (British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy) guidelines.

The Albert Centre and outreach services offer this service to anyone affected by drug and alcohol misuse.

Counselling takes place when a counsellor sees a client in a private and confidential setting to explore the difficulty the client is having, distress they may be experiencing or perhaps their dissatisfaction with life or loss of a sense of direction and purpose.

By applying Carl Rogers core conditions (empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard) the counsellor can begin to perceive the difficulties form the client's point of view. It is the counsellor's task to enable the client to make contact with his/her own inner resources rather that to advise, lead or in some other way influence the direction the client should take. (Person Centred Counselling).

Frequently asked questions

1. How will I benefit from counselling?

By exploring aspects of your life and feelings, talking about them freely and openly in a way that is rarely possible with friends and family can help you to see things more clearly.

2. How long will I require counselling and how long are the sessions?

One hour per week for initially 8 weeks. The length of counselling will vary on the individual, some will need more some will need less. This will be determined between you and your counsellor.

3. How confidential are the sessions?

The sessions are confidential between you and your counsellor. Information will only be given to other agencies with your prior approval, with the exception of any Child Protection issues. We have a Confidentiality Policy, which can be discussed with your counsellor in more detail.

4. Can I change my counsellor if I am not satisfied with the one I have?

You have the right to change your counsellor, but if you make repeated requests to change counsellors we are unlikely to be able to grant your request.

Information & Advice

The Albert Centre has produced various leaflets specific to areas of interest/concern including Drug Information, Women & Alcohol, Substance Misuse and the body, Harm Reduction and Risk Reduction in relation to alcohol and drug using practices.

Support

We provide people with one to one support enabling them to address their substance misuse problems.

Training

The Albert Centre offers a variety of training opportunities including:

Volunteer Counselling Training

The Albert centre offers training, which can result in a placement as a volunteer counsellor for individuals who are working towards diploma in counselling (or equivalent course). There may be a charge for this training.

Motivational Interviewing Training

Motivational Interviewing is a particular way to help people to recognize and do something about their present or potential problems. It is particularly useful with people who are reluctant to change and ambivalent about changing. The counsellor proceeds with a strong sense of purpose, clear strategies and skills for pursuing that purpose and a strong sense of timing to intervene in particular ways at incisive moments.

Alcohol Awareness Training

These courses are aimed at professionals who come into contact with anyone who may have an alcohol related problem.

The Albert Centre can also provide expert training to help organisations and businesses manage the misuse of alcohol and drugs at work in support of their alcohol and drugs policy.

For further information and dates of training on the above courses please see our training page.

Drink-Drive Rehabilitation Course

Courses are run in conjunction with the Department of Transport and Magistrates' Courts of Teesside, North Yorkshire and South Durham. Courses are currently available in Middlesbrough, Darlington, Hartlepool, Harrogate, York, Scarborough and Catterick Garrison.

Primary Alcohol & Drug Service  UHNT

The PADS team are based in the University Hospital of North Tees. The overall aim of PADS is to provide an early intervention service within the hospital offering advice, information, harm reduction, support, counselling and referral of clients to appropriate agencies. Patients are referred from the A&E department/hospital wards/Consultants.

Telephone: 01642 624715

Primary Alcohol & Drugs Service JCUH

The PADS team are based in the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. The overall aim of PADS is to provide an early intervention service within the hospital offering advice, information, harm reduction, support, counselling and referral of clients to appropriate agencies. Patients are referred from the A&E department/hospital wards/Consultants.

Telephone:  01642 835609

Drug Counsellor

Provides 1 to 1 care planned counselling interventions for Middlesbrough residents suffering from drug misuse, so that they can work towards living in a more positive and resourceful way. This service is a fully integrated part of the Safer Middlesbrough Partnership drug treatment model.

Telephone: 01642 221484

Redcar Albert Centre

The aim of the Alcohol Co-ordination team is to set out a package of support and treatment to help address whatever your individal needs are; with the overall aim of enabling you to overcome any alcohol issues.

Based on your inital assessment your jkey worker will work together with you to draw up a care-plan based on your individual needs. Together you will decide what support may be required to help you over come your alcohol problem.

Redcar Albert Centre counselling is a specific one to one intervention conducted over a number of weeks by a qualified counsellor who will work with you to explore any difficulties you may be having or any underlying issues that may be contributing to your alcohol use.

The team run a number of different groups appropriate to a wide range of needs including a strictly abstinence based group. Although the groups are small, we understand that people can be worried about attending, especially for the first time. Howerver, groups are proven to be an effective way of helping people create change and provide support. The groups are run within a number of venues in the Redcar and Cleveland area. For more information, please contact us.

Telephone: 01642 493838