InterActions strives to maintain a centre of excellence in the field of counselling and support services, helping to empower clients to their own well being.
InterActions ensures the quality, efficiency and safety of the counselling process through implementation of a code of practice and ethics by a confident team working together.
Our aim is to provide a safe and comfortable setting where problems can be explored confidentially so that there is an opportunity for clients to focus on their issues. Clients may also explore thoughts, feelings and sensations which may have accompanied the experience of those issues. They can then work through the counselling process in order for them to feel more empowered to live life as they so desire.
We offer a cost effective resource provided by qualified counsellors to businesses, organisations or individuals. Both daytime and evening counselling, with support, information and training is also available.
Referrals come from a variety of options, including Self referral, GP referral, Employer referral and Disciplinary referral.
More information is available in this site but please contact us should you need to discuss anything further.
CONTENTS:
Services include
- Stress and Trauma
- Loss & Bereavement
- Relationship Issues
- Abuse & Addictions
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Information.
Useful Links
SERVICES > STRESS & TRAUMA
Stress & Trauma covers a wide variety of circumstances. InterActions can help in many of these including:
Critical Incident Debriefing
A Critical Incident is any situation that causes someone to experience unusually strong emotional reactions which have the potential to interfere with their ability at the scene of an incident or later.
These reactions can be physical or emotional, with symptoms such as nausea, profuse sweating or chills or an increased pulse rate. Confusion, anger, grief numbness, isolation, flashbacks and memory loss are also common amongst those who have who have encountered a critical incident.
Contrary to the usual perception that only emergency personnel can suffer posttraumatic stress effects, they can be experienced by anyone witnessing or being involved in a traumatic event.
One method of reducing the onslaught of symptoms of posttraumatic stress is by carrying out critical incident debriefing in order to focus the facts rather than perceptions of what happened. This can be done in a group, or one on one with trained debriefers helping to jigsaw the facts together to form a truer picture of what actually occurred. Focus being on thoughts, feelings and reactions during and after the critical incident
Although it is advantageous to perform a critical incident debriefing as soon as possible, it is still possible to have an effective debriefing at any later time.
Trauma and Stress Management
Trauma is any event, which is out with the bounds of normal coping strategies of individuals. It includes the reactions that are present after trauma that would make even the strongest of us think something is wrong. Here, one thing that counsellors must keep reinforcing is that it was the "event" that was abnormal and not themselves.
Common reactions to traumatic events include:
- Recurring thoughts or nightmares
- Sleeping and eating changes
- Experiencing anxiety and fear
- Difficulty remembering trauma facts
- Feeling irritable angry and resentful
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Unable to face certain activities
- Short-term effects of stress: Dry mouth, pale face, faster breathing, tense muscles, butterflies, sweaty hands, decreased sensitivity to pain, senses become more acute, reduction in sex hormones.
-; Long-term effects of stress: Headache, insomnia, weight loss/gain, shakiness, nervousness, indegestion, skin problems, sexual problems, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, thrombosis, ulcers and muscular tension.
There are many ways in which you can help yourself manage your stress levels including:
exercising/eating/sleeping more regulary, talking to others and focussing on your strengths, setting yourself realistic goals and redefining your priorities.
| Stress and Trauma
| Loss & Bereavement
| Relationship
Issues | Abuse &
Addictions |
| Frequently Asked Questions | Contact Information | Useful Links | Back to Top |
| Frequently Asked Questions | Contact Information | Useful Links | Back to Top |
SERVICES > LOSS & BEREAVEMENT
Research into Loss and Bereavement has shown for a person to successfully move on with their life, they need to have worked through a range of tasks:
- Accept the reality of the loss or death
- Work through the pain or grief
- Adjust to an environment in which the deceased is missing
- To emotionally relocate the deceased and move on in life
Another type of loss that is explored with clients is a loss of childhood either through having to take on a parental role early in life or through living consistently in the fear of abuse whether verbal, physical of sexual.
| What May Be Normal Grief Reactions ? | |
| Feelings: | |
 |
Some of the common feelings that may be manifested during the grieving process are sadness, anger, fatigue, guilt, shock, anxiety, loneliness, helplessness, yearning or relief. |
| Physical Sensations: | |
| These can be overlooked in this time of grieving but similar, common reactions have been reported by clients in grieving counselling. They include tightness in the chest, dry mouth, breathlessness, over sensitivity to noise, weakness in muscles, lack of energy, emptiness in the stomach. | |
| Reactions and Behaviours: | |
| Common examples are disbelief, confusion, hallucinations, sleeping
problems, poor appetite, absent mindedness, social withdrawal, dreams
of the deceased, crying, avoidance or sighing. |
|
Counsellors are trained to listen for any underlying messages that the client is presenting and also to be watchful for their body language as this can help provide further understanding.
SERVICES > RELATIONSHIP ISSUES
The term 'relationships' can refer to many different types:- marriage; couples, including same sex relationships; siblings; parental; workplace, etc. There can be many reasons surrounding the breakdown of any relationship - following a death, moving house, unemployment, retirement, affairs, infertility, children reaching adolescence, children leaving home, birth of a first child, are a few examples.
As in other forms of counselling, it is important that the counsellor is sensitive to the values possessed by the client. InterActions counsellors aim to recognise the place of values in life and in relationships. Clients are therefore encouraged to make decisions according to their own personal values.
Communication is fundamental to any kind of relationship. It is when communication breaks down that individuals find the greatest difficulty in conveying to their partner, workmate, parent, etc what is troubling them. There is often a sense by the client of 'not being heard', 'understood' or even 'ignored' by their partner. InterActions counsellors work to fulfill a role of mediator of communication, assisting clients to re-open what can sometimes be described as 'long shut-down relationship', where they can learn to listen to each other, value the other person's perspective as well as the individual, thereby opening the channels of communication. Clients can explore issues important to them, set goals and be encouraged through therapy to take greater responsibility for themselves, their decisions and their relationships.
Clients can meet with an InterActions counsellor individually or as a couple. Individual therapy can be particularly useful where the client wishes to work on particular issues prior to being seen as a couple.
Clients with workplace, sibling, parental issues can work with an InterActions counsellor to look at ways in which their particular issues may be improved or resolved, including finding a way of accepting what is impossible to change.
| Stress and Trauma
| Loss & Bereavement
| Relationship
Issues | Abuse &
Addictions |
| Frequently Asked Questions | Contact Information | Useful Links | Back to Top |
| Frequently Asked Questions | Contact Information | Useful Links | Back to Top |
SERVICES > ABUSE & ADDICTIONS
Alcohol and drugs problems need to be explored in a slightly differently to other problems by trying to find out why there is a need for the dependency and also to educate in safe practices.
It is a myth that most people who abuse substances do it to get high, it is more often they misuse just to get by. Unfortunately, it is not until they have reached the "bottom of the barrel" will they accept that they need help. The bonus for the counsellor is that this leaves only one direction for the client to go and that is upward.
This, however, does not make it easy, as the client needs a great deal of will and determination to make progress.
Low self esteem, a lack of self worth and depression also go hand in hand with almost everyone involved with substance or alcohol abuse.
It is the role of the counsellor to explore and look at the options for the client to act upon or not. When successful, it is highly rewarding to see the smile on clients' faces at the end of a counselling process and see them start to take responsibility for themselves once more.
| Stress and Trauma
| Loss & Bereavement
| Relationship
Issues | Abuse &
Addictions |
| Frequently Asked Questions | Contact Information | Useful Links | Back to Top |
| Frequently Asked Questions | Contact Information | Useful Links | Back to Top |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
| What does InterActions offer ? | |
|
Education (eg Raising awareness) Support (eg Inside/outside the workplace) Training (eg On a specific topic to meet an individual's or organisation's needs) Critical Incident Debriefing (eg At times of crisis or trauma with follow up counselling where necessary) Counselling (eg Listening and exploring) |
| What is Counselling ? | |
| Counselling is a process where you need to discuss your
problems on a one-to-one basis in a safe, confidential environment.
It also allows you to :- - Talk through a problem/situation to understand it more fully - Explore options for effectively handling the situation - Develop a greater self awareness and skills for coping with the problem - This, in turn, allows the client to take responsibility for their own well-being |
|
| What Counselling isn't : | |
| Counselling is not being given solutions, being told what to do or having ideas forced upon you. Neither is it a "coffee and a chat" | |
| What can You expect ? | |
| Someone who will listen to you Someone who will not judge you Someone who will value and respect you |
|
| Who seeks counselling ? | |
| Any individual, no matter their age, gender, culture
or race. Employers or organisations looking to offer extra support to their employee/client. |
|
| When and where would counselling take place ? | |
| At the first meeting, a schedule is agreed which includes, how often, how long and where each session will take place before a review is performed. The venue can be at you home, workplace or our counselling rooms, Contemporary Therapy Clinic. | |
| How much does it cost ? | |
| There is a standard charge for the first meeting of £10. At this meeting subsequent session costs are agreed for an hourly rate - normally between £15 and £25. Each contract is negotiated individually to allow us to consider the different circumstances of each client. | |
| What happens if I can't talk to the counsellor ? | |
| InterActions recognise that there could be problems such as a personality clash. In these situations we will offer the client the choice of working with another counsellor. | |
| Who else would know what I am discussing with the counsellor ? | |
| The counsellor supervisor would know details of your
discussions in accordance with the BAC/COSCA Code of Practice &
Ethics, however no information is shared without prior consent from
the client. Issues may be discussed with other counsellors but no
names are given/requested to ensure client confidentiality. Restricted information would be given to employers or GP's if they were the source of the referral. |
|
| Can counsellors be trusted ? | |
| YES. All counsellors working with InterActions are affiliated to BAC or COCSA. The Code of Practice and Ethics of these governing bodies therefore bind them. There is also related complaint procedures which safeguard the client. | |
| What types of problems can you help with ? | |
| Personal - ranging from trauma and stress to problems
with work collegues Family - Relationships, abuse, violence or any other situation you find yourself having difficulty coping with. Health - including illness/injury that may make life unpleasant or difficult for you or your family. |
|
| What other issues can you help with ? | |
| Bereavement - loss/period of grieving - each person
is unique therefore loss is coped with differently and also varies
in the length of time required. Alcohol or substance abuse - Confidential help can be arranged through GP, hospital or InterActions Financial - to establish whether the problem is critical/minor/temporary and to discuss the various types of assistance available. |
|
| What if I have problems at work ? | Problems such as bullying/harassment, sickness, absence, redeployment, redundancy or retirement can be explored and coping strategies agreed to deal with the problems. |
| Stress and Trauma
| Loss & Bereavement
| Relationship
Issues | Abuse &
Addictions |
| Frequently Asked Questions | Contact Information | Useful Links | Back to Top |
| Frequently Asked Questions | Contact Information | Useful Links | Back to Top |
CONTACT INFORMATION
Office Location:
83 St. Clair Sreet
Kirkcaldy
Fife, KY1 2NW
Our office is located approximately 30 yards down from the traffic lights with Junction Road
and approximately 100 yards up from the Rio Bingo.
Postal Address:
InterActions
PO Box 26724
Kirkcaldy
Fife, KY1 2WN
Telephone: 01592 262869 (24hr Answering Service)
E-Mail: info@interactions.uk.com
Business Hours:
Mon-Fri: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Sat: 9:00am to 12:30pm
Sun: Closed
| Stress and Trauma
| Loss & Bereavement
| Relationship
Issues | Abuse &
Addictions |
| Frequently Asked Questions | Contact Information | Useful Links | Back to Top |
| Frequently Asked Questions | Contact Information | Useful Links | Back to Top |
USEFUL LINKS
Confederation of Scottish Counselling Agencies
Offers support to counselling organisations and provides a forum for information exchange as well as guidance, consultancy and training materials for clients, counsellors and the general public.
British Association for Counselling and Psycotherapy
Promoting education and training for counsellors and the better understanding of counselling. You can search the site for a list of local counsellors in your area.
Researchweb
Aiming to provide a sound knowledge base for those involved in social work and social care practice and policy.
Royal College of Psychiatrists
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the professional and educational body for psychiatrists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
British Psychological Society
Provides information on and produces a directory of Chartered Psychologists throughout Britain.
British Confederation of Psychotherapists
The BCP is a linking body of psychoanalytic psychotherapy societies including those with the longest established trainings in the UK, and also some newer societies.
National Register of Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists
(NRHP) is a leading, non-profit making, register of qualified hypno-psychotherapists.
United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy
Has a National Register of Psychotherapists and a directory of training and services. Offers information on finding a therapist and advice on training to be one.
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