The Wallich’s Reflections Network is a reactive counselling service to help our service users deal with the trauma of homelessness and associated issues.
Our network of counsellors covers the whole of Wales and aim to connect people within 56 days of their referral.
We set up this service to ensure our service users who have experience of homelessness, mental health, substance use or the criminal justice system, have quicker access to the trauma-informed care that they need.
Since the launch of the Reflections Network in March 2019, we have facilitated more than 5,500 counselling appointments.
Nicola is based in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan and is trained in Humanist Existential and Acceptance Commitment Therapy.
Nicola joined the Reflections Network in 2019.
She said:
“I get huge satisfaction from seeing clients improving the quality of their lives or moving towards the lives that they want to lead.
This might be from recognising patterns of coping that are damaging, by understanding what it is they want to gain or perhaps by making steps to come to terms with past trauma and knowing that this does not need to define them.
The Reflections Network has always been supportive to me and to my role.
I think that the joined-up thinking and link between support staff and the service has always been strong, especially during crisis management.
This support is crucial and is not present in all organisations.”
Stephanie is both a counsellor and a life coach, having a wealth of experience working for organisations such as Mind, New Pathways and Action for Children, as well as having her own lived experience.
Stephanie was the first counsellor to join the Reflections Network in March 2019.
Stephanie said:
“Working with The Wallich and this client group gives me an immense feeling of job satisfaction.
I have found mostly all of my clients are suffering as adults, from the effects of adverse childhood experiences, which has led many people to depend on drugs and alcohol, as the present moment has always been an emotionally crippling place to live mentally and emotionally.
I find counselling has helped my clients to reflect on the past, to understand how their childhood has coloured their present moment and view of themselves. Furthermore, it has allowed them to become unstuck, move forwards, and take back their lives.
People with social anxiety have been able to take their lives back by finding the courage to finally go out and socialize, taking away the loneliness, isolation, depression and anxiety.
I feel it is most true to say, what makes working with this very vulnerable client group most effective is the continuing, ongoing support of the Reflections Network.
Knowing when working with a suicidal client, I can call upon The Wallich Reflections Network Manager, Steve, to put a team of support workers in place to support clients, at a time when they are at their most vulnerable, and support is most needed, gives me as a Counsellor a great peace of mind.
I think it is more than fair to say, many organisations could benefit from adopting the principles, values and ethics of the Reflections Network.”
Cardiff-based counsellor Sue is a systemically trained counsellor with existential thinking.
Sue has worked with a diverse range of clients including people dealing with suicidal ideation or intent, disordered eating, Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, substance use and more.
Sue joined the Reflections Network in 2020.
She said:
“My job isn’t to tell the client what to do – I’m very client-led, and often the client will come with a plan to make a change in their lives. But when they begin exploring what that will look like, they realise they’re happy with how things are – acceptance is everything.
I have found the Reflections Network to be very well managed, both from my perspective, and the clients’.
People who have experienced trauma or adverse childhood experiences (ACES) often live in a state of hypervigilance. I help them to learn the difference between real and perceived threat.
I find that the most important thing I can do for them is to help them feel safe, by reassuring them that they’re not going mad.
I help clients to see that what they are struggling with is memories, and what they’re experiencing is physical and biological.
Once they start to look at things differently, they can discover that they aren’t broken and that things can get better.”
Feeling inspired? We’re always looking for brilliant and compassionate counsellors to join our Network.
You can find a full description of what we’re looking for on our Reflections Network web page.
To register your interest, please email to arrange a meeting via reflections.network@thewallich.net
We unfortunately cannot take student placements
