"Mel is very warm, professional, insightful person with a personal approach. Having taken time in my sessions to understand all my issues, Mel would do work outside of the sessions so that she gave excellent guidance and support. I attended counselling sessions with Mel at the most difficult time in my life and my initial aim was to regain my self confidence & self esteem. Mel helped me not only to achieve this but she has given me skills, knowledge & ways of think that enable me to be a much happier person than I have ever been." - Neil -

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Rick, 27, was interviewed for a magazine article that Spokz People published:

"I realised I was really struggling to try and deal with everything myself, dealing with my recent disability, coming to terms with who I am now and with the fact that I’m using a
wheelchair to mobilise due to constant nerve pain. I decided to find a third party to assist me, and having met Spokz People at a disability show, I thought that as they have experience of disability this would be the best option for me. I did try NHS counselling through the GP. They gave me six sessions, and by the time I had told my counsellor about all the things that were the problem, the sessions were gone - it didn’t really help me to move forward. At Spokz People, having a counsellor who understands the deeper issues of disability, who has dealt with similar problems before, you can be comfortable more quickly when you’re talking about something because they understand what you’re on about.

I have counselling on the phone. Compared to counselling in-person, I feel more comfortable because I don’t have to keep face, it’s an additional level of anonymity. I’m quite a phone-comfy kinda guy. On the downside, it’s more difficult to read each other. You have to be able to explain what’s going on a bit better, which is sometimes difficult because I clam up when talking about difficult things – with telephone counselling you have to open up. Then again, I suppose that could also be seen as a good thing. You have to be able to start using your words more, and that might assist with moving forward. I am pleased with the counselling service I receive - it is tailored to my needs, and when I missed a session it was quick and easy for me to re-book a new one."

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Ian is part of a support group: “I have found the group very helpful because it is disabled people talking about disability to other disabled people. We have talked about
difficulties of‘managing’ disability in a world where most people are nondisabled. At the last meeting I talked about my incontinence. Amazingly, most people in the group had
continence issues. This helped me face up to a difficult and distressing personal issue and offered me a way forward. The facilitator manages the group well, keeping it focused
while remaining sympathetic.”