Y-Talk Counselling

Y-Talk is the name for Interchange’s Counselling and Therapy service for young people.

Formerly part of the YMCA’s emotional well-being programme in Sheffield, we are now run by a not for profit Community Interest Company:

We aim to…

  • Offer accessible, young person-centred mental health support to young people in transition to adulthood
  • Reach out to young people from disadvantaged minority groups
  • Act as a link into specialist mental health services for those who need it
  • Build in user consultation to steer our service, evaluation and development

Y-Talk services provided so far… 

  • Counselling in several secondary schools, colleges and Inclusion Centre
  • Art therapy in two primary schools
  • 40-60 individual counselling slots per week in partnership with Sheffield Futures at Star House in the city centre
  • Outreach group or individual counselling at community centres such as ZEST Healthy Living Centre and at Youth Centres such as Meynell and the Hub at Sharrow (with BME young people)
  • Walk and Talk programme combining counselling and group activities to improve health and fitness
  • Creative/art therapy groupwork activities
  • Cage the rage groupwork (with Right Here)
  • Activities and participation via our monthly user group, Y-Act
  • Specific support for particular groups such as young carers (in collaboration with Young Carers Project and Chilypep in the VOYCE Project http://www.chilypep.org.uk/voyce.htm)
  • Counselling in the community in partnership with the Council’s Community Youth Teams. http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/cyt

What young people have said:

Y-Talk_Quotes_Final

Theraputic approach, team and clients

As well as person-centred counsellors, the team includes: an Art Therapist, a Gestalt Therapist, a CBT Therapist and two psychologists (an Educational Psychologist and a Clinical Psychologist).

Counsellors are also trained in Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Creative Therapies. The Manager is a counselling practitioner with many years of relevant experience. The team is diverse in terms of gender, cultural heritage and age.

The most common issues clients bring include depression, family breakdown, anger, self esteem, anxiety, bullying, self-harm and abuse. Males are unusually well represented (approx 40% of the Star House referrals).

Please contact us if you are interested in commissioning our Y-Talk services or bringing us in to add to existing services that you provide. If you can provide a suitable room, we can set up an outreach service in your area or school.