Golden jubilee for mental health counselling charity

Carmel Mullan-Hartley, from youth counselling service Open Door, tells of their work.

Established in 1967, Open Door is Birmingham’s leading person-centred youth counselling service. We offer one to one counselling to children and young people aged 12-25. Commissioned by Forward Thinking Birmingham we offer Counselling to children and young people experiencing a range of issues resulting in emotional distress and harm.

We try to reach young people at the earliest time, as we recognise that this can help to change young people’s thinking and enable them to successfully manage the issues causing them distress. For our clients we offer them with a safe space in which they can share their deepest and darkest thoughts, our clients say we are a “hidden gem” who “saved our lives”.

Alongside, this we offer a schools Counselling service and work in a number of secondary schools across the city. We work in partnership with these schools and deliver “a high quality, client centred, professional service”.

2016 saw us introduce a new ‘Over 26’ Counselling Service for adults who are able to self refer. Understanding that many adults are unable to access free counselling and private counselling can be costly, we are able to provide low cost, affordable help. We are a BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) Accredited Service

This year, we celebrate our fiftieth year. We are so proud of this achievement – over the years Open Door has weathered many storms and today, we are ready for the challenges and triumphs of the next fifty years.

If you are interested in celebrating with us
click here